Sociology is a very young discipline. It's therefore not surprising that when we talk about "classic authors," the same names always crop up. This trend, however, shouldn't be repeated with contemporary authors. Therefore, it seemed useful to identify some prominent scholars and sociologists from various countries around the world. Today, we look at some Russian sociologists.
Russian sociologist: Elena Zdravomyslova
Elena Zdravomyslova was born in 1955 and holds a degree in sociology. She earned a doctorate in social sciences and has played a significant role in Russian academia over the years. She is a professor at the Faculty of Sociology at St. Petersburg University. Her research has focused primarily on gender issues , addressing topics such as gender violence, sexual discrimination, and power dynamics in male-female relationships.
The scholar has led and participated in several research projects, often collaborating with other scholars and academic organizations. Her research has focused on understanding contemporary family dynamics, including the transformations of Russian families in the evolving social and cultural context. In addition to her academic work, Zdravomyslova has been involved in social advocacy and participated in projects aimed at promoting women's awareness and rights. She has written numerous articles and books on the sociology of gender and families, contributing to the understanding of gender issues in contemporary Russian society.
Russian sociologists: Pitirim A. Sorokin
Pitirim Alexandrovitch Sorokin was a Russian-American sociologist, born January 21, 1889, and died February 10, 1968. Sorokin was one of the most influential Russian sociologists of the 20th century. He made significant contributions to the understanding of social dynamics and change. He founded the Department of Sociology at Harvard University and served as president of the American Sociological Association.
He is best known for his theory of cultural cycles, which was expounded in his most famous work, "Social and Cultural Dynamics" (1937–1941). Sorokin argued that societies go through cycles of cultural change, passing through phases of integration, disintegration, and then reintegration. These cultural cycles were divided into ideational, ideological, and sensual, with different characteristics dominating each phase.
Love in social dynamics
Sorokin also developed the theory of love , in which he argues that love has at least five dimensions of embodiment: intensity, extent, duration, purity, and the appropriateness of its manifestation in objective actions, in relation to its inner purpose. In particular, he devoted significant work to the topic of love in his book “The Ways and Power of Love” (1954). This book reflects Sorokin's interdisciplinary approach, which sought to integrate psychology, philosophy, and sociology into his studies . In the text, Sorokin examines the concept of love in different cultures and historical periods and proposes a triadic theory of love, which divides love into three main macro-types:
- Sensual or erotic love (romantic and physical love between individuals).
- Affective love (that type of love characterized by concern, affection, and care for others. Includes parental love and the love between friends.)
- Spiritual or mystical love (which concerns a higher type of relationship, which Sorokin associates with spiritual and religious values).
The author explores the interaction between these different types of love and the influence they can exert on society. His analysis emphasizes the importance of love in social dynamics. He suggests that a balanced society should cultivate all three types of love equally.
In this very work, the author also posed a dilemma for all humanity that, today, remains unresolved: "Due to the mysterious forces of destiny, humanity faces a great dilemma: to continue its predatory policies, based on individual and tribal selfishness, which are leading it toward an inexorable destiny of extinction, or to embrace the policies of universal solidarity that will lead humanity toward the longed-for paradise on earth. Each of us has the choice of which of the two paths to choose" (ibid., p. 686).
Russian sociologists: Georges Gurvitch
Georges Gurvitch (1894–1965) was a sociologist and philosopher of Russian origin, who emigrated to France after the 1917 Revolution. He studied philosophy and law and began his academic career in France. He taught at several French universities and was involved in many international academic organizations. He is known for his contributions to legal sociology and the sociology of knowledge , but also for his research and contributions to social theory and the philosophy of history.
Gurvitch played a major role in the development of sociology in France and influenced various currents of thought within the discipline. He developed an organic vision of the state and civil society, equating them with living entities, as both undergo a cyclical process of disintegration and regeneration . He analyzed the relationship between society and law, emphasizing the interdependence between social and legal institutions.
His perspective was interdisciplinary, integrating elements of jurisprudence, sociology, and philosophy. In particular, he developed the concept of legal pluralism, which argues that groups and communities of various kinds produce regulations for themselves and others, which can be considered laws from a sociological perspective.
Russian sociologist: Natalia Volchkova
Natalia Volchkova is a Russian economist and sociologist known for her work in economics, economic policy, and socioeconomic development. She earned a PhD in economics from the University of Michigan in the United States. She subsequently taught economics at Kyiv National University in Ukraine. She founded the Center for Economic Reform and Education (CERE), an independent think tank based in Ukraine that focuses on economic and public policy issues.
Volchkova's research focuses primarily on economics, economic policy, and socioeconomic development. She has contributed to numerous studies and publications on topics such as economic liberalization, market competitiveness, regulation, and institutional reform. She has been actively involved in public policy discussions in Ukraine , providing advice and participating in debates on economic and institutional reforms. She has collaborated with research institutions and international organizations, contributing to projects related to economic development and governance.
Russian sociologists: Boris Yulyevich Kagarlitsky
Boris Kagarlitsky was born on August 29, 1958, in Moscow, Soviet Union. He studied at the Institute of Philosophy of the USSR Academy of Sciences and earned a doctorate in sociology. He is currently coordinator of the Transnational Institute Global Crisis project and director of the Institute of Globalization and Social Movements (IGSO) in Moscow. A Marxist theoretician , he was a dissident in Leonid Brezhnev's Soviet Union, and from 1994 to 2002, he taught political science at Moscow State University, the School of Social and Economic Sciences, and the Institute of Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. He has been actively involved in political and social activism since the 80s.
As a sociologist and scholar, Kagarlitsky has written extensively on topics related to political sociology, Marxism, and social transformations in Russia. He has addressed issues such as capitalism in Russia, the collapse of the Soviet Union, and evolving social dynamics. Among his best-known works are books such as “The Thinking Reed: Intellectuals and the Soviet State from 1917 to the Present” and “ Russia under Yeltsin and Putin: Neo-Liberal Autocracy .” His works range from sociological analyses to political and philosophical considerations. He is frequently interviewed by the international press about the situation regarding the war between Russia and Ukraine. In a recent interview , he stated that Russians are neither for nor against the war: they simply do not react to the conflict.
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