The Age of Expectations (1980-1989); The Age of Transitology (1990-1994); The Age of Apprenticeship (1992-1994); The Age of Professionalism (1995-); The Age of New Fears (1994-1999);The Age of Perplexity (1998-); The Age of Uncertainty? (2001-); Prospects.
The increasing role of social science in environmental policy & knowledge generation has resulted in an environmental discourse that is epistemologically realist, postivistic, disembedded, technological, & cognitivist. Such a discourse tends to mask important cultural, social, & existential dimensions of environmental crises & has become part of the modern environmental problem rather contributing to its solution. A constructivist, hermeneutic, poetic, & situated approach to environmental phenomena is needed. Examples of such accounts in three broad domains are highlighted: (1) environment, knowledge, & indeterminancy; (2) subjectivity & individuation; & (3) problems with current ways of incorporation of environmental considerations within political institutions. Ulrich Beck's contributions to illuminating the modern environmental problematic are discussed. 10 References. D. Generoli
Draws on personal experiences to explore conspiracies at work in the link between researcher, researched, reviewer, & funder. Many personal antagonisms are related, including ways in which the desire to be a competent researcher runs counter to what others consider "good" research. It is contended that the human sciences, like conspiracies, exhibit a narrative structure that seeks to order & explain the workings of mass society. However, instead of revealing a grand plot, academic conspiracies involve different organizations that follow a blind path. Particular attention is given to a research project on ownership/control within a large paper manufacturer that was granted state funding. It was found that shifting ownership within the company did not necessarily involve shifting control. However, the findings turned out to be contrary to the management beliefs of the state funder, who found the research "problematic," claiming that the final report was at odds with the original objectives. The culture of accountability that allows managerial conspiracies to flourish is discussed. 48 References. J. Lindroth
An exploration of the continuing relevance of Critical Theory focuses on the claim of early Frankfurt School theorists that their work provided a philosophical basis for a systematic orientation to social science. It is contended that a revised version of their "research tradition" is capable of establishing a defensible, critical social science. The post-1970 work of Jurgen Habermas is examined as an elaboration of the Frankfurt School's desire to articulate a systematically critical approach to social inquiry. Connections between Critical Theory & pragmatism are pointed out in order to develop the notion of a pragmatist critical theory. Consideration is also given to whether it is possible to think of critical normativity as universal without overgeneralizing any specific historical perspective. The current state of the field of Political Science is described to illustrate the contrast that Critical Theory offers. It is concluded that a "pragmatically reconfigured Critical Theory" provides the best way to combat "criticisms of what has been called the hegemonic understanding of science in the study of politics.". J. Lindroth
The utility of semistructured interviews in research on social movements is discussed, highlighting their value in collecting data that would be difficult to gather through other methods. Several major types of such interviews are described, including oral histories, life histories, key informant interviews, & focus groups. Ways that the position of the researcher influences the interview process are examined & suggestions are offered for conducting effective interviews; ethical issues are also considered. Some techniques for analyzing qualitative interview data are also reviewed. 62 References. K. Hyatt Stewart
Whether social movements existed in past societies, & if so, how best to investigate them, are examined. Constraints on conducting historical research on social movements are identified, focusing on the obvious problems of data collection; ways to adapt methods used in other types of research are considered. Suggestions are offered for finding sources of evidence, including organizations, archives, individuals, newspapers, & government documents, with appropriate caveats regarding data authenticity & representativeness; problems of interpretation & explanation are also addressed. Methods for linking theories, concepts, & evidence are described & some particularly exemplary studies are cited. Directions for moving from analysis of individual activists, causes, & organizational structure & function to explanations of social movement outcomes are also provided. 1 Table, 1 Figure, 73 References. K. Hyatt Stewart
An introduction to an edited Vol on the poignancy of social movements focuses on past research, present problems, & future developments. It is maintained that current scholarship has neglected the actual/potential effects of social movements, as well as conditions & processes that enhance or detract from a movement's impact. Contributors address the gap by exploring theoretical questions regarding which aspects of society are modified by social movements & by conducting empirical evaluations of the impact of contemporary social movements in different countries. A review shows that most social movement studies are limited by their focus on success/failure, policy outcomes, & causality. In contrast, contributions view social movements as complex sets of actors, groups, & organizations with different perceptions of success. They also distinguish between intended & unintended consequences, & consider the counterproductive potential of the latter. The durability & direction of change are discussed, along with the need for a coherent theoretical framework for social movement outcomes. 1 Figure. J. Lindroth
"In light of the increasing importance of social innovation, this paper explores the question of what (new) roles social sciences can play in analyzing and shaping social innovation. The paper starts with an overview of the current situation and the perspectives of socio-scientific innovation research that have greatly contributed to the development and spread of an enlightened socio-scientific understanding of innovation. Against the backdrop of clear paradoxes and confusion in prevailing politics of innovation, the contours of a new innovation paradigm are becoming visible and causing social innovation to grow in importance. Consistently, the social sciences will be challenged to redefine their functions with regard to innovation. In the past, innovation research in the context of social sciences has contributed heavily to explain the social dimensions, the complexity and paradoxa of innovation processes. Henceforth, much will depend on realigning the range of competencies of social science and social scientists by contributing actively to the development and integration of innovations as well as by developing social innovation." (author's abstract)
In considering the timeless question of the scientific or epistemological status of social research, focus is on such research's predictive & explanatory failures. Four levels of social science analysis are identified: (1) contingency based, low on prediction & high on empiricism, (2) epistemic or ontological, (3) sociology of knowledge, & (4) historical or political. Assumptions underlying the conduct of social research are examined. Social sciences are distinguished from policy sciences, though points of relatedness are noted. It is concluded that the social sciences must develop a scientific approach to their own history, methods, theories, goals, & presuppositions if they are to be viable in the 21st century. K. Hyatt Stewart
Der Autor verdeutlicht in seinem Beitrag, dass sich die Hochschul- und Forschungstätigkeit im Libanon zwar bereits stark internationalisiert hat, dass dieser Prozess jedoch hinsichtlich seiner Auswirkungen und Bedeutung ungleich verläuft. Obwohl alle Universitäten mehr oder weniger durch den gleichen Prozess betroffen sind und versuchen, ihre Organisationsstruktur und Funktionsweise den globalisierten Marktbedingungen anzupassen, wie z. B. die American University of Beirut (AUB) und die Lebanese American University (LAU), werden sie eher durch Zwang von außen internationalisiert als durch eigene Entscheidung. Die französisch-basierten Universitäten und vor allem die Lebanese State University (LU) unternehmen zahlreiche Anstrengungen, um einen einheitlichen Weg bei ihrer internationalen Integration einzuschlagen. Bei dem Versuch, sich von seinem alten Ausbildungssystem zu verabschieden, hat die LU zu Anfang des dritten Jahrtausends beschlossen, das sogenannte System "License, (Bachelor-Degree), Master, and Doctorate" (LMD) einzuführen. Die Fakultäten der Technik- und Naturwissenschaften haben bereits erfolgreich das neue System übernommen, während die Geistes- und Sozialwissenschaften den Bildungsreformen Widerstand entgegen setzen und immer noch am alten System festhalten. (ICI).
