Social and Cultural Dynamics ― Revisiting the Work of Pitirim A. Sorokin

Marking the 50^th anniversary of Pitirim A. Sorokin’s death, this Brief offers a critical analysis of the renowned sociologist’s theories while highlighting some of his more overlooked ones. Topics explored include cultural dynamics; the relationship between culture, society, and personality; social mobility; and the socio-cultural causality of time and space. In addition, this book updates these theories by discussing their relevance in current cultural contexts. The Brief aims to extend the work started by Sorokin on the promotion and application of “integralism”, an approach that conceives the change of any sociocultural phenomena as the result of the combination of external and internal forces. It uses this method to analyse socio-cultural phenomena, propose new policy, and enhance the development of humanity from the point of view of culture.

This book also discusses sociology’s relationship with other sciences. In particular, it touches upon the interplay between sociology and psychology and pushes for a new scientific awareness that is transdisciplinary. The end point is a new vision of humanity and its development from a cultural context.

Social and Cultural Dynamics will be of interest to social scientists, sociologists, and psychologists as well as professionals in these disciplines.

Prof. Emiliana Mangone is Associate Professor of Sociology of Culture and Communication at the Department of Human, Philosophic and Education Sciences, University of Salerno (Italy). Since 2010, she is associated to IRPPS-CNR of Rome (Institute for Research on Population and Social Policies) and she is a Director of International Centre for Studies and Research “Mediterranean Knowledge.” Her main investigative interests are in the field of cultural and institutional systems, with particular attention to the social representations of relationships and knowledge as key elements to the human act, and in migration studies. She recently published the following publications: (with Emanuela Pece), Communication et incommunication en Europe: l’exemple de la representation des migrants, Hermes, 77, 2017; (with Mohieddine Hadhri), Intercultural Complexity of the Southern Mediterranean: Arab-Mediterranean Perceptions and Outlooks, Journal of Mediterranean Knowledge, 1(2), 2016.