Rede de Pesquisa
BRICS SOCIOLOGY: DEVELOPMENT, INEQUALITY AND DIALOGUE
Resumo
BRICS Network University ? and a BRICS Sociology Program The BRICS NU initiative permits us to develop an initially modest proposal involving our overseas partners (who have positively evaluated a first draft of this project). A discussion at the 2010 Beijing conference is the basis of this Sociology in the BRICS program, it seeks to articulate three distinct scientific questions raised then. 3.1 Sociology in the BRICS. This area of activity is designed to produce an understanding of what happens when similar (and dissimilar) processes associated with development occur in each country. The aim is to make this understanding a comparative one. 3.1.1 The program will be based initially around the two edited books ? on stratification and youth - these will be studied in depth (and we hope they can be revised over time to include South Africa and to make them more relevant and up-to-date). Discussions about the publication of further volumes are underway - including a possible book on sociological practice in the BRICS - further books will renew the program. 3.1.2 ?Virtual research laboratories? could be mooted - students would develop hypotheses about the BRICS and subject them to data analysis. A comparative understanding of how the limits of knowledge production in each country shapes worldviews is necessary. The social justice survey is potential laboratory material. 3.1.3 Sociological research examines some common themes in all our countries, this permits our Brazilian partners to plan to offer courses in English on: Social Theory in the BRICS ? development and tendencies (Prof. Ishwar Modi idealized an edited book on sociological practice in the BRICS), Governance and Public Policy (Soraya Côrtes, UFRGS), Big Global Events (Michel Nicolau Netto, UNICAMP), Environmental Policies in a Comparative perspective (Leila Ferreira, UNICAMP), Urban Social Conflicts (José Vicente Tavares dos Santos, UFRGS), Development, Inequality and Social Stratification (Celi Scalon et ali, UFRJ) etc. In Brazil - as a rule - neither social theory nor sociology are taught in English, and this is also the rule in Russia and China. As our BRICS sociology teaching initiative moves forward, a more regular offer of courses in English will need to be stimulated. 3.2. The Sociology of the Making of the BRICS As the development process speeds up and as the economic and cultural globalization spread, there will be increasing social interactions between the BRICS and social problems and conflicts will result. 3.2.1 The base-line empirical data used in this research and teaching comes from the documentation, mapping and theoretical analyses of conflicts (and successes) as BRICS citizens and institutions build their relations together. Expertise on the analysis of intercultural conflicts (and conflicts of interests) has, up until now, been concentrated in International Relations, however we adopt a sociological approach. One aim of this BRICS Sociology project is to form professionals with the necessary analytical skills to permit reflexive thinking that contributes to dialogue, through improving the quality of negotiation and interaction processes. 3.2.2 The Relationship between Sociology and other Areas of Knowledge The BRICS NU announcement calls for projects in five other areas of knowledge. Those who will be responsible for running such projects will experience - just like our Brazilian partners have done in the past - successes, failures and incomprehension as they engage in cooperation. BRICS Sociology team has limited expertise in intercultural-dialogue, and may help promote scientific cooperation. The Establishment of a Permanent International Committee to Examine Key Terminological and Philosophical Problems It will be necessary to establish an advanced-level committee to examine key terms and their philosophical, conceptual, historical, statistical a.
Responsáveis
Membros
JOSE VICENTE TAVARES DOS SANTOS
MARCO AURELIO SILVA DE SANTANA
MARIA CELI RAMOS DA CRUZ SCALON