Chapter 3: Critiquing the Sociological Canon

Definitions

  • Reflexive/Reflexivity: The capacity of an individual to reflect on their behaviour, and to recognize the structural factors which shape, constrain, or otherwise inform it. Reflexivity is linked with the sociological imagination. Reflexivity is also sometimes used for the capacity of a group, or an academic discipline, to reflect on its own assumptions or apply its methods to itself.
  • Race: A largely informal rank in biological taxonomy, typically referring to genetically distinct populations of individuals within the same species.
  • Canon: A collection of classic works considered to be especially important and influential.
  • Colonization: The process by which a nation establishes control over another territory or people, typically to prove economic benefits for the colonizer.
  • Nation: A group of people who see themselves as a single, cohesive unit, based on various cultural, ancestral, or historical criteria. Members of a nation are typically similar in regard to their language, religious beliefs, cultural practices, and ethnic identities.
  • Settler Colonization: A distinct type of colonization in which the current inhabitants of a colonized territory are replaced by a new society of settlers.
  • Ethnocentrism: The act of judging other cultures based on the standards, values, and ideas common to one’s own culture. Ethnocentrism occurs when one evaluates the world from the perspective of their own culture, and ignores the different perspectives of other groups.
  • Eurocentrism: A form of ethnocentrism, in which perspective being prioritized is that of European culture or society.
  • Extroversion: In Amin, an economy is extroverted when it is oriented to the developed of other national societies, rather than to its own development. Hountondji extended this idea to speak of intellectual extroversion. An intellectual is extroverted when they are oriented to the ideas and problems of other societies or cultures, rather than to their own.
  • Captive Mind: a mode of thought in which the perspective of an external source is adopted in an uncritical and imitative manner. In Atalas’ description, the external source is western social science and humanities.
  • Academic Dependency: the dependence of scholars and intellectuals from the global South on the institutions and ideas of western social science.
  • Northern Theory: social science theories produced from the perspective of the global North.
  • Southern Theory: social science theories produced from the perspective of the global South.
  • Subaltern: the subjected or oppressed groups in societies; those subordinate to dominant or elite groups. 
  • Subaltern Studies Group: a group of South Asian scholars, formed at the University of Sussex in 1970-80. The group is focused in the study of post-colonial societies, and on the representation of ‘subaltern’ groups; those who are sub-ordinated on the basis of class, caste, gender, race, language and culture.
  • Global South: Related to Global North, used t characterise the political, economic and social status of countries that were previously called ‘Third World’ or ‘Developing’, countries primarily in the Southern hemisphere. Similar to Majority World.
  • Orientalism: A particular perspective on Eastern culture, cultivated by Western academics, artists, and intellectuals. Orientalism involves depictions which paint Eastern culture as exotic, alien, irrational, or otherwise backwards in comparison to the superior West.
  • Other: In philosophy, an oppositional group against which self-image is constructed. The characteristics of the self are defined in opposition to the characteristics of the other.
  • Reflexive/Reflexivity: The capacity of an individual to reflect on their behaviour, and to recognize the structural factors which shape, constrain, or otherwise inform it. Reflexivity is linked with the sociological imagination. Reflexivity is also sometimes used for the capacity of a group, or an academic discipline, to reflect on its own assumptions or apply its methods to itself.
  • Post-Colonial Studies: Academic discipline which studies the social, cultural, and economic effects of colonialism and imperialism. 
  • Border Thinking: a mode of thought which draws on the perspectives, knowledges, and forms of expression marginalized by colonial domination.
  • Mestiza Consciousness: In Anzaldúa, a term describing the unique experience of women with mixed ancestry, in particular Chicana women.
  • Double Consciousness, a feeling of internal conflict and estrangement arising from oppression. Double consciousness occurs when one’s identity is bifurcated into distinct sets of thoughts, strivings, and ideals, which the individual struggles to reconcile. Coined by Du Bois in reference to the experience of African Americans.  
  • Racism: Prejudice or discrimination based on perceived race.

Books on the General Topic

Connell, R. 2007. Southern theory: the global dynamics of knowledge in social. Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin

Meghji, A. 2021. Decolonizing Sociology. Polity Press.

Bhambra, G.K. and Holmwood, J. 2021. Colonialism and Modern Social Theory. Polity Press.

