We Must Defend Sociology
It's Too Valuable to Let Go
A few weeks ago, The Mad Sociologist asked, why defend sociology against its most aggressive detractors? Isn’t it pointless? Here is what Mad Soc said:
But what's the goal of coming to the table? Compromise? What are the costs of that? On one side of the table are those who believe sociology shouldn't exist (at least that is what their actions reveal if not their words) and in our side, sociology should exist. So, is the compromise to partially exist? Is the goal educational? Are we going to sit down with the Republican representative and win them over by explaining the value of our discipline? It seems to me, they know the value, and that's why they want us gone? Are we going to only talk to presumably open minded conservatives? I mean that's great... but they've been pushed into retirement and have zero policy voice. I hope you get some conservatives to talk to you. Outreach may have some intrinsic value. However, if sociology or any academic discipline that focuses on power and human agency is to survive, let alone thrive, building coalitions is likely our better option.
Here is my response - we have three major reasons to defend against our critics:
If we don’t define sociology for the public, other people will. Even if we find ourselves in conflict with a bad faith actor, a lack of defense will let other people set the terms of the debate. This isn’t a demand to answer every internet troll, but when major actors, like the higher education leaders in Florida, trash sociology, they can’t be left unanswered.
Variation: There are always some folks who are open. In politics, you usually preach to the choir and sociology is very good at that. But that has only gotten us declining enrollments and public attack. Instead, we need to look for people with whom we can build a bigger and better coalition.
By-stander effects: The average conservative critic may not be open, but third parties looking at the debate might be willing to engage. There are probably a lot of parents of Florida university kids who have now written off sociology as a major for their sons and daughters. We need to reverse that.
Finally, you might ask if sociology is even worth saving. I certainly think so. At the very least, it is a very valuable piece of real estate in the academic system and reformers probably would have a better time colonizing that space than creating a new one from scratch.
Bottom line: Prepare for ground assault!
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Buy these books!
Sociology and Classical Liberalism (Open access/free)
Grad Skool Rulz - cheap ($5) advice manual for grad students
Obama and the antiwar movement