The Two Sociologies

Stereotypes and Prejudice in Conflict: References

Current trends in a number of different branches of organisation theory indicate an impending convergence of views. At the same time, lack of liaison and sterile arguments between specialists in the different branches is producing duplication of effort and hindering progress. In this paper I have attempted to outline the major concepts and the most recent trends which have occurred under the headings of systems theory, contingency theory, subjective-interaction theory or the action approach (which I have referred to as action theory), and studies of goal-oriented behaviour. The direction of change in systems theory and action theory has direct significance for the work done by contingency theorists and goal-orientation theorists, much of whose work has been based on models of human behaviour which are shown to be inadequate. At the same time, the work of contingency theorists and goal-orientation theorists may help the &dquo;systems&dquo; and &dquo;action&dquo;

Approaches to organisation theory

Der Aufsatz unterscheidet zwischen einer relationalen und einer relationistischen Forschungsperspektive. Im Rahmen einer relationalen Perspektive wird danach gefragt, wie in relational strukturierten Transaktions- oder Kommunikationsprozessen Akteursidentitaten entstehen. Als Vertreter relationaler Ansatze konnen etwa Harrison C. White, Charles Tilly oder Niklas Luhmann gelten. In einer relationistischen Perspektive wird danach gefragt, wie in relational strukturierten Kommunikationsprozessen festgelegt wird, welche Entitaten uberhaupt als operativ relevante Einheiten anzuerkennen sind und wie diese eine je spezifische Identitat entwickeln. Vertreter dieser Richtung sind z. B. Bruno Latour sowie die an Helmuth Plessner anschliesenden Autoren, die die Grenzen der Sozialwelt analysieren. Wenn die Grenzen der Sozialwelt kontingent gesetzt werden, bedarf es eines triadisch strukturierten Kommunikationsbegriffs. Nur mithilfe eines solchen konzeptuellen Rahmens konnen aus einer soziologischen Beobachterperspektive die entscheidenden Grenzziehungsprozesse rekonstruiert werden. Die im triadischen Kommunikationsbegriff angelegte Struktur sozialer Reflexivitat wird im letzten Abschnitt anhand von vier Sinndimensionen (zeitlich, sachlich, sozial, raumlich) in ihrer Bedeutung fur die Analyse sozialer Ordnung expliziert.

Die Kontingenz der Grenzen des Sozialen und die Notwendigkeit eines triadischen Kommunikationsbegriffs

Skepticism and Qualitative Research A View from Inside

1. The Theoretical Roots of the Sociology of Law THEfocus of any area of academic enq uiry may be identified by the way in which the 'importance' of the social phenomenon under examination is presented. In order to understand the distinctive character of sociology of law it is essential to recognise that the location of this importance has been expressed in a number of different ways. The significance of these alternative positions is that each one constitutes a different statement of the 'importance' oflaw. This may be expressed in a slightly different way by contending that each statement of the importance of law contains a designation of a problematic. A problematic is contained in every statement ofa frame of reference or a theoretical proposition; it is more than the statement of a problem or a question in that the selection of a particular focus excludes or relegates other foci and thereby presents a potential solution within itself. The sociological movement in law takes as its starting point the lawsociety relationship. The problematic is extremely under-developed; it provides little explicit direction to study within the field. Within this orientation may be detected a number of other problematics which are concerned with providing a skeletal formulation of the nature of the law-society relationship. It will be through an examination of these alternative problematics that we can arrive at a characterisation of the major trends within the sociological movement. Further, their elucidation will facilitate a statement as to the present state of development of the field currently designated as 'sociology oflaw'. The present concern is with the general tradition which underlies the sociological movement in law. For this reason the 'critical' or 'radical' development within the sociology oflaw and in deviancy theory is not considered in any detail. These developments are of sufficient importance to require independent treatment.l It is necessary to stress that the alternative problematics to be discussed are pure types. They are 'pure types' not in the sense that they are not found in the real world (in so far as the realm of the theoretical basis of the sociological movement in law can be regarded as part of the real world), but in the sense that they rarely appear complete and uncontaminated. More frequently they appear in combination with other elements and in this form constitute the specific or distinctive

The Two Sociologies

Citations

Stereotypes and Prejudice in Conflict: References

Approaches to organisation theory

Die Kontingenz der Grenzen des Sozialen und die Notwendigkeit eines triadischen Kommunikationsbegriffs

Skepticism and Qualitative Research A View from Inside

Perspectives in the Sociology of Law

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