Alatas, SF 2006. Alternative Discourses in Asian Social Science: Responses to eurocentrism. New Delhi: Sage.

Go, J 2016. Postcolonial Thought and Social Theory. New York: Oxford University Press.

Smith, LT. 2013. Decolonizing methodologies: Research and indigenous peoples. Zed Books

Sharrock, W., Hughes, J. and Martin, P., 2003. Understanding Modern Sociology. London: SAGE.

Luna, Z and Pirtle, W 2021. Black Feminist Sociology. Routledge.

Contemporary Articles

Patel, S. 2020. Sociology’s encounter with the decolonial: The problematique of indigenous vs that of coloniality, extraversion and colonial modernity. Current Sociology, Online Early, 1–17.

Abbott, O. (2023). W. E. B. Du Bois’s forgotten sociology of morality: Contesting the foundations and informing the future of the sociology of morality. The Sociological Review, 71(5), 957–975.

Brown, L 2018. Indigenous young people, disadvantage and the violence of settler colonial education policy and curriculum. Journal of Sociology. 55(1) 54–71

Neubert, D. (2022). Do Western Sociological Concepts Apply Globally? Towards a Global Sociology. Sociology, 56(5), 930–945.

Butler-McIlwraith, K 2006 ‘(Re)presenting indigeneity: The possibilities of Australian sociology’, Journal of Sociology, vol. 42, no. 4, pp. 369-381.

  • Discusses various possibilities for integrating indigenous experiences and perspectives into mainstream Australian sociology.

Seidman, S 2013, ‘The colonial unconscious of classical sociology’, Political Power and Social Theory, vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 35-54.  

  • Discusses the lack of attention to imperial power and the ‘dynamics of empire’ in the work of Marx, Weber, and Durkheim. 

Zimmerman, A 2006, ‘Decolonizing Weber’, Postcolonial Studies, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 53-79.

Pradella, L 2017 ‘Marx and the Global South: Connecting History and Value Theory’ Sociology, vol. 51, no. 1, pp. 146-161. 

  • Two pieces applying post-colonial ideas to the classic authors.

Seidman, S 2013 ‘The Colonial Unconscious of Classical Sociology’ in J Co (ed.) Postcolonial Sociology (Political Power and Social Theory, Vol. 24), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Bingley, pp. 35-54

  • Very useful contemporary piece.

Connell R 2011, ‘Gender and Social Justice: Southern Perspectives, South African Review of Sociology’, vol. 42, no. 3, pp. 103-115.

Connell, R 2013, ‘Using Southern Theory: Decolonizing Social Thought in Theory, Research, and Application’, Planning Theory, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 210-223.

  • Two approachable Connell texts.

Go, J 2016 ‘Globalizing Sociology, Turning South. Perspectival Realism and the Southern Standpoint.’ Sociologica, Italian journal of sociology on line, vol. 2.

  • Good discussion of the Southern Theory standpoint, gives more technical detail.

Kerner, I 2018, ‘Beyond Eurocentrism: Trajectories towards a renewed political and social theory’, Philosophy & Social Criticism, vol. 44, no. 5, pp. 550-570.

  • Practical discussion of how Eurocentrism in social theory can be addressed and challenged.

Gamge, Siri, 2006, ‘Academic dependency on western disciplinary knowledge and captive mind among South Asian sociologists: a critique’ Social Affairs, vol. 1, no. 5, pp. 1-12.

Onwuzuruigbo, I 2018, ‘Indigenising Eurocentric sociology: The ‘captive mind’ and five decades of sociology in Nigeria’, Current Sociology, vol. 66, no. 6, pp. 831-848. 

  • Both of these papers discuss and deploy some of the concepts in the chapter.

Patel, S 2014 ‘Afterword: Doing global sociology: Issues, problems and challenges’ Current Sociology, vol. 62, no. 4, pp. 603-613. 

  • Addresses issues discussed in the chapter.

Puwar, N. 2019. Puzzlement of a deja vu: Illuminaries of the Global South. The Sociological Review. vol 68, issue 3, pp540-556.

  • Critically engages with who can bring theory from the South to prominence and what gets erased.

