Presidential Address: Sociology for Whom?

Abstract

The credibility, privileges and opportunities of work constitute a kind of territory over which professional practitioners and, to a lesser extent, politico-economic interest groups contend for influence and control. All orientations but the one locally called scientific are to be taken to be distortions. Its hegemony involves chiefly fidelity to a label, to an associated rhetoric and to a network of persons. Individuals and groups put sociologies together in the context of the competition and conflict of interest groups within which they live and work. This diversity of sociologies presents disparate definitions of terms, contrasting methodologies and assorted theories that may or may not appear to deal with the same genus homo sapiens considered socially. Sociologists need to comprehend the significance of contrasts among sociologies and perceive their own relationships to the major conflicts over sociological turf. We have not yet learned enough about how to permit the growth of necessary institutionalization of our discipline without diminishing opportunities for creative dissent. Steps to cope with this situation are outlined.