Sociology 219 Institutional Theories Cultural Phenomenological Approaches Class

Sociology 219: Institutional Theories: Cultural / Phenomenological Approaches Class 7: Ambiguity and Social Construction Copyright © 2009 by Evan Schofer

Announcements • Online course evals available this week • You should get an email about that… • Short Assignment 4 due next week • Give me drafts for comments • Talks today: • 1: 00 ICSW/Soc 259: David Frank – work-in-progress on sex law project • Next week • Science, Knowledge, “Others”, and Actorhood.

Agenda • Preview of upcoming readings • Presentations • Discussion of readings • ~10 minute break at 10: 30.

Reading Preview • Drori, Gili, John W. Meyer, Francisco O. Ramirez, and Evan Schofer. 2003. Science in the Modern World Polity: Institutionalization and Globalization. Stanford University Press. – Introduction: Science as a World Institution – Chapter 1: World Society and the Authority and Empowerment of Science • Institutional theory stresses the importance of a rationalized global culture that constitutes and shapes the behavior of actors – Where does that culture come from? – Scientist = producers, agents of rationalization, “others”,

Reading Preview • Hironaka, Ann. 2003. Science and the Environment. Chapter 11 in Drori, Gili, John W. Meyer, Francisco O. Ramirez, and Evan Schofer. Science in the Modern World Polity: Institutionalization and Globalization. Stanford University Press. • Explores the role of science (not social movements) in legitimating the modern environmental movement • Forucade Gourinchas, Marion and Sarah Babb. 2002 "The Rebirth of the Liberal Creed: Paths to Neoliberalism in Four Countries. " American Journal of Sociology 107(9): 533 -579. • Examines the role of economists in supporting the global spread of neoliberal policies.

Mini-Presentations

Class Discussion • Begin with methodological readings • Jepperson and Meyer: Multi-level Analysis vs. Doctrinal Individualism – The Protestant Ethic as intellectual ideology – And, the need for real macro-sociological thinking • Schneiberg & Clemens: Tools for the Job – Later • Fischoff: Biases in Hindsight • Hironaka: Tokens of Power.