The Sociological Imagination

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Sociological Imagination

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Remember this is next week at the BSA conference. we’d love to get your comments/thoughts

the hashtag for the conference is #britsoc12 and we’ll be tweeting from @soc_imagination (and probably @mark_carrigan as well) throughout the conference

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C. Wright Mills: Legacies and Prospects – 50 Years On

Friday 13th April, 11-12.30pm
BRITISH SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE

In March 2012 it will have been 50 years since the death of C. Wright Mills. In that time the world has changed beyond recognition: the Cold War ended, the Keynesian consensus broke down, a globalizing neoliberalism rose to the ascendancy and the internet began to transform human communication and culture. In recent years, with 9/11 and then the financial crisis, it seems that history has returned with a vengeance.

This panel will explore the relevance of C. Wright Mills’ ideas 50 years on, considering the value of his legacy and the resources his work offers to understand the rapidly changing social world of the 21st century.

Prof Mike O’Donnell (University of Westminster) – Charles Wright Mills and the (Continuing) Problem of Radical Agency

Prof John Holmwood (University of Nottingham) – Sociology’s ‘moments’: C. Wright Mills and the critique of professionalism

Les Back (Goldsmith’s College) – Title TBC

In this RSA Animate video, the RSA’s Chief Executive Matthew Taylor, explores the significance which ground-breaking research in neuroscience and behavioural economics has for politics and policy. His biography gives him an interesting perspective on these issues: as a former key advisor to Tony Blair and former director of the establishment think tank IPPR, as well as his work with the RSA, his academically well-informed critique of contemporary politics is that of the consumate insider.

As a result of a dispute earlier today an article has been removed from the site and we’ll no longer be accepting unsolicited contributions. Today was our first experience of getting inadvertently caught up in the nasty side of the internet and we really didn’t like it. Apologies to all concerned and we now consider the matter closed.

- Mark and Milena

This is a reminder that the Sociological Imagination has a presence on facebook. Please do add us as a friend and feel free to get in contact. We’re always open to ideas and suggestions so please don’t hesitate if there’s anything you would like to say!

Sociological Imagination

Follow us on Twitter here:

Twitter News Wire

Twitter Updates

It has been over 50 years since C. Wright Mills wrote the Sociological Imagination. In that time the world has changed beyond recognition: the Cold War ended, the Keynesian consensus broke down, a globalizing neoliberalism rose to the ascendancy and the internet began to transform human communication and culture. In recent years, with 9/11 and then the financial crisis, it seems that history has returned with a vengeance. Is Wright Mills’ notion of the ‘Sociological Imagination’ still pertinent today? How can Sociology help shed light on the rapidly transforming world around us and the consequences of these transformations for the people who inhabit it? What does the ‘Sociological Imagination’ mean today?

Short articles are invited which engage with these themes, or particular aspects of them. Submissions should be 500 – 1500 words and e-mailed as a Word document. There is no deadline for submissions.