Discussion Questions

  • In the last chapter, you were introduced to the work of Marx, Weber, and Durkheim. In what ways might their work reflect Eurocentric or colonial biases?
  • Do you think these biases are still influential in contemporary sociology? In what ways?
  • How can we challenge Eurocentric bias in sociology today? What practical steps can we take to ‘decolonize’ the discipline?
  • What does the term ‘orientalism’ describe? Do you see examples of orientalism in contemporary culture?
  • What did Du Bois mean by ‘double consciousness’? Do you think it is still a useful notion?

Chapter References

  • Akiwowo, AA (1986) ‘Contributions to the Sociology of Knowledge from an African Oral Poetry’, International Sociology, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 343–358.
  • Alatas, SF (2003) ‘Academic Dependency and the Global Division of Labour’, Current Sociology, vol. 51, no. 6, pp. 599–613.
  • Alatas, SH (1972) ‘The Captive Mind in Development Studies’, International Social Science Journal, vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 9–25.
  • Amin, S (1989) Eurocentrism: Modernity, Religion, and Democracy: A Critique of Eurocentrism and Culturalism, trans. R Moore and J Membrez. Monthly Review Press.
  • Anzaldúa, GE (1999) Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza. Aunt Lute Books.
  • Bhambra, GK (2007) Rethinking Modernity: Postcolonialism and the Sociological Imagination. Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Brinton, CC (1933) English Political Thought in the Nineteenth Century. Ernest Bean Ltd.
  • Connell, R (2007) Southern Theory: The Global Dynamics of Knowledge in Social Science. Allen & Unwin.
  • Du Bois, WEB (1903) The Souls of Black Folk. Dover Publications.
  • Du Bois, WEB (1996) The Philadelphia Negro: A Social Study. University of Pennsylvania Press.
  • Dussel, E (1995) The Invention of the Americas: Eclipse of ‘the Other’ and the Myth of Modernity, trans. MD Barber. Continuum.
  • Falcón, SM (2008) ‘Mestiza Double Consciousness: The Voices of Afro-Peruvian Women on Gendered Racism’, Gender & Society, vol. 22, no. 5, pp. 660–680.
  • Guha, R (1982) ‘On Some Aspects of the Historiography of Colonial India’, in Guha, R (ed.) Subaltern Studies, vol. 1. Oxford University Press, pp. 1–8.
  • Hountondji, PJ (1995) ‘Producing Knowledge in Africa Today’, African Studies Review, vol. 38, no. 3, pp. 1–10.
  • Lengermann, P and Niebrugge, G (1998) The Women Founders: Sociology and Social Theory 1830–1930, A Text/Reader. Waveland Press.
  • Mignolo, WD (2013) ‘Geopolitics of Sensing and Knowing: On (de)coloniality, Border Thinking, and Epistemic Disobedience’, Confero, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 129–150.
  • Mignolo, WD and Tlostanova, MV (2006) ‘Theorizing from the Borders: Shifting to Geo- and Body-Politics of Knowledge’, European Journal of Social Theory, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 205–221.
  • Morris, A (2017) The Scholar Denied: W. E. B. Du Bois and the Birth of Modern Sociology. University of California Press.
  • Parsons, T (1949) The Structure of Social Action: A Study in Social Theory with Special Reference to a Group of Recent European Writers, 2nd edn. Free Press.
  • Patel, S (2000) ‘Modernity: Sociological Categories and Identities’, Current Sociology, vol. 48, no. 3, pp. 1–15.
  • Said, EW (1978) Orientalism. Pantheon Books.
  • Sarkar, S (1984) ‘The Conditions and Nature of Subaltern Militancy: Bengal from Swadeshi to Non-Co-operation, c.1905–22’, in Guha, R (ed.) Subaltern Studies III. Oxford University Press, pp. 271–320.
  • Smith, LT (1999) Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples. Zed Books.
  • Spencer, H (1891) ‘Progress: Its Law and Cause’, in Essays: Scientific, Political & Speculative, vol. 1. Williams and Norgate, pp. 8–62.
  • Spivak, G (1988) ‘Can the Subaltern Speak?’, in Grossberg, L and Nelson, C (eds) Marxism and the Interpretation of Culture. Macmillan Education, pp. 271–313.
  • Walter, M and Butler, K (2013) ‘Teaching Race to Teach Indigeneity’, Journal of Sociology, vol. 49, no. 4, pp. 397–410.