ISA Forum, Programme Book - International Sociological Association

Welcome and Introduction to the Forum Programme
by Arturo Rodríguez Morató, ISA Vice-President for Research and Forum Director
Welcome to the 1st ISA Forum of Sociology. Its programme is the result of a long process of interchanges amongst
many people: colleagues from all over the world who are working in many specialities and who have contributed to shaping
it. Crystallized, this programme is now the starting point of an experience which all who have taken part in the organization
of the Forum are hoping to be really stimulating and fruitful.
The idea of the Forum was born out of an intuition, a perception of some neglected practical necessities existing in ISA
as well as some missed opportunities and some important challenges for the sociological community. These had to be
addressed.
The Forum combines all these principles in a new model of sociological meeting. On the one hand, the aim is to provide
a basis for the different research committees and groups constituted in ISA to develop their usual interim meetings under
a common umbrella.. On the other hand, the intention is to encourage their interlocking and their contrasting while preserving
their independence in the pursuit of their own thematic interests. This was sought mainly through the central programme
of the Forum – the Common Sessions – a programme conceived as a dialogue among the different groups.
Finally, another aim is to open the meeting outwards by projecting it towards the citizenry in order to contribute to the necessary
updating of the link between sociology and the public sphere. The main theme, Sociological research and public
debate, provides us with the key to merge all these requirements: it is the common basis for the dialogue among the various
sociological specialities. It is also a reference for the themes developed by the groups and committees and it paves
the way for debates beyond the scholarly scope in order to show the public relevance of sociological discourse for our
societies.
The call for papers has been a great success and the outcome is a vast range of sessions. Many thematic programmes
have been designed covering a great number of relevant social issues on which sociology can provide fundamental
analyses and views. As it was to be expected, the own logic of the chosen subjects has prompted the organizers of
those programmes to move beyond the boundaries of committees and therefore many joint sessions between them have
been scheduled. This transgression of border areas between sociological specialities will be a great experience for the
organization of ISA and for the sociological community at large.
The general programme of the Forum developed by the Scientific Committee deals with the main subject: Sociological
research and public debate and the plenary sessions provide its framework. Beyond that, the Common Sessions set a
dialogue on the same subject among different views from different sociological specialities. Selected invited speakers
also contribute to this dialogue addressing some of the most current social issues from the point of view of sociology.
Furthermore, the general programme also includes many other valuable initiatives coming from inside and outside the
organization, thus creating a great number of special and ad hoc sessions. Following the aim that has been stated from
the very start - to open ourselves to society and to face its main concerns – this programme also includes a series of debates
open to the citizens.
Consequently, and thanks to the many contributions, the Forum offers a very complete and attractive programme. But be
aware! You will probably find some difficulties in choosing the sessions you would want to attend. I am afraid I am not in
a position to help you out of this painstaking yet exciting dilemma. That will be up to each and every one of you.
At the start of the 21st century sociology is facing a process of renewal. This first ISA Forum of Sociology has been conceived
and organized in order to help us to advance in this process. Now it is up to us, the participants of the Forum, to
make the most of the input we are about to generate at our meeting.
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