Comparative Historical Sociology, ASA

Category: Announcements

  • Call for Papers: Special Issue – Judgemental Rationality

    Robert Isaksen, Journal of Critical Realism, Vol.21 (5), 589-591

    Judgemental rationality is the critical realist concept that deals with issues relating to the possibility to make claims to knowledge and truth, and to claims about false beliefs. As such, it is relevant to empirical researchers and philosophers of knowledge alike. Judge-mental rationality has a central place in critical realism, being one part of what has been termed the Holy Trinity of Critical Realism (Bhaskar 2016). Though judgemental rationality was an implicit part of critical realism from the start, a more complete explication is made in Bhaskar’s third book,Scientific Realism and Human Emancipation([1986]2009), in particular sections 1.3, 1.5, 1.6, 1.8, and 2.4. The argument, in short, is that the necessity of ontological realism implies the actuality of epistemic relativity (and which in turn mutually implies ontological realism), and together these make for the possibility of judgemental rationality (24), i.e. of rational theory choice, even between theories from competing paradigms (92). Such rational choice of one theory over another is predicated upon choosing the theory which has comparatively greater explanatory power, using specific criteria (73,82), and that there is an agent able to make such a comparison (e.g. 87). In critical realist research this would come in addition to searching for underlying causal mechanisms, and indeed can be seen as central to this very process.

    It has previously been argued that even though judgemental rationality has a central place in critical realist theory and has important implications for research practice, it has not been given the attention it deserves (Isaksen2016). There has more recently been an increase in work explicitly dealing with issues of judgemental rationality. For example, theory choice in IS research (Ononiwu, Brown, and Carlsson2018), sustainability science (Boda2018; Boda and Faran2018), prison research (Quraishi et al.2022),autism research (Kourti2021), learning (Isaksen2018), the role of judgemental rationality in critical realist-inspired mixed methods (Mukumbang2021), in inter-paradigmatic dialogues (Lobina and Weghmann2021), and future-research (Schoppek2021). Now seems to be a good time to dedicate a special issue to this this centrally important concept.

    Possible topics for the special issue include:

    −Examples of research explicitly applying judgemental rationality.

    −How may judgemental rationality affect research methodology?

    −How may judgemental rationality affect how we present our research and the terminology used?

    −What role may judgemental rationality have in terms of discussions about science, for example related to climate change, covid, medical research generally, etc.?

    −Relatedly, what role may it have in arguments about scientific as opposed to lay knowledge?

    −What role may judgemental rationality play in politics?

    −How are the arguments for judgemental rationality themselves justified? How may they be critiqued?

    −In what ways is judgemental rationality developed within the three phases of critical realism (scientific critical realism/dialectical critical realism/metaReality)?

    −What relations may exist between judgemental rationality and ethics?

    The above list is by no means extensive. As this is an under-elaborated concept, we are interested in a wide variety of contributions from demonstrations of practical applications of judgemental rationality to critical and conceptual articles.

    Timeline for submission.

    Submission of full papers to Journal of Critical Realism will open on 1st December 2022 and close on 30 April 2023.

    All papers will be subject to peer review. Feedback period will be May – June 2023.

    Final decisions by 31st July 2023.

    Final papers required by 30 September 2023.

  • 2022 CHS Section Award Winners

    DISTINGUISHED CAREER AWARD

    The section presents the Ibn Khaldun Distinguished Career Award every year in order to recognize a lifetime of outstanding contributions to the subfield of comparative-historical sociology.

    Committee: Jose Itzigsohn (Chair, Brown University), Ann Orloff (Northwestern University), Cedric de Leon (UMass Amhrest)

    Winner: Evelyn Nakano Glenn (UC Berkeley) 

    Barrington Moore Book Award

    The section presents the Barrington Moore Book Award every year to the best book in the area of comparative-historical sociology.

    Committee: Elisabeth Clemens (Chair, University of Chicago), Yuen Yuen Ang (University of Michigan), Victoria Reyes (University of California, Riverside)

    Winner: Joachim J. Savelsberg (U. of Minnesota) for Knowing about Genocide:  Armenian Suffering and Epistemic Struggles (University of California Press, 2021)

    Honorable Mention:  Christy Thornton (Johns Hopkins University) for Revolution in Development:  Mexico and the Governance of the Global Economy (University of California Press, 2021)

    Charles Tilly Article Award

    The section presents the Charles Tilly Article Award every year to the best article in the subfield of comparative-historical sociology.

