Between Utopia and Apocalypse: Essays on Social Theory and Russia

Description

Helsinki: Aleksanteri Institute, 2011. — 338 p. — ISBN-10: 9521065680; ISBN-13: 978-9521065682.This festschrift celebrates the 60th birthday of Markku Kivinen, director of the Aleksanteri Institute. In Part I, Social Theory, Uskali Mäki addresses the potential of scientific realism, Osmo Kivinen the relevance of Searlean social ontology for social sciences, Vesa Oittinen the Kantian complex of Russian Idealism, Markku Joutsenoja the early work of Talcott Parsons, and Göran Therborn political power in Astana, Kazakhstan. Subsequent chapters discuss Chinese suburbia, social classes and hegemony, the working class in Finland as well as Finnish higher education as an export product. In Part II, which is devoted to Russian studies, Pekka Sutela reflects on economics, Mikhail F. Chernysh order and chaos, Christer Pursiainen democracy with adjectives, and Rosalinde Sartorti philanthropy. Other chapters' topics range from diabetic associations to entrepreneurs in Russia's transition. Russian thinkers quite often express their ideas in the genre of utopia and apocalypse. Thus, it is fitting that in an interview with Anna-Maria Salmi, the jubilant reveals his societal dreams and anxieties.ContentsFour Decades of Sociology: An InterviewSocial theoryScientific Realism and Some Russia The Philosophy of Society? The Relevance of Searlean Social Ontology for Social Sciences From Kant to Krupp: the "German Complex" of Russian Idealism Talcott Parsons and the System of Social Sciences, 1934 To Astana The Comedy of the Suburban Commons: A Chinese Story The Contemporary Working Class in Finland Classes and Hegemony When Finland Found a Golden Egg in EducationRussia Russia as a Normal Country Reflections on Order and Chaos Russia: a Democracy with Adjectives? Looking back, Looking ahead: Charity and Philanthropy in the New Russia Acting Jointly in Russia and in Finland: Two Examples Russian Modernization during the Cold War and after - What has Changed? Entrepreneurs in Russia's Transition The Victory Day in History Politics Complaining in the USSR: Consumer Dissatisfaction and the Legitimacy of the Soviet Rule Russia: Toward a Post-secular Society