Study guide and discussion questions for “Public Sociologies: Contradictions, Dilemmas, and Possibilities" by MICHAEL BURAWOY

Discussion questions:

What does Burawoy mean when he writes that "over the last 35 years there has been a scissors movement." What is your sense of it?

According to Burawoy, when and how should sociologists engage politically? What do you think?

Discuss the various politcal stances that sociologists can have: self-defense, public engagement, policy intervention, and a political venue unto itself.

What does Burawoy mean when he writes: "To fail to do so is to take a stance by default." What is Burawoy's criticism of those sociologists that argue that the ASA should not take political stances such as the one they took on Iraq? What do you think?

According to Burawoy, what is the role of values in sociology? Do you agree?

Compare public sociology to policy sociology and professional sociology.

According to Burawoy, what should be the relationship between sociology, civil society and the state? Do you agree?

Study guide questions:

What does Burawoy mean by public sociology?

What are the versions of sociology that Burawoy discusses?

In which sphere of higher education does Burawoy believe public sociology is most often found?

Unlike the academic disciplines of economics and political science, sociology’s most distinct object of interest and support is what?