    Committee: Hana Brown (Chair, Wake Forest University), John N. Robinson III (Princeton University), Robert Braun (University of California, Berkeley)

    Winner: Yang Zhang (American University) for “Why Elites Rebel: Elite Insurrections During the Taiping Civil War in China.” American Journal of Sociology.

    Honorable mention: Benjamin Bradlow (Harvard University) for “Embedded Cohesion: Regimes of Urban Public Goods Distribution.” Theory and Society.

    Honorable mention: Daniel Hirschman (Brown University) for “Rediscovering The 1%: Knowledge Infrastructures and The Stylized Facts of Inequality.” American Journal of Sociology.

    Reinhard Bendix Student Paper Award 

    The section presents the Reinhard Bendix Student Paper Award every year to the best graduate student paper in the subfield of comparative-historical sociology.

    Committee: Ali Kadivar (Chair, Boston College), Jonah Stuart Brundage (University of Michigan), Wen Xie (Peking University)

    Winner: Jen Triplett (U. of Michigan) for “Articulating the Pueblo Cubano: Women’s Politicization and Productivity in Revolutionary Cuba, 1959.” (Published at the American Sociological Review)

    Honorable mention: Mary Shi (UC-Berkeley) for “’Until Indian title shall be… fairly extinguished:’ The Public Lands, Settler Colonialism, and Early Government Promotion of Infrastructure in the United States.”

    Theda Skocpol Dissertation Award

    The section presents the Theda Skocpol Dissertation Award every year to the best doctoral dissertation in the area of comparative-historical sociology.

    Committee: Carly R. Knight (Chair, New York University), Yael Berda (Hebrew University of Jerusalem), Benjamin Bradlow (Harvard University)

    Winner: Wan-Zi Lu (U. of Chicago), “Body Politics: Morals, Markets, and Mobilization of Organ Donation.” 

  • Trajectories (Winter- Spring 2022)

    Trajectories (Spring 2022)Download

  • New Book Announcement: The Migration- Development Regime by Rina Agarwala

    How can we explain the causes and effects of global migration from the perspective of sending states and migrants themselves? The Migration and Development Regime introduces a novel analytical framework to help answer this question in India, the world’s largest emigrant exporter and the world’s largest remittance-receiving country. 

    Drawing on an archival analysis of Indian government documents, a new data base of Indian migrants’ transnational organizations, and unique interviews with poor and elite Indian emigrants, recruiters, and government officials, this book exposes the vital role the Indian state, as well as its poor and elite emigrants, have long played in forging and legitimizing class inequalities within India through their management of international emigration. 

    Since the 1800s, the Indian state has differentially used poor and elite emigrants to accelerate domestic economic growth at the cost of class inequalities, while still retaining political legitimacy. At times, the Indian state has forbidden emigration, at other times it has promoted it.  At times, Indian emigrants have brought substantial material inflows, at other times, they have brought new ideas to support new development agendas within India.  But throughout, Indian emigration practices have deepened class inequalities by imposing different regulations, acquiring different benefits from different classes of emigrants, and making new class pacts–all while remaining invisible in political and academic discussions on Indian development.  On the flip side, since the early 1900s, poor and elite emigrants have resisted and re-shaped Indian development in response to state migration practices. 

    By taking this long and class-based view, this book recasts contemporary migration not simply as a problematic function of “neoliberalism” or as a development panacea for sending countries, but as a long and dynamic historical process that sending states and migrants have long tried to manage.  In doing so, it re-defines the primary problems of migration, exposes the material and ideological impact that migration has on sending state development, and isolates what is truly novel about contemporary migration. 

    OUP Page: The Migration-Development Regime – Paperback – Rina Agarwala – Oxford University Press (oup.com)

  • Call for Papers: Special Issue of Information Communication & Society

    Please consider submitting to this year’s special issue of Information Communication & Society (ICS). Drawing on papers presented at the 2021 or 2022 ASA conference and Media Sociology Symposium, the special issue welcomes papers that focus on any facet of media, technology, communication, information, or related topics.

    ICS is a highly ranked, interdisciplinary journal that brings together current research on the social, economic, and cultural impacts of new information and communications technologies. The journal positions itself at the center of contemporary debates about the information age. (Please see Barry Wellman’s “CITASA and ICS: How the Relationship Began” for a history of the iCS-CITASA special issue.)

