From Soviet sociology to scientific discipline

pp. 79-101

in: Larissa Titarenko, Elena Zdravomyslova, Sociology in Russia, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 2017

Abstract

The Post-Soviet period provided new directions for sociology that changed together with Russian society. Sociological education became massive, theoretical pluralism promised new grounds, sources of funding multiplied; party control disappeared, while international ties expanded. Russian sociology was fully institutionalized. Gradually, it was turning into a "normal" social science. Alongside with quantitative growth, problems of quality in education and research became visible and were actively debated along with public sociology and its place in Russia. Several sociological associations were founded aiming to strengthen professional solidarity among sociologists; however, they contributed to increasing political fragmentation within the field.