printAbout the Journal
Russian language Sociological Studies introduces itself to sociological communities
The first issue of “Sociological Studies” (or, briefly - Socis) had appeared in Moscow back in summer 1974. The founding editor of the journal Anatoly G. Khartshev was happy to have overcome all obstacles put by the then Soviet authorities in the way of re-establishing sociological periodic in the country. Central for the journal publications had become, firstly, theoretical issues, and secondly applied research in the factories, offices, cities and rural communities. Methodology, methods and techniques of empirical sociological fieldwork had made up another focal point followed by history of sociology both abroad and in Russia, and contemporary state of art as well as sociologists’ searches home and abroad. The new and somewhat mysterious science had enjoyed considerable attraction among social scientists of the USSR. Some 6 to 8 thousand copies had found their subscribers at the time.
Initially, the journal had been published quarterly, later - bimonthly, and since 1989 it is monthly academic, social and political journal under auspices of the Russian (since 1992) Academy of Sciences, - a body of leading Russian scientists since 1728. Editorial board and editorial staff consider themselves as a mirror of contemporary Russian sociology with all its achievements and failures eager to reflect in the journal’s pages current level of sociology in Russia, both in traditional centers of social scholarship and in Russia’s regions, universities and research institutions.
Sociological Studies have managed to occupy a leading place in the community of Russian sociologists. A number of outstanding local sociologists form regularly convening editorial board and its editorial council include scholars from Armenia, Canada, China, Bеlаrus’, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzia, Lithuania, Poland, USA, Ukraine, and former Yugoslavia.
The journal has nowadays 2,5 thousand regular subscribers scattered from Baltic tom Pacific – mainly professional sociologists, teaching this discipline in universities. The data on our readership convincingly show that the journal is actively and frequently used as a kind of text book by university students. Thus, visitors to public libraries might often come across outworn copies of the journal – evidence of its frequent (and regrettably rather rough) use by the readers.
Currently, our journal reflects social, economic, political and intellectual processes developing in Russia today. Papers coming from various regions across the country analyze changes in the society, electoral intricacies, changing social structure, all kind of conflict and its resolution (including military sociology), deviations, ethnic issues, marginalization trends, gender issues etc. Having our residence in the Institute of Sociology, Russian Academy of Sciences, we are in a lucky position to cooperate with sociologists of this as well as of other research institutes and universities of Russia.
Journal staff sees it as their crucial goal to introduce our readers to new developments in the field of sociology, to new ideas, new projects and techniques. We keep alive discussions on the issues crucial for contemporary Russian sociologists. Academic symposia had newly become a part of journal’s academic statute – we arrange annual Khartshev readings (in memoriam of Socis‘s first editor). Most significant, in our judgement, issues had been discussed in recent years: sociology’s subject, its notion, levels and content of sociological knowledge, continuity and innovations in sociology. Socis develops contacts with our colleagues of the Ukraine, Byelorussia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzia, and other CIS countries, as well as with Russian sociologists residing abroad, and international sociological communities. As a body of the Academy of Sciences the journal publishes papers authored by imminent scholars outside the field of sociology, members of the Academy. Our pages are open for those making their first steps as scholars as well - students and post-graduate students in sociology. University’ departments are on their part actively filling in sections of our journal devoted to sociology of education, to studies among the student youth. Teachers and professors share their techniques in various sociological subjects including history of sociology, sociological heritage, historical sociology.
Journal is making a central effort to cultivate its links to key social groups of Russian society of today, particularly public officials, and members of growing business community. Section of our journal dedicated to management and governance issues is an attempts on our part to prove journal’s utility for these key actors in contemporary Russia, as well as for national civil society in the making.
Book reviews occupy a significant part Socis to presenting to our readers most of the sociological publications of interest appearing in Russia along with other sociological periodicals published in the country and brief information on the new literature from other countries. On our request, imminent sociologists - A. Martinelli, P. Sztompka, I. Wallerstein, J. Alexander and others - permitted us generously to translate and publish some of their papers. ISA presidents Piotr Sztompka and Alberto Martinelli (formerly) are both on Sociological Studies Editorial council.
Members of the journal’s staff try to personally participate in global congresses of sociological community, and in those in Europe and Russia. We review their proceedings in our pages, keep our readers on the current to publications in ISA journals, try to make most of Internet facilities.
Our Internet address is http://www.isras.ru/socis.html and our e-mail is socis@isras.ru
Contacts for eventual subscribers via telephone and FAX 495 334 74 79 or 495 334 71 40 or by post to Mr. V.V. Bogomolov, Director, Nauka-Export, 117997, Moscow, Profsoyuznaya 90
Head editor
Sociological Studies
Prof. Zh.T. Toshchenko,
Russian Academy of sciences correspondent member