    Submissions must conform to the ICS guidelines, are limited to 8,000 words (all inclusive), and must be submitted via Scholar One.  If you do not have an account, you will need to create one. Be sure to check the box for Special Issue and indicate “CITAMS” ( “Communication, Information Technologies, and Media Sociology”) in it, so that it will be routed appropriately.

    FAQ’s:

    Who’s eligible? Anyone on the program for 2021 OR 2022 ASA events or the 2021 OR 2022 Media Sociology Symposium. This includes papers from any session or roundtable, as long as those papers address technology and/or media. It is not restricted to CITAMS sponsored sessions. This is an expanded window of eligibility to include the previous year as well as the current year.

    Deadline? October 1, 2022

    Is there wiggle room on the deadline?  Sorry, no. The timeline is tight and our deadline is hard.

    In the past, the CITAMS special issue has included research notes. Can I submit one of those?  Yes, but please contact the lead editor (Dustin Kidd) prior to submitting a research note.

    Who are the editors? Dustin Kidd is co-editing with Tim Recuber (Smith College) and a team of graduate students from Temple University

    Who should I contact with questions? Please send all questions to Dustin Kidd (dkidd@temple.edu)

    Timeline:

    ·      Complete papers due (submit via Scholar One) on October 1, 2022 before midnight AoE (Anywhere on Earth)

    ·      First round of reviews back to authors on November 1, 2022.

    ·      Final decisions made on December 15, 2022

    ·      Final papers due January 3, 2023

    ·      Special issue publication anticipated May 2023

    * CITAMS thanks iCS for partnering with us for our annual special issues showcasing some of the best work from our section.

  • Job Announcement: Tenured Professor at Harvard University

    The Department of Sociology seeks to appoint a tenured professor in social inequality, especially ethno-racial inequality. The appointment is expected to begin on July 1, 2023. The professor will teach and advise at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

    Basic Qualifications: Candidates are required to have a doctorate.

    Additional Qualifications: Demonstrated strong commitment to teaching, advising, and research is desired. Candidates should also evince intellectual leadership and impact on the field and potential for significant contributions to the department, University, and wider scholarly community.

    Special Instructions: Please submit the following materials through the ARIeS portal:

    1. Cover letter
    2. Curriculum Vitae
    3. Teaching/advising statement (describing teaching philosophy and practices)
    4. Research statement
    5. Statement describing efforts to encourage diversity, inclusion, and belonging, including past, current, and anticipated future contributions in these areas.
    6.  Attestation and Acknowledgment form
    7. Authorization form

    *Applications must be submitted no later than September 29, 2022.

    Harvard University is committed to fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive and experience a sense of inclusion and belonging. Community members are encouraged to model our values of integrity, responsible mentorship, equity, and excellence no matter where they are.

    To support this commitment to our values of inclusion and excellence, the external finalist for this position will be required to complete a conduct questionnaire – specifically regarding findings of violation, on-going formal complaint investigations, or formal complaint investigations that did not conclude due to the external finalist’s departure concerning: harassment or discrimination, retaliation, sexual misconduct, bullying or intimidating/abusive behavior, unprofessional relationship, or misconduct related to scholarship, research, teaching, service, or clinical/patient care.

    Harvard will also make conduct inquiries to current and former employers of the external finalist regarding such misconduct. To facilitate these inquiries, Harvard requires all external applicants for this position to complete, sign, and upload the form entitled “Authorization to release information for external applicants” as part of their application. If an external applicant does not include the signed authorization with the application materials, the application will be considered incomplete, and, as with any incomplete application, will not receive further consideration.

    Harvard is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, age, protected veteran status, disability, genetic information, military service, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or other protected status.

    Contact Information: Orlando Patterson, Search Committee, Department of Sociology, khue_nguyen@fas.harvard.edu

  • Job Announcement: Associate Professor at the University of Washington

    The Department of Sociology at the University of Washington invites applications for an Associate Professor position with tenure. Please visit the announcement here: https://ap.washington.edu/ahr/position-details/?job_id=100929 .

    Positive factors for consideration include, but are not limited to:

    • a strong record of scholarly accomplishment
    • research interests that complement areas of departmental and university strength
    • effective undergraduate teaching and graduate training
    • demonstrated leadership in departmental service
    • active engagement in professional, university, and community life
    • a demonstrated commitment to the promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion

    The position will begin on September 16, 2023, and is full time with a 9-month service period. All University of Washington faculty engage in teaching, research, and service. Both the University of Washington and the Department of Sociology are committed to creating a community that embraces and benefits from the diversity of its faculty, staff, and students. Successful applicants should be able to thrive in, and contribute to, this environment. Therefore, application materials must include a separate statement that describes how you will contribute to creating an inclusive, equitable and diverse department. Complete applications will include:

    • curriculum vita
    • cover letter
    • a description of research plans
    • a statement of teaching, including a description of teaching approach and evidence of teaching effectiveness
    • a statement of diversity contributions
    • three samples of recent scholarly work

    Candidates selected during the initial round of review will be contacted to provide a list of three professional references. All material should be submitted to http://apply.interfolio.com/111604.

