Conference theme

The conference theme, "Perspectives from the Periphery", should be understood in a broad and inclusive sense. While history of sociology often has been primarily associated with the study of the classical theories of the so-called founding-fathers in metropolitan Europe, this conference aims at expanding the boundaries from within and draw attention also to the "other sides". An important standpoint is however not to regard this relationship in terms of one-sided influences from the centre to the periphery, but instead to emphasize the complex patterns of cultural translations, power relations, and mutual exchanges. Hence, in this conference questions related to different geographical, social, disciplinary and temporal peripheries will all be placed at the centre of attention. How is the local related to the global? Is there a political geography of social theory? In what ways have gender, ethnicity and class structured the production of social knowledge -- and our understandings of it? What do experiences from the non-western margins say about today's spatial and temporal limits, and power relations? Is a transnational history of the social sciences without a cognitive centre possible, and how could in that case such a history look like?

The conference welcomes sessions and papers related to the sub-themes and topics suggested below, as well as to other aspects of the history of sociology and the social sciences: