While the Berlin Wall was falling, Bryant and Becker edited a prestigious book entitled What Has Sociology Achieved? (1990), which focused on the most relevant contributions of contemporary sociological thinkers and streams of thought to understand social change. Although there are several important Italian authors in this field such no Italian contributions were considered in that book. Nevertheless, Italian social, juridical, and economic studies of those years might have been pivotal in understanding the global change that is overwhelming the whole planet from the point of view of the nation-state representing the border between West and East. Why did Becker and Bryant ignore these Italian authors and streams? In my opinion, three key reasons should be considered: 1. The language problem. 2. Most Italian sociological works of those years were small-scale empirical research projects. 3. Italian Sociology of the 1980s and early 1990s had already provided some key theoretical contributions that anticipated some important trends of contemporary sociological theory worldwide. This essay is a re-entry attempt of the pivotal role of Italian sociology in the global scenarios showing Becker and Bryant were wrong to ignore the achievements of Italian sociology itself.
What is Sociology For?
PITASI, Andrea
2012-01-01
Abstract
While the Berlin Wall was falling, Bryant and Becker edited a prestigious book entitled What Has Sociology Achieved? (1990), which focused on the most relevant contributions of contemporary sociological thinkers and streams of thought to understand social change. Although there are several important Italian authors in this field such no Italian contributions were considered in that book. Nevertheless, Italian social, juridical, and economic studies of those years might have been pivotal in understanding the global change that is overwhelming the whole planet from the point of view of the nation-state representing the border between West and East. Why did Becker and Bryant ignore these Italian authors and streams? In my opinion, three key reasons should be considered: 1. The language problem. 2. Most Italian sociological works of those years were small-scale empirical research projects. 3. Italian Sociology of the 1980s and early 1990s had already provided some key theoretical contributions that anticipated some important trends of contemporary sociological theory worldwide. This essay is a re-entry attempt of the pivotal role of Italian sociology in the global scenarios showing Becker and Bryant were wrong to ignore the achievements of Italian sociology itself.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
