Sociology in Serbia: A Fragile Discipline

This book provides a comprehensive history of sociology in Serbia, covering its development from the interwar period to the postsocialist period. It explores the challenges sociology faced in maintaining its institutional position, gaining social recognition, and preserving professional autonomy. It relies on Bourdieu's concept of the academic field and Burawoy's typology of Professional, Critical, Public, and Policy sociology to analyze the constitutive, structural, and restructural roles of sociology in different phases of its evolution.

Format: Hardback
Length: 110 pages
Publication date: 21 September 2022
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This book is a comprehensive and detailed account of the disciplinary development of sociology in Serbia over the past century. It provides an overview of the constitution of sociology as an academic discipline during the interwar period, its reinstatement after World War II in entirely new social circumstances marked by the establishment of self-management socialism in Yugoslavia, and its development during the turbulent postsocialist period. Divided into five chapters, the focus of the book is on the challenges that sociology has faced in order to maintain its institutional position, gain adequate social recognition, and preserve its professional autonomy.

Relying on Bourdieu's concept of the academic field and Burawoy's typology of Professional, Critical, Public, and Policy sociology, the book seeks to answer the question of how the sociological academic field in Serbia has been constituted, structured, and restructured, and in which of these roles sociology has dominantly appeared in different phases of its evolution.

The book begins by providing an historical overview of the development of sociology in Serbia, from its early roots in the late 19th century to the establishment of the discipline as an academic discipline during the interwar period. It then explores the challenges that sociology faced during the interwar period, including the political repression and social inequality that characterized the period.

After World War II, sociology in Serbia faced a new set of challenges. The country was divided into two separate states, and sociology was subjected to different political and social conditions in each of them. In the socialist Yugoslavia, sociology was heavily influenced by Marxist ideology and was used to promote the socialist revolution. However, the socialist regime also imposed strict controls on academic freedom and suppressed any dissent or opposition.

In the postsocialist period, sociology in Serbia faced a period of great change and uncertainty. The country transitioned from a socialist regime to a market-oriented economy, and sociology was forced to adapt to new social and economic conditions. The discipline faced a number of challenges, including the need to redefine its role and purpose in a postsocialist society, the decline of state funding for research, and the emergence of new social movements and ideologies.

Despite these challenges, sociology in Serbia has continued to develop and evolve. The discipline has become more interdisciplinary, with sociologists working closely with other social sciences, such as economics, political science, and psychology. It has also become more engaged with social issues and has played a role in shaping public policy and social change.

In conclusion, this book provides a comprehensive and detailed account of the disciplinary development of sociology in Serbia over the past century. It explores the challenges that sociology has faced in order to maintain its institutional position, gain adequate social recognition, and preserve its professional autonomy. The book relies on a range of theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence to provide a rich and nuanced understanding of the discipline's evolution. It is an essential read for anyone interested in the history and development of sociology in Serbia and beyond.

Weight: 303g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031124846
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022