Guest Editor: Kristoffer Kropp, kkropp@ruc.dk

The Future of Sociology – What Is It?

“The 1980s were an extremely turbulent period for Danish sociology. The culmination cannot be pinpointed to single events, but the dissolution of the two sociological institutes from 1986 onwards marked an absolute ‘high point’.”(Hulgård and Andersen 1996:342). This is how Lars Hulgård and John Andersen introduce their roundtable discussion with five sociologists, published under the headline “Sociology of the 90s: Towards a New Grand Narrative”. The history of sociology is turbulent and conflict-ridden. As a discipline, sociology has been the subject of discussion and conflict worldwide – academically and politically (see e.g., Heilbron 2015; Kropp 2015; Schmidt-Wellenburg and Schmitz 2023; Shai M. Dromi and Samuel D. Stabler 2023; Steinmetz 2023). Although the situation for sociology in Denmark does not resemble the 1980s, the discipline is still subject to both criticism and internal discussion. In recent years, sociological programs have been closed and cut back, and sociological research has become less prominent than before. With this special issue of Dansk Sociologi, we aim to address the challenges and opportunities facing sociology in Denmark. Where is sociology headed, and where does it come from?

Compared to other Nordic countries, sociology in Denmark – in terms of both education and research – is more fragmented and less institutionally established. There are fewer sociological programs, fewer institutions with sociological departments, and the sociological community has less cohesion. Sociology in Denmark is, for better or worse, intertwined with – and often subordinate to – other disciplines such as political science, business administration, and social work, contributing perspectives to specific societal areas and issues in various programs and as ‘hyphenated sociologies’ in different research areas. This demonstrates Sociology’s strength and relevance in relation to a wide range of issues, but at the same time, it risks fragmenting the discipline both academically and socially.

The special issue will contribute to a professional reflection on sociology in Denmark, its institutional framework, intellectual structures, and the opportunities and challenges it presents. With contributions from a diverse range of environments and professional perspectives, the issue contributes to a discussion about sociology’s challenges and possible paths in light of recent developments. As a contributor, we ask you to address the following broad questions:

• What are the most pressing sociological issues in your field now?
• What is the greatest sociological contribution within your field?
• What are the central research questions for Sociology in the coming years?
• How does Sociology (and sociologists) best contribute to society, now and in the future? And how does it differ from other contributions?
• What should every future sociologist be able to (do)?
• What are the greatest challenges for Danish Sociology right now?

Format

The contribution should take the form of a reflection and discussion. It can draw on personal observations and assessments as well as more systematically collected data. In conclusion, the contribution should point to challenges and paths for Danish sociology, which can be more academic (new questions, methods, concepts, etc.) and in the social organization of sociology (education, conferences, associations, journals, etc.). The contribution should be engaging and encourage critical self-reflection and critique of sociology. The contribution should be 3000-4000 words.

Deadlines: 

31st of January: Expression of interest through max 200 word abstract sent to kkropp@ruc.dk

1st of April: deadline for first draft, feedback from editor 

26. Juni: Deadline for final submission