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The aim of the article is to identify and critically assess the key concepts, ideas, and the epistemological principles of the contemporary sociological theory. In light of the "peripheral" concerns, the aim of the paper is to identify and critically assess the meta-methodological principles of the contemporary sociological theory. The article focuses on the relations between sociology, society, modernization, and globalization, including the "borderline" Lithuanian case. In the later analysis, the paper focuses on the differences of social theory and sociological theory, the sociological forms and the criteria of their differentiation. The article attempts to provide an understanding of the conceptual connections between social theory and political philosophy. Although the concept of "theory" has deep roots in the professional discourses of East European intellectuals, sociological theory finds itself in a position where it cannot significantly affect the socio-political intellectual agenda. Moreover, the theoretical sociology more and more is identified with the role of the 'under laborer'. The situation is further complicated by the fact that the deterministic scheme of the old (Soviet) historicism corresponds to the optimistic perspective of the new (Western) historicism. The article points out to an urgent need to re-think the perspectives of sociological theory for contemporary times. The article concludes with discussion of criteria in the assessment of status and value of theoretical sociology.

The aim of the article is to identify and critically assess the key concepts, ideas, and the epistemological principles of the contemporary sociological theory. In light of the "peripheral" concerns, the aim of the paper is to identify and critically assess the meta-methodological principles of the contemporary sociological theory. The article focuses on the relations between sociology, society, modernization, and globalization, including the "borderline" Lithuanian case. In the later analysis, the paper focuses on the differences of social theory and sociological theory, the sociological forms and the criteria of their differentiation. The article attempts to provide an understanding of the conceptual connections between social theory and political philosophy. Although the concept of "theory" has deep roots in the professional discourses of East European intellectuals, sociological theory finds itself in a position where it cannot significantly affect the socio-political intellectual agenda. Moreover, the theoretical sociology more and more is identified with the role of the 'under laborer'. The situation is further complicated by the fact that the deterministic scheme of the old (Soviet) historicism corresponds to the optimistic perspective of the new (Western) historicism. The article points out to an urgent need to re-think the perspectives of sociological theory for contemporary times. The article concludes with discussion of criteria in the assessment of status and value of theoretical sociology.

Review: Benjamin, Walter. 2005. Nušvitimai. Esė rinktinė. Vilnius: Vaga.

Review: Norkus, Zenonas. 2008. Kokia demokratija, koks kapitalizmas? Pokomunistinė transformacija Lietuvoje lyginamosios istorinės sociologijos požiūriu. Vilnius: Vilniaus universiteto leidykla.

The article offers a critical examination of the idea of standardization of concepts throughout the newest history of sociological thought. Because of their prior commitments to either universalism or relativism, sociologists have been blind to the possibilities of relationism. It is argued that sociologists must acknowledge the relational nature of definitions and learn to live with this understanding. Although the concepts are not so divergent as is commonly assumed, the significance of the idea of standardization is limited. Certain isolated abstract concepts cannot be evaluated on one-dimensional basis. It is argued that it is necessary to negotiate concepts at a higher level of metatheoretical abstraction. In the construction of the relational scheme, four main paradigmatic views are discernable: macro, micro, conflictual, integrationist.

Review: Ruggiero, Vincenzo. 2005. Nusikaltimas literatūroje. Grožinės literatūros ir deviacijų sociologija. Kaunas: Poligrafija ir informatika.

Review: Georg Simmel. 2007. Sociologija ir kultūros filosofija. Vilnius: Margi raštai.

The aim of the article is to identify and critically assess the key concepts, ideas and the epistemological principles of Ralf Dahrendorf as a theorist of social conflict. Dahrendorf tries to combine the insights of Marxian sociology with the new 20th century realities and develops the beginnings of a systematic theory of conflict which emphasizes the existence of a plurality of "imperatively coordinated associations" and therefore of conflicting classes engendered by them. The article goes on to show how the conceptual framework of Dahrendorf can be more fruitfully pursued by emphasizing that Marx's notion of social class is not so outmoded, and specifying the conceptual connections between the various class definitions and criteria.

