Comments on Michael Burawoy's ASA Presidential Address

Abstract

Michael Burawoy’s Presidential Address to the ASA is an impressive example of the public sociology he advocates in action. Here, the public he is urging to involve itself in public sociology is the US sociological academy. As Burawoy notes in his Thesis IX, the international sociological enterprise is highly diverse and varies in its involvement with public, as well as the other three forms of professional, policy and critical, sociology. What then are the relevance and the implications of his speech for sociologists elsewhere? What implications follow from this for US sociology and sociologists? Any consideration of this issue involves addressing the issue of the power, whether intended or unintended, of American sociology to set the international sociological agenda. Two key dimensions relate to US professional sociology: its prominence in influencing international career structures and, intertwined with this, its role in setting the methodological and conceptual agendas of sociology internationally. The attractions of the USA as the land of opportunity for migrants is even more significant for sociologists seeking well remunerated career and research opportunities and the intellectual stimulus derived from working with senior colleagues with international reputations. The realization of such ambitions are assisted by the availability of scholarships and financial assistance for graduate students, often among the brightest talents in their own countries. This in itself is not bad. We are increasingly aware that ‘brain circulation’ is a more appropriate way than simple ‘brain drain’ of viewing the exchange of knowledge and skills which are occurring in this period of escalating globalization. More significant, however, is the way career success often involves the adoption of the methodological and conceptual frameworks and topics dominating US sociology. While for the insider US sociology may seem extremely diverse, from the perspective of the outside this is less evident, perhaps in part because international links are dominated