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- Title
THE ELITES CAN DO WITHOUT US.
- Authors
Gibbs, Jack P.
- Abstract
There are two prophecies for sociology. First is that unless sociology undergoes a radical change, the field will be deprived of the resources it now commands. The accomplishment of sociology will be questioned by its sponsors such governmental agencies and foundations. However, this image of doom is tempered by another prophecy, sociologists will avoid collective extinction by pursuing theories and research that have policy implications. A theory has policy implications if it makes assertions about realizable means to goals sought by a group whose interests transcend scientific and scholarly activities. Both these prophecies are based on the assumption that once as society has gone beyond a predominantly capitalistic stage, there is an increasing demand for expertise in social control to replace market mechanism. This is not to say that a post-capitalist society needs more social control. The argument is that various interest groups for all manner of reasons will seek solutions for what they perceive as problems, even if those problems are actually manifestations of the exercise of power by a particular class. It will be a constant struggle for power and those who seek power will look to the social sciences for answers to those problem. If sociologists provide no answer, then those who control the purse strings will decide that they can do without sociologists.
- Subjects
PROPHECY; SOCIOLOGY; SOCIAL sciences; PUBLIC policy (Law) -- Social aspects; PRESSURE groups
- Publication
American Sociologist, 1979, Vol 14, Issue 2, p79
- ISSN
0003-1232
- Publication type
Article