Selected Regional Histories.- The Basics: From Concepts to Models.- The History of Clinical Sociology in the United States.- Clinical Sociology in Quebec: When Europe Meets America.- On the Origins of Clinical Sociology in France: Some Milestones.- Clinical Sociology in Japan.- Clinical Sociology Applications.- Clinical Sociological Contributions to the Field of Mediation.- Clinical Sociology and Bereavement.- Psychosocial Interventions and the Rehabilitation of Drug Users in Greece.- The Patient's Personal Experience of Schizophrenia in China: A Clinical Sociology Approach to Mental Health.- Art and Science in Italian Clinical Sociology.- Socioanalysis and Clinical Intervention.- Focus Groups in the Context of International Development: In Pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals.- Clinical Sociology and Community Mediation: Training Grassroots Leaders in Multiethnic Malaysian Communities.- Mexico's Street Children.- Building Environmental Justice in Brazil: A Preliminary Discussion of Environmental Racism.- Globalization and Community Organizing: Building Today's Local-Global Movement in the United States.

International clinical sociology

Variables borrowed from the literature analyzing the middle years of American adults are used to pose questions and suggest answers regarding the mid-life organizational stage of development of sociological practice (applied and clinical) as a professional subspecialization within the discipline Comparisons are made. Issues are raised which require a response and a resolution if sociological practice is both to survive and surpass the potential pitfalls of its organizational mid-life crisis.

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Social Practice's Mid-life Crisis

The distinctions between macro- and microsociology have been debated for sometime (Eisenstadt and Halle, 1985; Knorr-Cetina and Cicourel, 1981). As Huber (1991) pointed out there is controversy among sociologists about the meaning of the words micro and macro. There is a tendency to equate micro with individual and macro with collective level events. Whether one focuses one’s efforts at the individual or personal level or at a broader social systems level, both are linked. The nature of macro-micro linkages is increasingly important as the etiologies, prevention, and solutions to contemporary societal problems, in the United States and elsewhere, lie in understanding the interfaces and linkages between individual behavior and factors at the societal level. While the emphasis in this chapter will be on problem solving at the macrolevel, it is our premise that problem solving cannot be effective if it is based on what it includes or excludes. Rather problem solving should be interactive between levels of human behavior, and this requires an interdisciplinary perspective (Sanderson, 1988).

Problem Solving at the Mesolevel

Mediation is a creative, humanistic, and flexibly-structured process in which an impartial individual or individuals (third party) help disputants identify their individual and mutual interests and perhaps reduce or resolve their differences Many disciplines and organizations have contributed to the field of mediation One of these influences, the discipline of sociology, has assisted with the theoretical analysis of conflicts and dispute intervention mechanisms such as mediation Clinical sociology, a subfield of sociology, not only has contributed to the theoretical analysis of conflicts and conflict intervention techniques, but clinical sociologists also are involved in conducting mediations and establishing and improving mediation systems This chapter defines mediation and then identifies and discusses five clinical sociological contributions to the field of mediation: multilevel system intervention, cultural competency, empowerment, integrated theoretical analysis and redefinition of the situation

Clinical Sociological Contributions to the Field of Mediation

Focus groups are used to gather information from minorities in a university setting Minority members of three campus groups (students, staff, and faculty) identified issues that could lead to relational conflicts Alternative methods of dispute resolution are discussed in terms of their suitability and viability for use by minorities in academe Mediation is presented as the preferred process for conflict resolution on an increasing number of college and university campuses Mediation as a form of sociological practice in academia is a wide-open field of opportunity

Mediation and Minority Members of Academe

Social connectedness constrains individuality in favor of relationship. Group affiliation contributes to a tension between self and social motivation. Often, it becomes difficult to find mutually acceptable solutions to common problems In such cases, conflicts may emerge which require professional intervention to resolve. This article presents a model of conflict resolution which draws resource from sociological theory, research, and practice It delineates an adaptable strategy applicable to a wide range of social structures and concomitant relational problems Theoretical Relevance Regardless of one's theoretical preference, conflict resolution is an essential process in creating, sustaining, and modifying social structures. The functionalists emphasize structural equilibrium as a means of perpetuating existing social relations. Unsettled conflicts are interpreted as dysfunctions which threaten to undermine social solidarity. Conflict theorists attribute value to the process of conflict mediation as a method of achieving successive social formations which are more egalitarian than previous ones. Symbolic interactionists focus on the importance of agreement by all parties forming a social set on the meanings attached to various interactional behaviors. Theorists from the social exchange perspective are most concerned about the the cost/benefit differential associated with alternative choices available to negotiating actors. Sociologists from the phenomenological school utilize resolution procedures as a means of constructing social reality in the first place and reconstructing it

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Robert A. Harris

Papers

A Conflict Resolution Model Amenable to Sociological Practice