Durkheim and the Sociality of Space

Author(s):  
Markus Schroer

This chapter explores the topic of space in Émile Durkheim’s writings. It shows that spatial formations play a key role in his theory of modernity. He assigns to social morphology the task of systematically investigating the material substratum of societies. Of major concern in this regard is how different types of societies relate to space in distinctive ways. His sociological approach encompasses both an epistemological and a social-theoretic perspective on “space.” In effect, it can be argued that Durkheim is not primarily concerned with a society’s dependence on space, but rather with how space is shaped socially. Space is not an abstract category of thought, but the collectively produced foundation for all social activity. Contrary to many subsequent conceptions of space, Durkheim does not differentiate between physical and social space, arguing that physical space is inherently shaped by social practices of classification and division. It is this theoretical notion which, in light of the renewed attention given to materiality and space by proponents of the material and the spatial turn, makes his work seem surprisingly contemporary.

Sociologija ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 146-164
Author(s):  
Svetlana Radovic

This paper presents different conceptions of the physical space in social theory aiming to review the consequences that they as metatheoretical assumptions have to the treatment and position of the spatial dimensions of the city in sociological analysis. The first part presents characteristics of the absolute concept of physical space and indicates the different implications of the adoption of this concept in urban sociology. After that, the text considers features of the relational concept of physical space whose adoption enabled the spatial turn in thesocial science, and its adequacy to the contemporary social context of movement, permeation, interaction between people, capital, goods and cultures. The third part highlights, the importance of understanding space as the product and context of practice - of produced, and not given, for the conceptualization of physical space as an inherent quality of social space, inseparable from time and the symbolic and subjective meanings. The conclusion points to the relevance of adopting Lefebvre?s production of space concept through representations of space, spatial practices and representations of space as an analytical framework for studying spatial form of city as the overall dimensions of social life.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 334
Author(s):  
Mohammed ElHajji ◽  
Camila Escudero

A webdiáspora, enquanto espaço de reordenamento de experiências e práticas sociais e subjetivas dos imigrantes e comunidades diaspóricas, contribui necessariamente na produção de marcas e rastros existenciais individuais e coletivos no plano subjetivo e simbólico. A pergunta que se coloca, todavia, é se tal configuração cognitiva, de natureza abertamente ‘a-espacial’, constitui uma forma diferenciada de suporte à tradicional ‘memória coletiva’ proposta por Maurice Halbwachs ou se limita a reforçar as modalidades de sociabilidade que prescindem naturalmente do espaço físico. A partir de uma reflexão teórica que une as noções de ‘memória coletiva’ do próprio Halbwachs, de ‘espaço nostálgico’ de Abdelmalek Sayad e de ‘transnacionalismo’ explorada por diversos autores, entendemos que, ainda que não possa se substituir à ‘memória coletiva espacial’ ou se sobrepor ao ‘espaço social’, a webdiáspora não deixa de oferecer preciosos subsídios mnemônicos e interativos para as comunidades de imigrantes que se encontram no exílio; principalmente, ao reunir e tornar acessíveis registros informacionais de caráter identitário que contribuem para a consolidação do sentimento de pertencimento ao grupo e manutenção dos laços comunicativos transnacionais.   PALAVRAS CHAVE: Webdiáspora. Memória. Espaço. Transnacionalismo. Identidade.     ABSTRACT The webdiaspora, while space of reordering of experiences and social practices of immigrants and diasporic communities, contributes necessarily in the production of individual and collective existential prints and trails in the subjective and symbolic plan. Yet, the question is that if such cognitive configuration, from an openly “a-espacial” nature, constitutes a differential form of support to the traditional “collective memory” proposed by Maurice Halbwachs or it is limited to reinforce the modalities of sociability which prescinds naturally from the physical space. From a theoretical reflexion that links the notions of “collective memory” by Halbwachs himself, of “nostalgic space” by Albdelmalek Sayad and of “transnationalism” explored by many authors, we understand that, even if  the “spatial collective memory” could not be substituted or  overlap the “social space”, webdiaspora does not stop offering valuable mnemonic and interactive  subsidy to all immigrant communities that are exiled; as it gathers and makes accessible informational registers of an identitary character that contributes to the consolidation of a feeling of belonging to the group and the maintenance of transnational communicative links.   KEYWORDS: Webdiaspora. Memory. Space. Transnationalism, Identity.     RESUMEN La webdiáspora es un espacio de reordenamiento de experiencias, prácticas sociales y subjetividades de los inmigrantes y comunidades diaspóricas. Contribuye necesariamente a la producción de marcas y huellas existenciales; individuales y colectivas, en el plano subjetivo y simbólico. La pregunta es ¿Sí tal configuración cognitiva, de naturaleza abiertamente ‘a-espacial’, constituye de manera diferente al soporte de la tradicional ‘memoria colectiva’ propuesta por Maurice Halbwachs, o sí se limita a reforzar las modalidades de sociabilidad que surgen del espacio físico? Partimos de las reflexiones teóricas de la ‘memoria colectiva’ de Halbwachs, del ‘espacio nostálgico’ de Abdelmalek Sayad y del ‘transnacionalismo’ explorada por diversos autores. Entendemos que, aunque no se pueda substituir la ‘memoria colectiva espacial’ o sobreponerla al ‘espacio social’, la webdiáspora no deja de ofrecernos importantes subsidios mnemónicos e interactivos para las comunidades de inmigrantes que se encuentran en el exilio. Principalmente por reunir y tornar accesible registros informacionales de carácter identitario que contribuyen para la consolidación del sentimiento de pertenecer a un grupo y mantener lazos comunicativos transnacionales.   PALABRAS CLAVE: Webdiáspora. Memoria. Espacio. Transnacionalismo. Identidad.  


