Sociology in France after 1945

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-viii

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Philippe Masson, Cherry Schrecker

   Pages 1-6

3. French Sociology before 1945: Philosophy, Institutions and Politics

   • Philippe Masson, Cherry Schrecker

   Pages 7-24

4. American Influence and the Development of Disciplines (1945–1963)

   • Philippe Masson, Cherry Schrecker

   Pages 25-41

5. The Development and Institutionalization of Sociology as an Academic Discipline (1963–1980)

   • Philippe Masson, Cherry Schrecker

   Pages 42-56

6. Questioning the Old Models and Bringing in the New (1980 to the Present)

   • Philippe Masson, Cherry Schrecker

   Pages 57-73

7. Conclusion: From Present to Future?

   • Philippe Masson, Cherry Schrecker

   Pages 74-78

8. Back Matter

   Pages 79-91

   PDF

Tracing the evolution of French sociology from the early twentieth century to the present day, this insightful book brings to the fore the renowned origins but relatively slow development of the discipline in France. Divided into four chronological sections it focuses on the social changes and institutional transformations that have impacted on the history of sociology in France as it relates to both higher education and research. In doing so, it draws attention to three major features of French sociology: the imbalance between theory and method caused by its philosophical roots, the difficulty of locating it in relation to other disciplines, and the close links between sociology and political thought and action.

• Sociology
• France
• philosophy
• politics
• First World War
• Vichy
• Durkheimian school
• Centre d'Etudes Sociologiques
• universities
• institutional development
• evolution
• Institution
• sociology
• university
• area studies

"This is a really useful book; anglophone readers need to know more about French sociology, and the focus on the period since 1945 allows space for some recent history commonly neglected. It takes empirical work seriously, includes sociology outside academia, and places French sociology against its broader social background, showing that factors ranging from the traditional structure of university disciplines to the felt needs of those working on the government Plan have played formative roles at different developmental stages. This should inform comparison, and perhaps encourage more of us to scale the language barrier." - Jennifer Platt, University of Sussex, UK "This is a really useful book; anglophone readers need to know more about French sociology, and the focus on the period since 1945 allows space for some recent history commonly neglected. It takes empirical work seriously, includes sociology outside academia, and places French sociology against its broader social background, showing that factors ranging from the traditional structure of university disciplines to the felt needs of those working on the government Plan have played formative roles at different developmental stages. This should inform comparison, and perhaps encourage more of us to scale the language barrier." - Jennifer Platt, University of Sussex, UK

• University of Nantes, France

  Philippe Masson

• University of Lorraine, France

  Cherry Schrecker

Philippe Masson is Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Nantes, France.
 
Cherry Schrecker is Assistant Professor at the University of Lorraine, France.

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