Utopin har sedan århundranden tillbaka figurerat som tankemodell för det goda samhället. Tidigare som moderna sociologer har hävdat nyttan med ett utopiskt tankegods, särskilt som kritisk social teori med syfte att förändra människans sociala villkor. Senare forskning har visat på att element i science-fiction har ett praktiskt värde för flera aspekter av sociologiskt intresse, exempelvis inom organisationsutveckling, praktiskt lärande och modeller för hållbarhet. Men trots påvisad nytta har varken utopiska idéer eller modern forskning inom science-fiction fångat den sociologiska akademins intresse. I föreliggande studie utforskas anti-utopia eller dystopins potential som spekulativ sociologi, - en dystopisk social fantasi, i förhoppningen att nå nya insikter och perspektiv. Genom en tematisk analys av dystopisk litteratur påvisas att element i dystopiska narrativ kan användas inom sociologiska intressen i utvecklande syften, som avancerande analysmodeller eller som vägledning vid formulerandet av kritiska sociala teorier eller hypoteser. Vidare hävdas att analysmodeller innehållande både utopi och dystopi blir mer nyskapande, flexibla och progressiva, samt att de kan avancera den sociala fantasin genom att tillföra en alternativ form av riskbedömning.

Das Thema dieser Dissertation ist die Anwendung des „Matching Law” als Verhaltensannahme bei der Erklärung sozialer Phänomene. Das „Matching Law” ist ein Modell der behavioristischen Lerntheorie und sagt aus, dass die relative Häufigkeit der Wahl einer Handlung mit der relativen Häufigkeit der Belohnung dieser Handlung übereinstimmt. In der Dissertation werden verschiedene Probleme in Bezug auf die soziologische Anwendung des „Matching Law” erörtert. Aufbauend auf diesen Erkenntnissen wird das Entsprechungsgesetz in die ökonomische Entscheidungstheorie integriert und mit bestehenden Verhaltensprognosen theoretisch verglichen. Anschließend wird das Entsprechungsgesetz auf mehrere soziale Situationen angewandt. Dabei kommt ein Lernmodell zum Einsatz, welches als „Melioration Learning” bezeichnet wird und unter bestimmten Bedingungen zum Entsprechungsgesetz führt. Mit Hilfe dieses Lernmodells und agentenbasierter Simulationen werden Hypothesen zu sozialem Verhalten hergeleitet. Zunächst werden einfache Situationen mit nur zwei interagierenden Akteuren betrachtet. Dabei lassen sich durch das Entsprechungsgesetz einige Lösungskonzepte der Spieltheorie replizieren, obwohl weniger Annahmen bezüglich der kognitiven Fähigkeiten der Akteure und der verfügbaren Informationen gesetzt werden. Außerdem werden Interaktionen zwischen beliebig vielen Akteuren untersucht. Erstens lässt sich die Entstehung sozialer Konventionen über das Entsprechungsgesetz erklären. Zweitens wird dargestellt, dass die Akteure lernen, in einem Freiwilligendilemma oder einem Mehrpersonen-Gefangenendilemma zu kooperieren.

Diploma thesis from sociology of sport maps the basic socio-demographic characteristics of czech runners, with the emphasis on runners between the ages of 30 - 50, which form the most significant part of running segment. Aside from these characteristics it also deals with running habits, preferences, favourite locations for running, motivations and aspirations regarding not only new race events but also its evolving running equipments and last but not least the increase of informal running groups - light communities. The vital part is closer look on history of sociology in regards to sport in the Czech republic, and also as a part of world sociological tradition. It shows that even traditional sociological theories can be applied when some processes in society are scientifically studied. In methodological part the concept of free time is used, as well as a new look on alternative tourism - travelling for running events. As a part of second running wave the concept of light communities is examined, too. Moreover, this work shows the closer look on runners' satisfaction in life in comparison with economically active population in the Czech rep (Nov 2018, CVMM). In terms of quantitative methodology the data are collected (n = 626) via respondent driven sampling approach at various places, e.g. on...

Population churn--the population turnover experienced by a community--can have differential effects on a community. Mass society theory suggests that because the churn rate experienced by communities can contribute to their uprooting, fragmentation, and isolation, churn is a potent threat to the stability of our modern day communities. Social capital theory, to the contrary, suggests otherwise. Social capital theory suggests that churn can have positive effects on communities by bringing new migrants with valuable human capital skills and experiences to communities. These migrants bring to their new communities the potential for creating new jobs, spurring economic development, and for initiating housing starts that expand housing options for the poor and minorities. In so doing, they help create and sustain vibrant, growing modern day communities. Yet in spite of the significant role churn may play in determining the health and viability of modern day communities, it has been overlooked in the migration literature, which is mostly dominated by individual-level research on the causes and effects of migration, particularly the pecuniary benefits to movers. Using county-level data and multivariate analyses, this research seeks to fill this gap in the literature by examining the relationship between the community and churn, from the perspectives provided by social capital and mass society theories.