Author(s):  
E. V. Volkov ◽  
◽  
M.V. Sapronov ◽  

The article is devoted to the methodology of studying the Soviet era city cinema as a social space. It presents a historiographic review of research in this direction, which shows that the city cinema, as the central link in the practice of “going to the cinema”, was an important independent element of everyday life, and its social space was historically changeable and shaped by several stakeholders (government, administration of the cinema network, and viewers). For a full-fledged historical analysis of a cinema, additional specific sources are required. As the main concept for studying the cinema, the authors propose to use the theory of the philosopher and sociologist Henri Lefebvre, formulated in his book "The production of space" (1974). According to the French thinker, space in a broad sense can be physical (material component), mental (rational principle) and social (social practices and relationships). As a result of their social activity, people influence all types of spaces, with the process of production of space, physical, mental, and social, taking place within society. If we apply Lefebvre's theory to study the cinema as a cultural phenomenon, it should be investigated at three levels: “representation of space” (material forms), “spatial practices” (management and functioning), “space of representation” (experience and interpretation of “going to the cinema"). For each level of studying the cinema as a social space, different types of historical sources are utilized, the characteristics of which are presented in the article. In this context, along with other sources, attention is paid to sources of personal origin (ego-documents).


Author(s):  
A.I. Zagranichny

The article presents the results of a research of different types of activity depending on the frequency of transfer of social activity from the real environment to the virtual environment and vice versa. In the course of the research the following types of activity were identified: play activity; educational activity; work; communicative activity. 214 respondents from the following cities participated in the research: Balakovo, Saratov, Moscow. They were at the age of 15 to 24 years. 52% of them were women. They had the following social statuses: "pupil", "student", "young specialist". The correlation interrelation between the specified types of activity and the frequency of transfer of social activity from one environment into another has been analyzed and interpreted. In the course of the research the following results were received: the frequency of transfer of social activity from the real environment to the virtual environment has a direct positive link with such types of activity as play activity (r=0.221; p <0.01); educational activity (r=0.228; p <0.01) and communicative activity (r=0.346; p <0.01). The frequency of transfer of social activity from the virtual environment to the real one has a direct positive link only with two types of activity: educational activity (r=0.188; p <0.05) and communicative activity (r=0.331; p <0.01).


