Theoretical Sociology:
Past, Present, Future (round table)
Andreenkova A.V.
Dr. Sci. (Sociol.), Vice Director of the Institute for Comparative Social Research (CESSI), Moscow, Russia anna.andreenkova@cessi.ru
Bulanova М.B.
Dr. Sci. (Sociol.), Prof., Head of the Department of Theory and History of Sociology, Russian State Humanitari an University, Moscow, Russia marina_bulanova@inbox.ru
Danilova E.N.
Cand. Sci. (Sociol.), Head of the Center of the Studies in Theo ry and History of Sociology, Institute of Sociology of FCTAS RAS, Moscow, Russia endanilova@gmail.com
Deviatko I.F.
Dr. Sci. (Sociol.), Full Prof., HSE University; Chief Researcher, Institute of Sociology FCTAS RAS, Moscow, Russia deviatko@gmail.com
Zarubina N.N.
Dr. Sci. (Philos.), Prof., Prof. of the Department of Sociology, MGIMO University, Moscow, Russia n-zarubina@yandex.ru
Ivanov D.V.
Dr. Sci. (Sociol.), Prof., St. Petersburg state university, St. Petersburg, Russia dvi2001@rambler.ru
Ladyzhets N.S.
Dr. Sci. (Philos.), Prof., Head of the Department of Sociology, Institute of History and Sociology, Udmurt State University, Izhevsk, Russia Lns07@mail.ru
Romanovskiy N.V.
Dr. Sci. (Hist.), Prof., Chief Re searcher of the Institute Sociology of FCTAS RAS, Moscow, Russia socis@isras.ru
Sokolov M.M.
Cand. Sci. (Sociol.), Prof. of Practice, University of Wisconsin‑ Madison, USA msokolov@eu.spb.ru
Tatarova G.G.
Dr. Sci. (Sociol.), Prof., Chief Researcher, Institute of Sociology of FCTAS RAS, Mos cow, Russia tatarova-gg@rambler.ru
Titarenko L.G.
Dr. Sci. (Sociol.), Prof., Belarusian State Uni versity, Belarus; Associate Researcher, Sociological Institute of FCTAS RAS, Russia larissa@bsu.by
Toshchenko Zh.T.
Corresponding Member of RAS, Prof., Scientific Director of the Sociological Department of the Russian State University for the Humanities; Chief Researcher of the Institute of Sociology FCTAS RAS, Moscow, Russia zhantosch@mail.ru
Shmerlina I.A.
Dr. Sci. (Sociol.), Leading Researcher, Institute of Sociology of FCTAS RAS, Moscow, Russia shmerlina@yandex.ru
Chernysh M.F.
corresponding member of the RAS, Director of the Federal Center of Theoretical and Applied Sociology of RAS, Moscow, Russia mfche@yandex.ru
Demidenko S.Yu.
Researcher Institute Sociology of FCTAS RAS Executive Secretary (editor), the journal “Sociological Studies” demidsu@yandex.ru
Andreenkova A.V., Bulanova М.B., Danilova E.N. , Deviatko I.F., Zarubina N.N., Ivanov D.V., Ladyzhets N.S., Romanovskiy N.V., Sokolov M.M., Tatarova G.G., Titarenko L.G., Toshchenko Zh.T., Shmerlina I.A., Chernysh M.F., Demidenko S.Yu. Theoretical Sociology: Past, Present, Future (round table). Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya [Sociological Studies]. 2024. No 11. P. 3-17
This material is a discussion on key issues in the development of theoretical sociology both in Russia and worldwide today. The XXVI Kharchev’ Readings were held on November 23, 2024, within the framework of the conference “Sociology: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow”, dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the “Sociological Studies” journal. The purpose of the Readings was to discuss the changing landscape of modern theoretical sociology and the factors behind these changes, including the influence of digitalization. The theme of the Readings was based on the specifics of constructing sociological theories in current conditions, but with reference to the history and revision of theoretical knowledge, in particular, the revision of the works of domestic theoretical sociologists and the issues of importing and adapting Western concepts. Particular attention was paid to the categorization and conceptual apparatus of sociology. We present to the readers’ attention the main provisions of the participants’ reports at the conference. Weaknesses in the development of theoretical sociology in the country were noted, including: separation from the empirical base and appropriating works on social philosophy; copying the concepts of foreign researchers without adaptation to Russian realities; lack of connection with the ideas of predecessors in Russia and the past development of society and its individual aspects; proclamation of an interdisciplinary approach without serious methodological development, etc. The question was raised about the productivity of conceptual transfer and Western methodology without taking into account Russian realities. The deficit of general sociological theories for describing the modern world both in Russia and abroad was discussed.