Pitirim Sorokin as a Cause: Sociology and Metaphysics of Distemper

Pitirim Sorokin as a Cause:
Sociology and Metaphysics of Distemper


Ozhiganov E.N.

Dr. Sci. (Philos.), Senior Researcher, Center for Strategic Research in Innovation of the International Institute of Energy Policy and Innovation Management of the Odintsovo branch of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Moscow, Russia Edward.Ozhiganov@gmail.com

ID of the Article: 7469


For citation:

Ozhiganov E.N. Pitirim Sorokin as a Cause: Sociology and Metaphysics of Distemper. Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya [Sociological Studies]. 2018. No 12. P. 133-142




Abstract

The author analyzes sociological journalism and political predictions of Russian-American sociologist P.A. Sorokin during the period of the Russian political collapse of 1917–18, as well as the possibility of adapting his «sociology of the revolution» to studies of the transformation of the contemporary socio-political system of the Russian Federation. The author reveals the dependence of P. Sorokin’s «stronger scientific approach» to studying the course of the February and October coups of 1917 and predicting their consequences on his ideological beliefs and party positions. In this context, the example of P. Sorokin is seen as a reason for understanding the causes of the distemper in Russia and the responsibility of sociological science for the reliability of political forecasts. The article highlights the connection between political positivism and operative masonry of P.A. Sorokin. His case shows that political foresight can be fundamentally untenable, but, nevertheless, instrumental from the point of view of achieving parties or groups goals.


Keywords
P.A. Sorokin; Russian revolution; the sociology of the revolution; political forecasts; political positivism; political masonry

References

Adorno T. (1964) Ideologie Jargon der Eigentlichkeit: Zur deutschen. Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag.

Cafferky J.P. (2013) Lord Milner’s Second War. The Rhodes-Milner Secret Society, the Origin of World War I and the Start of the New World Order. CreateSpace, a DBA of On-Demand Publishing, LLC. Copyrighted material.

Hollingsworth B. (1976) David Soskice in Russia in 1917. European Studies Review. No. 6: 73–97.

Chernysh M.F. (2017) Pitirim Sorokin and His Theory of Revolution. Mir Rossii [Universe of Russia]. No. 4: 71–96. (In Russ.)

Glotov M.B. (2012) On the Inconsistency of Biographical Data of the Russian Period of Life Sorokina: Critical Analysis. Sotsiologicheskiye issledovaniya [Sociological Studies]. No. 3: 138–144. (In Russ.)

Doykov Y. (2008) Pitirim Sorokin. A Man out of Season. Biography. Volume 1. (1889–1922). Arkhangel'sk: Manuscript. (In Russ.).

Johnston B.V. (1999) Pitirim Sorokin and Socio-cultural Trends of Our Time. Sotsiologicheskiye issledovaniya [Sociological Studies]. No. 6: 13–24. (In Russ.)

Ivanov D. Pitirim Sorokin and the Russian Revolution. Znamya [Banner]. No. 10. URL: http://znamlit.ru/ publication.php?id=6731 (accessed 04.06.2018). (In Russ.)

Kovalev V. (2017) Pitirim Sorokin on the Sociology of the Revolution: Analysis of the Catastrophic Experience – Lessons and Forecasts for the Present. Vestnik Syktyvkarskogo universiteta. Ser. gumanit. nauk [Bulletin of the Syktyvkar University. Series of the Humanities]. Vol. 1: 54–76. (In Russ.)

Kovalev V.A. (2009) Theory of the Revolution Sorokina and the Russian Political Process. POLITEKS [POLITEX]. No. 2: 106–126. (In Russ.)

Lenin V.I. (1973) Three Sources and Three Components of Marxism. In: Full. collect. op. Vol. 23: 40–8. (In Russ.)

Norton B. (1983) Russian Political Masonry and February Revolution of 1917. International Review of Social History. Vol. 28. Iss. 2: 240–258.

Pareto V. (2007) Compendium on General Sociology. Moscow: Izd. GU VSHE. (In Russ.)

Pareto V. (1922) Previsione dei fenomeni sociali. Rivista d'Italia. 15 aprile: 370–389.

Preparata G.G. (2005) Conjuring Hitler: How Britain and America Made the Third Reich. London: Pluto Press.

Prins G. (2011) The British Way of Strategy: Making Vital Lessons For Our Times. Occasional Paper. October. London: RUSI.

Sorokin P.A. (2000) Notes of the Sociologist. Sociological Journalism. Saint Petersburg: Aleteya. (In Russ.)

Sorokin P. (1999) The Far Road: Autobiography. Moscow: Mosk. rabochiy. (In Russ.)

Sorokin P. (1994) Political Program of the Provisional Government. In: Sorokin P.A. Public Textbook of Sociology. Articles of Different Years. Moscow: Nauka: 283–292. (In Russ.)

Sorokin P. (1922) Current State of Russia. Praga. (In Russ.)

Sorokin P. (1926) Die russische Soziologie im zwanzigsten Jahrhundert. Jahrbuch fur Soziolgie. II: 462–483.

Stankevich V.B. (1920) Memories. 1914–1919 years. Berlin: I.P. Ladyzhnikova (In Russ.)

Volkov E.V. (2013) Pitirim Sorokin's Predicted and Unfulfilled Prognoses (from the History of AntiBolshevik Emigration in the USA). Vestnik YUrGU. Ser. «Sotsial'no-gumanitarnyye nauki» [Bulletin of the YurGU. Social Humanities Series]. Vol. 13: 25–28. (In Russ.)

Weber M. (1988a) Deutschlands künftige Staatsform. In: Max Weber: Gesammelte politische Schriften. Hrsg. von J. Winckelmann. 5. Auflage. Tübingen: Mohr (P. Siebeck): 448–484.

Weber M. (1988b) Parlament und Regierung im neugeordneten Deutschland: Zur politischen Kritik des Beamtentums und Parteiwesens. In: Max Weber: Gesammelte politische Schriften. Hrsg. von J. Winckelmann. 5. Auflage. Tübingen: Mohr (P. Siebeck): 306–444.

Weber M. (1988c) Preußisches Wahlrecht. In: Weber M. Gesamtausgabe, Abteilung I. Schriften und Reden. Band 15. Tubingen: Mohr (P. Siebeck): 224–235

Weber M. (1988d) Rußlands Übergang zur Scheindemokratie (April 1917). In: Max Weber: Gesammelte politische Schriften. Hrsg. von Johannes Winckelmann. 5. Auflage. Tübingen: Mohr (P. Siebeck): 197–216.

Zagorsky S.O. (1928) State Control of Industry in Russia during the War. New Haven: Yale University Press.

Zherebtsov IL, Kuzivanova O. Yu., Leiman I. (2017) Pitirim Sorokin: in the Abyss of the Revolution. Journal of the Belarusian State University. History. No. 3: 101–112. (In Russ.)

Content No 12, 2018