Introduction Objectivity is a foundational ideal in sociological research, shaping how knowledge is produced, validated, and disseminated. It is often associated with neutrality, impartiality, and the pursuit of truth untainted by personal biases or ideological commitments. Yet, objectivity is not…
Introduction Macrosociology represents a crucial field within sociology that focuses on the comprehensive analysis of large-scale social structures and long-term processes that shape the development, organisation, and transformation of entire societies. Unlike microsociology, which concentrates on everyday interpersonal interactions, macrosociology…
Introduction: What Is Biopolitics? Biopolitics is a critical and multifaceted sociological concept that refers to the ways in which political power is exercised over biological life. Unlike traditional forms of governance that focus on laws, sovereignty, or authority over land…
Introduction: Why Study Caste Cross‑Culturally? Caste systems are among the most enduring and stratified forms of social inequality. Whereas class systems allow for some degree of achieved mobility, caste orders assign individuals to hierarchical categories at birth and then reproduce…
Utopia is at once a dream, a critique and a method. From Plato’s Republic to today’s eco‑communes, visions of the “good society” have animated political imaginations and sociological inquiry alike. Yet many undergraduates encounter utopia only as a literary genre…
Introduction In the field of social policy, the debate between selective and universal benefits represents a core dichotomy in the provision of welfare and is central to understanding how societies distribute resources and address social needs. These two models reflect…
Introduction Anthropology and sociology are two of the most influential disciplines within the social sciences. Both are committed to the study of human societies, cultures, and behaviors, and both have made significant contributions to our understanding of how social life…
Introduction What do we mean when we speak of the self? In everyday speech the term appears self‑evident: a coherent interior of thoughts, memories and intentions that distinguishes one person from another. Sociology complicates this assumption by demonstrating that the self…
Power is a fundamental concept within the social sciences, serving as a central focus in many theoretical frameworks. Yet power is not merely the capacity of one actor to influence another. Understanding power from a sociological perspective also involves an…
Introduction Figure-ground contrast is a concept that emerges not only in the realm of visual perception but also extends its significance to various fields within the social sciences, including sociology. The term originates in Gestalt psychology, describing how individuals tend…