Большинство исследований корпоративной социальной ответственности (КСО) фокусируется на ее влиянии на финансовые показатели или отношение клиентов к КСО. Обязательства организаций в отношении социальной ответственности были предметом очень немногих исследований. В этом исследовании исследуется влияние инженерного права на приверженность организации социальной ответственности в рамках модели, основанной на социальной теории. В частности, мы исследуем влияние трех аспектов корпоративной социальной ответственности; роль организаций в продвижении социальной ответственности, инженерное право в руководстве организациями и взаимосвязь между инженерным правом и социальной ответственностью. В исследовании также обсуждаются основные последствия использования КСО для повышения приверженности сотрудников организации и улучшения ее результатов. Анализ основан на выборке из 50 сотрудников, отобранных из инжиниринговой организации в России. Подсчитано, что внешняя КСО положительно связана с обязательствами организации, и КСО вносит по меньшей мере такой же значительный вклад в обязательства организации, как и удовлетворенность работой для сотрудника. / The majority of research on corporate social responsibility (CSR) focuses on its influence on financial performance or customer attitudes about CSR. Organizational commitments towards social responsibility have been the subject of very few research. This study investigates the effect of engineering law on organization's commitment towards social responsibility within a model that draws the social theory. Particularly, we examine the impact of three aspects of corporate social responsibility; role of organizations in promoting social responsibility, engineering law in directing organizations and relationship between engineering law and social responsibility. The study also discusses major implications for using CSR to increase employee commitment to the organization and improve its performance. The analysis is based on a sample of 50 employees drawn from engineering organization in Russia. It is estimated that external CSR is positively associated to organizational commitment, and CSR makes at least as much of a great contribution to organizational commitment as job satisfaction for an employee.

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American Public Administration (PA) theory and practices have lacked adequately articulated or formalized normative foundations since the formal founding of the American State. Discussions regarding how PA theory derives from individual and collective critical reflection on practices (praxiology) and how that knowledge can inform future actions (praxis) virtually have been absent in all organizations. The recognition of the political legitimacy of PA has been lacking. The placing of a viable and critical social theory that posits conscious, responsible, and committed human practices within the context of the administration of the American Constitutional State, a politically narrow context, has been lacking as well. This dissertation establishes the works of social theorists Orion White, Jr., Michael Harmon, Robert Denhardt and Bayard Catron as the foundation for understanding how individuals do and can contribute to the collective administration of the complex state, including how they operate daily in organizations they join, critique and are capable of changing. These scholars understand the dynamics of human being and present discussions of human actions and practices that are capable of tackling the challenges associated with administering the American State. The work of John Rohr has established the other missing links—the constitutional legitimacy of PA and the clarification of constitutional values to which American administrative actions and knowledge must adhere. This dissertation asserts that it is the placing of human theory and action within the distinctly American theory and practices of the State that constitutes the solid normative foundations for American PA Praxis and Praxiology that constitutes a viable and formal founding of American Public Administration in word and deed. / Ph. D.

[pt] Esta tese analisou o engajamento agêntico de Chiquinha Gonzaga e a estrutura social que a recepcionou, com as redes que estabeleceu e os valores vigentes à época, assim como a transformação urbana e social ocorrida no Rio de Janeiro em meados do século XIX. A vida de Chiquinha Gonzaga ofereceu um exemplo paradigmático de agência, na medida em que através da música e seu comprometimento deliberado de atuação como compositora possibilitou a transformação social da estrutura e das práticas sociais, como afirma Margaret Archer. Embora o conceito de agência seja relativamente recente na sociologia, o tema da relação entre indivíduo e sociedade ou agência e estrutura se desenvolveu desde sua formação, como espelho de diversos contextos sociais e a criação de modelos teóricos e categorias que tinham como objetivo apreender a realidade de forma mais rigorosa. Embora o desenvolvimento destes conceitos tenha se alternado com primazia ora para um ou outro, ambos estão intrinsecamente vinculados nas diferentes maneiras pelas quais moldam a ação social e neste sentido optou-se por uma análise das configurações sociais características de meados do século XIX no Rio de Janeiro. Podemos afirmar que a relativização das rígidas estruturas que impediam a emancipação feminina se deu em parte a partir do advento da pequena imprensa os teatrinhos, e sua conjugação com o entrudo e o carnaval que afrouxavam a rígida estrutura conservadora que limitava a atuação do universo popular. Soma-se a isso a personalidade e o caráter transgressor da compositora que contribuíram para o advento de novas formas de vida para a mulher. / [en] This thesis analyzed the agentic engagement by Chiquinha Gonzaga and their social structure, with the networks established and the values prevailing at the time, as well as the urban and social transformation that took place in Rio de Janeiro in the mid-nineteenth century. The life of Chiquinha Gonzaga offered an excellent example of agency, to the extent that through music and their deliberate commitment of activity as a composer enabled the social transformation of the structure and social practices, as stated by Margaret Archer. Although the agency concept is relatively new in sociology, the theme of the relationship between individual and society or agency and structure developed since its formation, as a mirror of various social contexts and the creation of theoretical models and categories that aimed to apprehend reality more strictly. Although the development of these concepts have alternated with primacy for one or another, both are intrinsically linked in different ways in which they shape social action and in this sense we opted for an analysis of social settings features of the mid-nineteenth century in Rio de Janeiro. We can say that the relativization of the rigid structures that prevented the emancipation of women was in part from the advent of the small press, the little theatres, and their combination with entrudo and carnival that loosened the rigid conservative structure that limited the performance of the popular universe. Added to this, the personality and character of the songwriter who contributed to the advent of new forms of life for women.

