Sociological Theory in an Age of Globalization

Abstract

In this paper, first, the meaning of “theory” is considered and then the three kinds of sociological theory, namely, the fundamental theory, the middle-range theory, and the idealistic theory, are presented. Second, the problems of interaction and intersubjectivity-including the problems of corporeality and/or intercorporeality-are brought into discussion from a standpoint of (phenomenological sociological) “genetic interactionism”: then the four basic social aspects of our contemporary society, i. e., the scientific-technological society, knowledge-information society, capitalistic-consumer society, and modern nation-state, are mentioned. Third, I primarily wish to present the theoretical route to the problem of nation-state, with a special focuson the concept of “champ (=field)” raised by P. Bourdieu. Finally, within the context of sociological theory as the social theory in the age of globalization, I propose my own conception that the main issues in contemporary Japanese sociological associations are located in the spheres of both corporeality/intercorporeality and post-national orientation.