Realist social theory : the morphogenetic approach
TL;DR: The Morphogenetic Cycle: the basis of the morphogenetic approach 7. Structural and cultural conditioning 8. The morphogenesis of agency 9. Social elaboration.
Abstract: Building on her seminal contribution to social theory in Culture and Agency, in this 1995 book Margaret Archer develops her morphogenetic approach, applying it to the problem of structure and agency. Since structure and agency constitute different levels of stratified social reality, each possesses distinctive emergent properties which are real and causally efficacious but irreducible to one another. The problem, therefore, is shown to be how to link the two rather than conflate them, as has been common theoretical practice. Realist Social Theory: The Morphogenetic Approach not only rejects methodological individualism and holism, but argues that the debate between them has been replaced by a new one, between elisionary theorising and emergentist theories based on a realist ontology of the social world. The morphogenetic approach is the sociological complement of transcendental realism, and together they provide a basis for non-conflationary theorizing which is also of direct utility to the practising social analyst.
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01 Nov 2018
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explore the value of a "third way" research paradigm: critical realism, which combines ontological realism combined with epistemological relativism, iterative, pluralist and reflexive methodology, and its emancipatory values.
Abstract: There is little overt engagement with research paradigms in ICT4D research but what there is shows a dominance of positivism and interpretivism. In this paper we explore the value of a “third way” research paradigm: critical realism. We concisely review the main features of critical realism: its ontological realism combined with epistemological relativism; its iterative, pluralist and reflexive methodology; and its emancipatory values. Alongside the general value of explicit use of any research paradigm, we argue two particular types of value of critical realism for ICT4D research. First, generic values including exposure of context, a contingent causality that reflects real-world ICT4D experiences, legitimisation of different stakeholder views and reduction of research bias, and support for ICT4D’s interventionist approach and its goal of delivering international development. Second, specific value in addressing current trends in ICT4D research: the growing search for causal links between “ICT” and “D”, and the political and ethical turns in ICT4D that are spurring researchers to engage more with issues of power, rights and justice. We conclude that delivery of critical realism’s utility will require the ICT4D research community to take actions that enable this emergent research paradigm to flourish.
29 citations
01 Jan 2007
TL;DR: In this article, the authors provide an overview of holism and supervenience in the context of the ontological and methodological individualism/holism debates, and present various forms of ontology and holism.
Abstract: Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of holism and supervenience. The individualism/holism debate has both an ontological and a methodological dimension. The ontological dispute revolves around two questions: (1) whether social wholes exist sui generis and (2) what the constitution of social wholes is. The methodological disagreement focuses mainly on the question of whether explanations should be provided in terms of individuals, their actions, and so on, or rather in terms of social wholes, their actions, and so on. Individualists and holists alike have provided different answers to these questions. Accordingly, there are various forms of both ontological and methodological individualism and holism. The ontological debate concerns the sui generis existence of social wholes or entities such as schools, nations, prisons, societies, and churches. Ontological individualists deny that social wholes exist sui generis, whereas ontological holists defend this view. The ontological debate concerns not only the sui generis existence of social wholes, but also their constitution. The latter issue has mainly been addressed from the perspective of what it takes for individuals to constitute a social whole.
28 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provide an overview and analysis of sustainable development from a sociological perspective, focusing on four major system theories: world systems theory, neo-Marxist treadmill of production theory, ecological modernization theory and modern systems theory.
Abstract: This article provides an overview and analysis of sustainable development from a sociological perspective. It is divided into three parts. The first presents selected relevant sociological research before there was ever a concept of sustainable development'. The selected focus is on work falling under the rubrics of environmental sociology as well as development sociology. The second part briefly discusses the context and process that led to conceptualizing sustainable development'. The third part considers the response of several sociological theories to sustainable development issues, with the focus on a selection of four major system theories: world systems theory, neo-Marxist treadmill of production' theory, ecological modernization theory and modern systems theory, all of which have addressed development issues and more recently sustainability questions. The article ends by identifying an ongoing global transformation, the sustainability revolution, which can be compared and contrasted to the Industrial Revolution. Whether this emerging revolution will take place fast enough and comprehensively enough to save the planet earth from multiple disasters remains to be seen.
28 citations
28 citations
TL;DR: Gijselinckx et al. as discussed by the authors focus on financial co-operatives as economic enterprises with a civic mission, their process of repositioning vis-a-vis the market, civil society and the state, and the resulting "co-operative trilemma" that they face.
Abstract: In this paper we focus on financial co-operatives as economic enterprises with a civic mission, their process of repositioning vis-a-vis the market, civil society and the state, and the resulting 'co-operative trilemma' that they face. A recent qualitative analysis of five major co-operative financial cases in Belgium (Group ARCO, Cera), the UK (The Co-operative Group), France (Le Credit Cooperatif), and the Netherlands (Rabobank) shows sound enterprises, with a long history of co-operative entrepreneurship dating back to the nineteenth century, which underwent profound transformations in response to the challenges of the financial-economic market (Gijselinckx, Develtere & Raymaekers, 2007). Unlike Cote (2001) we did not find a degeneration of co-operative principles and strategies under market pressures. We found a transformation in the sense of a renewal of their co-operative identity and mission. The five cases developed innovative methods to secure shareholder participation and a multi-stakeholder approach. They turned out to become pioneers in so-called social responsible consuming, banking and investing. They organise professional backstopping for social and environment-friendly economic ventures and non-profit initiatives. By doing this, they are questing for a repositioning in the economic and social landscape. In this quest they have to find on-contradictory answers to the contradictory demands of the market, the civil society and the state, in other words: they face what we would like to call a 'co-operative trilemma' (see also Develtere & Raymaekers, 2005).
28 citations