Sowohl die öffentlichen wie die akademischen Auseinandersetzungen um Gehalt und Bedeutung der Menschenwürde werden bis heute von der Philosophie, den Rechtswissenschaften und der Theologie dominiert; Stimmen aus der Soziologie werden hierzu nur vereinzelt vernommen. Der Beitrag verfolgt zunächst das Ziel, unter Rückgriff auf ‚würdesensible‘ klassische Autoren Koordinaten eines genuin soziologischen Würdekonzepts zu entwickeln, das Probleme des menschlichen Ausdrucks und gesellschaftsstrukturelle Faktoren (u. a. städtische Öffentlichkeit, Arbeitsteilung, Rollenvielfalt) in strenger Weise zusammendenkt. Im ersten Kapitel (1) wird daher insbesondere auf Helmuth Plessners Grenzen der Gemeinschaft und Erving Goffmans Interaktionssoziologie Bezug genommen, um in einem eher induktiven, phänomenzentrierten Zugriff überhaupt erst diejenigen Situationen und die zugehörigen gesellschaftlichen Randbedingungen zu identifizieren, in denen das Problem der Würde in einem soziologisch distinkten Sinne akut wird. Das anschließende Kapitel (2) verfolgt mit Georg Simmel, Émile Durkheim und Niklas Luhmann zunächst eine rollentheoretische Präzisierung des Würdekonzeptes, die sich vor allem an der problematischen Annahme Peter L. Bergers abarbeitet, dass die vermeintlich bruchlose Ablösung von traditionellen Ehrvorstellungen durch den Würdekomplex gleichbedeutend wäre mit einer Bedeutungsminderung gesellschaftlicher Rollenerwartungen. Das letzte Kapitel (3) hält den systematischen Ertrag der vorangegangenen Überlegungen fest und widmet sich abschließend der Frage, in welchem Verhältnis dieser Ertrag zu dem normativ emphatischen Verständnis von Menschenwürde steht, wie es dem in Philosophie und Verfassungsrecht nach wie vor dominanten Unverlierbarkeitspostulat zugrunde liegt. / Both public and academic debates about the concept of human dignity are to date dominated by philosophical, legal and theological perspectives, while sociological contributions remain conspicuously scarce. This article aims at developing a genuine sociological concept of dignity, which binds together problems of human expression with socio-structural conditions of modernity (urban public sphere, division of labour, variety of roles, etc.). The argument unfolds in three steps: first, drawing upon the works of Helmuth Plessner, Erving Goffman and Niklas Luhmann, I identify those situations which allow us to distinguish problems of dignity from those associated with other expectational forms (particularly honour). Secondly, I turn to Simmel, Durkheim and Luhmann in order to pursue a role-theoretical clarification of the concept of dignity. Finally, I inquire into the question of how the systematic yield of these sociological considerations relates to the emphatic and heavily normative understanding of human dignity which pervades recent philosophical and juridical discourses.

This Sierra Leone Conflict arose from the society’s failure to institutionalize the requisite post-conventional organizing principle for collective will formation and for conflict resolution. In this post-traditional society - one artificially constructed from diverse political and cultural groups, without a shared ethos – only mutual (communicative) understanding can resolve differences and ensure solidarity. A lack of mutual understanding overburdens the adaptive capacity of the society, creating crises tendencies. Repression only intensified these tendencies, ensuring their eventual catastrophic explosion, 11 years civil conflict. State hindrances to social (communicative) interaction rendered the society incapable of realizing the requisite post conventional moral learning i.e. the social intelligence or problem-solving equipment required to resolve conflict, decolonize itself, neutralize normative power, shed dogmatic consciousness, change oppressive conventions, and influential customs. Thus, the study promotes civic virtues of post conventional morality (justice, truthfulness, moral rightness) as the key for liberating the society from its crisis-inducing colonial organizing principle. As the basis of sociology, the discipline the remains focused on society-wide problems, the theory of social evolution is adopted here to reconstruct the crisis in Sierra Leone’s constitutional democratic development. The study uses the rational reconstructive method to explicate problematic validity claims of norms, policy decisions, or the social order. The social order was rendered crisis-ridden because the reasons - the axis around which mutual understanding revolve - adduced for it cannot admit of consensus. The emerging social disintegration exemplifies use of deficient logic in social interaction, one below the requisite categorical moral cognitive consciousness. For this research, colonization is not necessarily externally induced, but forms of understanding in the political, legal, social, and educational interactions. The key point of the study is this: today Sierra Leone achieves solidarity, and decolonize from its conventional organizing principle, only if the state, economy, and civil society can find their limit in the socio-cultural domain.