Towards a paradigmatic enhancement of sociology

ABSTRACT

This article is a continuation of the debate on the paradigmatic foundations of sociology. The argument reads that any negligence towards the rising number of would-be sociological paradigms stands as counter-productive to sociological theorizing and empirical research. The guiding idea here is that while sociology is a multi-paradigmatic discipline, efforts should still be made to develop paradigmatic syntheses. The suggested direction for resolving this task includes building up an integrative paradigmatic model and discussing its content and applications. The core of this model is the broadly defined concept of social interaction at micro, meso and macro levels of social structures and processes. The suggested paradigm has the capacity to efficiently mediate in overcoming dilemmas regarding sociological knowledge by integrating structural and historical approaches as well as balancing the explanatory potential of material factors and ideas. In this way, prospects will open up for the development and application of explanatory models in addition to quality middle-range theories.

KEYWORDS:

• Multi-paradigmatic sociology
• paradigmatic integration
• social interaction concept
• new paradigmatic potentials

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Note on contributor

Nikolai Genov is professor emeritus from the Free University in Berlin. He received his PhD from the University of Leipzig. Before moving to Berlin he worked at the Bulgarian Academy of sciences. He has been Visiting Professor and Visiting Scholar at the Universities in Berkeley, Bielefeld, Lund, Rome, Seoul and Warsaw. His research fields include sociological theory, societal transformations, global trends and cross-border migration. He is the author of more than 350 scientific publications in 28 countries. Recent book publications: Global Trends in Eastern Europe (2016) and Challenges of Individualization (2018). He has been Vice-president of UNESCO’s Management of Social Transformations Program and of the International Social Science Council (Paris).