    The review of applications will begin on October 15, 2022. However, the position will remain open, and applications may be considered, until the position is filled.

    Please contact Fatema Mookhtiar (fatemakm@uw.edu) for any questions about this search. 

  • Job Announcement: Tenure Track Assistant Professor at University of Massachusetts Amherst

    Job ID: 18143
    Date Position is Available: Fall 2023
    Application Deadline: 9/22/2023
    Company: University of Massachusetts Amherst
    Department: School of Public Policy (SSP)
    Title: Assistant Professor/Public Policy and Management – School of Public Policy
    Submission Link:
    https://careers.umass.edu/amherst/en-us/job/515192/assistant-professorpublic-policy-and-management-school-of-public-policy 

    SPP invites applications for a tenure track faculty position at the level of Assistant Professor, expected to start on September 1, 2023. The successful candidate will contribute to SPP’s growing programs and community of programs, students, staff and faculty by building our interdisciplinary and community-engaged research and teaching agenda. Areas of interest for the search include:

    • public and nonprofit management
    • state and/or local government
    • policy or management approaches to inequality
    • climate, energy, and/or environmental justice policy or management
    • social enterprises and new organizational forms for the public good
    • comparative and/or international policy or management
    • public and nonprofit budgeting and/or finance.

    Competitive candidates’ research will reflect an intersectional approach including but not limited to race, gender, sexuality, and migration. Candidates should be able to teach required courses in the undergraduate and master’s programs and contribute specialized courses in their areas of expertise.

  • Job Announcement: Tenure-track Assistant Professor at Colby College

    The Department of Sociology at Colby College is hiring a tenure-track Assistant Professor starting September 1, 2023. Colby is a highly selective liberal arts college in a spectacular setting with a rich sociological history: it was here that Albion Small taught some of the first sociology courses in the country!

    The Department of Sociology is searching for an early career scholar who aims to make an impact through high-profile research, excellence in teaching, and meaningful student engagement. Areas of specialization are open. The ideal candidate will have a publication track record, ample experience with teaching—including course design—and a record of success advising and mentoring individuals from groups under-represented in higher education.

    The review of completed applications will begin on October 1, 2022 and continue until the position is filled. A complete application must include:

    • a curriculum vitae
    • letter of application that outlines the candidate’s research, teaching philosophy, and teaching experience, and demonstrates a commitment to the value of diversity and to inclusive teaching
    • representative samples of scholarship
    • three confidential letters of recommendation

    Materials must be submitted electronically to: http://apply.interfolio.com/111909. Candidates may be A.B.D., but Ph.D.s must be in hand prior to September 1, 2023. 

    Questions about this search should be directed to: Sociologysearch@colby.edu (ASA Job Bank #18218) 

  • Job Announcement: Assistant Professor at Dartmouth College

    The Department of Sociology at Dartmouth College invites applications for a full-time tenure-track appointment as Assistant Professor beginning Fall 2023. The Department is seeking scholars who have a teaching and research focus on South Asia and is open to a wide range of methodological and substantive approaches, including but certainly not limited to:

    • Comparative Historical Sociology
    • Demography
    • Gender
    • Urban Sociology
    • Migration
    • Social Movements

    Sociology at Dartmouth is a vibrant intellectual community with scholars spanning four broad research areas: health, political and economic sociology, race and ethnicity, and social psychology. For more information about the department, please visit http://sociology.dartmouth.edu/.

    The person in this position will teach courses in Sociology and in conjunction with Dartmouth’s interdicisplinary Asian Societies, Cultures, and Languages Program (ASCL). ASCL boasts a strong resource commitment to South Asian programming and an active South Asian student community. For more information about ASCL, please visit: https://ascl.dartmouth.edu/.

    Applicants should have a Ph.D. in Sociology or a closely related field before the appointment begins. For a complete position description, please visit https://apply.interfolio.com/111087.

    The Review of applications will begin on September 15, 2022 and continue until the position is filled.