The aim of the article is to identify and critically assess the key concepts, ideas and the epistemological principles of Ralf Dahrendorf as a theorist of social conflict. Dahrendorf tries to combine the insights of Marxian sociology with the new 20th century realities and develops the beginnings of a systematic theory of conflict which emphasizes the existence of a plurality of "imperatively coordinated associations" and therefore of conflicting classes engendered by them. The article goes on to show how the conceptual framework of Dahrendorf can be more fruitfully pursued by emphasizing that Marx's notion of social class is not so outmoded, and specifying the conceptual connections between the various class definitions and criteria. ; Šio straipsnio tikslas – panagrinėti analitines vokiečių-britų sociologo Ralfo Dahrendorfo sąvokas. Čia aptariamos sociologinės konflikto, klasių, imperatyviškai koordinuotų asociacijų, valdžios, padėčių, vaidmenų ir laisvės kategorijos; kritiškai apibrėžiamas jų santykis su teorine marksizmo tradicija; parodoma, jog marksistinė klasių apibrėžimo problema tebėra aktuali ir šiomis dienomis tiriant nelygybės tarp latentinių intereso grupių ir potencialių socialinių klasių problemas, analizuojant santykį tarp socialinės nelygybės ir pilietiškumo. Straipsnyje atskleidžiami Dahrendorfo sociologinio požiūrio privalumai ir trūkumai. Viena vertus, Dahrendorfas parodo, kad valdžios santykiai yra svarbūs organizaciniai šiuolaikinių visuomenių principai. Todėl Dahrendorfo konflikto koncepcija yra tinkama analizuojant stratifikacinę visuomenės grupių ir organizacijų sandarą. Analitinės Dahrendorfo kategorijos padeda suprasti ir paaiškinti konfliktus tarp socialinių grupių (kvazigrupių), formuojančių potencialius interesus specifinėse valdžios organizacijose. Kita vertus, jis a) pernelyg racionalizuoja valdžios santykių, kaip socialinių vaidmenų, struktūrą, b) nepakankamai įvertina į Marxo tezę, įvardijančią glaudžias nuosavybės ir valdžios sąsajas, c) pernelyg susiaurina asmens laisvės problemą, traktuodamas ją kaip socialinių vaidmenų, stratifikacijos ir diferenciacijos lygmenų, konfliktą. Daroma išvada, kad Dahrendorfas formuluoja veikiau aprašomąją, o ne analitinę socialinių pokyčių teoriją. Jei Marxo visuomenių pokyčių teorija analitiškai apibrėžia visuomeninių pokyčių priežastis ir prognozuoja pokyčių kryptį, tai Dahrendorfo koncepcija aprašo idealias liberalios demokratijos sąlygas.

The aim of the article is to identify & critically assess the key concepts, ideas & the epistemological principles of Thomas Hobbes, as a theorist of modern state who conceptually grasped the nature of the political. In light of the methodological concerns, the article attempts to provide an understanding of various conceptual connections in Hobbes' work Leviathan between the human passions, liberty, social contract, obligation, morality, & power. The paper also touches on the problem of the radical nominalism. Given the emphasis on the individual, Hobbes faces the dilemma between methodological individualism & methodological holism. Some of the corollaries of his political theory, including the organicistic metaphor of "society as mortal God," are inconsistent with the main body of Hobbes' theoretical thought. The article concludes by arguing that the controversial concepts of Hobbes' social theory force us to assess them in light of the different interpretative possibilities. Adapted from the source document.

Social structure has always been one of the central concepts in classical and contemporary sociological thought. The concept of social structure points to a different articulation of the macro and micro elements of social life. Its meaning has to be understood in the context of the discursive networks in which it is used. The aim of the article is to explore the concept of social structure by making explicit the main conceptual networks from which the different uses of the concept obtain their meaning. We have organized our discussion of social structure around the four paradigms that we have identified as (1) methodological individualism, (2) methodological holism, (3) microsociological 'theory', (4) eclectic 'theory'.

Review: Horkheimer, Max; Adorno, Theodor W. 2006. Apšvietos dialektika. Filosofiniai fragmentai. Vilnius: Margi raštai.

The aim of the article is to explore the concept of sociological method by specifying the historical aspects of classical sociological thought. Sociological method is best seen as one of the chief heirs of the Enlightenment: it can be understood first of all as the historical realisation of the Enlightenment's conception of a measurement and verification. Nevertheless, from its inception, sociology has been a confluence of many methodological streams. The concept of method is in fact highly ambiguous.
This article offers a critical examination of the methodological modifications throughout the history of sociological thought. A central thesis of this article is that the very idea of method cannot be separated from the idea of meta-method.

This paper examines the problematic relationship between sociology and history that had a significant place in Kavolis's historical sociology. In light of the methodological concerns, the paper attempts to provide a conceptual introduction to Vytautas Kavolis's historical writings.
Vytautas Kavolis was a Lithuanian and American sociologist who is considered one of the founders of the civilizational analysis. Although the concept of "civilizational analysis" has deep roots in the social sciences, Kavolis points out to an urgent need to re-think it for contemporary times. His method of civilizational analysis supports an interesting pluralist perspective. Kavolis suggests a need for sociology to more thoroughly integrate sociological, historical, anthropological, psychological, and philosophical analysis into its theory and practice. He has developed an interdisciplinary method along the lines of a historical, cultural, and existential sociology.
The central thesis is that although Kavolis is often regarded as an nonempirical theorist, existential empirical experience of everyday life is actually central to Kavolis's work. The relation between sociology and history as academic disciplines is reexamined by comparing the civilizational method of Vytautas Kavolis and the approach of the traditional historiography. In contrast to a conventional historiography that centers attention upon descriptive historical facts, Kavolis urged a sociology that is historically reflexive and that is based on the existential conception of man.
Kavolis's historical sociology is contrasted also with the theoretical attempts to build grand historical systems which narrows the "small" causal relations in history. Kavolis applies Norbert Elias's concept of civilizing processes to problems of modernization, individualization, and humanization of human consciousness. His work is especially noteworthy when he explores the different paths of socio-historical modernization, offering a comprehensive analysis of the cultural significance of the new modes of thought and action.