The article deals with peculiarities of the process of training economic journalists in the context of contemporary educational challenges and trends. On the basis of generalization of modern Ukrainian media practices, systematization and interpretation of scientific researches, related to the topic of the article, analysis of educational programs and curricula of institutions of higher education, the authors argue the justification and expediency of the specialization "economic journalism" on the problem-thematic principle. The content of the concept ‘economic journalism’ is defined in terms of functional purposefulness, attention is focused on its expressive analyticity. The tasks of the economic segment of Ukrainian journalism are formulated under conditions of deepening democratization processes and development of civil society. The disadvantages of this segment of media discourse are determined (focus on narrow audience, superficiality and unprofessional performance of the coverage of economic issues, selectivity, fragmentation of the media picture of the economic sphere of social activity, etc.). The topicality of specialized training of economic journalists, in particular – and in combination with other subject areas – is emphasized. Content components of economic journalists training is defined as a combination of actual journalistic and economic blocks of knowledge and the involvement of data on processes in related social sectors. Methodological principles, such as: practical orientation, integration nature, use of interactive teaching methods, design technology; effective forms of organization of the process of training journalists of economic specialization (e.g. master classes, different types of practice); work on complex creative projects (television, radio, press, internet, photo projects, etc.) are formulated.


2014 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Etzold

Abstract. The paper discusses street vendors' spatial appropriations and the governance of public space in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. The much debated question in social geography how people's position in social space relates to their position in physical space (and vice versa) stands at the centre of the analysis. I use Bourdieu's Theory of Practice to discuss this dialectic relation at two analytical levels. On a micro-political level it is shown that the street vendors' social positions and the informal rules of the street structure their access to public space and thus determine their "spatial profits". At a macro-political level, it is not only the conditions inside the "field of street vending" that matter for the hawkers, but also their relation to the state-controlled "field of power". The paper demonstrates that Bourdieu's key ideas can be linked to current debates about spatial appropriation and informality. Moreover, I argue that Bourdieu's theory builds an appropriate basis for a relational, critical, and reflexive social geography in the Urban South.


This paper argued for a fresh understanding of Pickthall’s The Meaning of the Glorious Koran: An Explanatory Translation (1930) in light of Bourdieu’s sociological work. The main objective of this study was to develop an initial sociological model for understanding the production of Pickthall’s English translation of the meaning of the Holy Quran. By hypothesizing a field which could be called ‘the field of English translations of the meaning of the Holy Quran’, the researchers aspired to understand the dynamics of this field and its structure through delineating the socio-cultural and socio-political forces. After conducting an analysis at the macro level, the researchers analyzed the paratextual elements of the translation, the data of which represent the starting point for Bourdieusian insights into the production of Pickthall’s translation. The findings revealed that Pickthall’s capitalization is evident in the paratextual zone to secure his position within the field in question. The study concluded that Pickthall’s is a social activity, situated in a social space, and carried out by translating agents, both individuals and organizations, who are in a ceaseless struggle over accumulating capital at stake in the field.


Author(s):  
Elena Gudova

This article discusses some of the theoretical foundation of the sensemaking approach introduced by Karl Weick within the fields of organizational psychology and organizational theory. Weick, Sutcliffe, and Obstfeld wrote that “Sensemaking involves the ongoing retrospective development of plausible images that rationalize what people are doing” (2005: 409), or, in more general terms, making sense out of what is happening in order to reduce uncertainty and to act upon it. For this purpose, according to Weick, an individual deals with two questions: “What is going on? and, what should I do about it?” Answers to these questions and their following implications in the individual’s actions depend on the seven characteristics of the sensemaking: the individual’s identity, retrospective, enactment, social activity, ongoing [events and flux of experience], cues, and plausibility. Weick offers a “navigation of social space [of organization] with cultural maps in hand”, and draws inspiration from the analysis of jazz improvisation. His works, still lacking attention in Russia, offer an instrument for both crisis situations with dramatic “loss of sense” and quite common everyday events. Weick’s ideas were broadly developed within research on communication, identity, language, narratives, power, and other aspects of organizational activity. At the same time, sensemaking is believed to be one of the main theoretical inspirations for the processual approach in organization studies, which is focused on organizational becoming, or organizing.


Author(s):  
Karamagioli Evika

Over the past few years the concepts of government and governance have been dramatically transformed. Not only is this due to increasing pressures and expectations that the way we are governed should reflect modern methods of efficiency and effectiveness, but also that government should be more open to democratic accountability. The following chapter will introduce the social impact dimension of e-democracy while proposing concrete directions and incentives that should be provided for engagement through electronic means. The intention is to highlight the fact that technology is the result of a combination of tools, social practices, social organizations, and cultural meanings. It not only represents social arrangements, but also has the potential to facilitate and / or limit different types of interaction.


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