Page 33 - The ISA Handbook in Contemporary Sociology

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4 THE ISA HANDBOOK IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIOLOGY

We went on to point out that theoretically main topics of analysis in this field of
these notions may be conceived of as being on specialization, and bearing in mind the ques-
a continuum, as being unconnected, mutually tions suggested above, they were invited to
exclusive poles of social relations, or as being consider what types of questions are
intertwined (and perhaps complementary). addressed, what types of explanations are
From some theoretical perspectives, we noted, proposed, and, perhaps, what some of the
only one – conflict, for instance – is consid- main empirical findings are. Where social
ered key to the analysis of social (and societal) policy (national or international) is of rele-
relations; from others, two – competition and vance, the authors were encouraged to con-
cooperation, for instance – are concurrently sider its implicit theoretical agenda, and the
important. constraints that it imposes on the options of
We suggested that the importance and conflict, competition, cooperation in social
the meaning of these concepts can also vary and societal relations, and/or the constraints
within a particular field of sociology due to which other socio-political factors impose on
diverse theoretical, methodological, and epis- it. Authors were encouraged to highlight
temological perspectives. These variations alternative approaches, tensions, and
may be – but are not necessarily – related contradictions within the field, drawing on
to the specifics of national sociologies, to material from several societies, and,
addressing international comparisons, or to ideally, from more than one region of the
questions of particular salience within a world. In short, within the analytical frame-
given socio-historical context. work of the classical notions of conflict,
In addressing conflict/competition/cooper- competition, and cooperation, an invitation
ation, one may also ask: from whose per- was launched which aimed to be very inclu-
spective and at what level of analysis? sive, providing ‘space’ for contributions from
Analysis may be from the perspective of, for the wide range of specialities and approaches
example, the majority, one or more minori- represented within the International
ties, and/or (relative) equals. It may be at the Sociological Association.
macro, the meso or the micro level – about Ann Denis and Devorah Kalekin-Fishman,
societies, states, nations, or groups (local, then a member of the Research Coordinating
national or transnational), which are based on Committee (2002–2006) and now Vice-
such criteria as ethnicity, gender, social class, President for Publications (2006–2010), have
occupation, kinship etc. The possible impact worked together on this Handbook. Authors
of individuals’ multiple (and potentially con- of each of the 52 presentations at the confer-
flicting) social locations and identities may be ence were invited to revise and submit their
a preoccupation. papers for consideration for publication.
How and to what extent can actors choose While some had already committed their
or are they constrained to participate in paper to another publication outlet, and for
social relations characterized by cooperation, others the time-lines or the focus of the book
competition, conflict? Again this question were not appropriate, a total of 28 chapters
can be addressed at one or more of the micro, have been accepted, double the number ini-
meso, or macro levels. tially anticipated for publication. Given the
In brief, in their papers participants were rich selection available, the publication, orig-
invited to present a synthesis of how and to inally to have been a special journal issue
what extent the themes of conflict, com- and/or a regular length monograph volume,
petition, and cooperation are examined was transformed, at Sage’s recommendation,
within contemporary analyses in the field into a Handbook.
of specialization of the Research Committee, Using the prisms of conflict, competition,
Working Group or Thematic Group they rep- and cooperation for focusing on what it
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resented. In relation to one or more of the means to be doing sociology, researchers