Polish Sociological Association
Encyclopedia
The Polskie Towarzystwo Socjologiczne (PTS) (Polish Sociological Association) is the main professional organization of sociologists
in Poland
. The PTS defines its mission as "supporting the development of sociology and popularizing sociological knowledge within society".
Currently the organization states to have approx. 1,000 members, out of which the majority are employed by universities or research institutions.
Full membership requires a degree in sociology, a related discipline, or any other discipline if the applicant has an established body of work in sociology. Undergraduate students and may register as associated members. Honorary members include James S. Coleman and Shmuel Eisenstadt
.
Its seat is in Warsaw
with regional offices in Białystok, Gdańsk
, Katowice
, Kraków
, Lublin
, Łódź, Opole
, Poznań
, Rzeszów
, Szczecin
, Toruń
, Warszawa, Wrocław, and Zielona Góra
.
The PTS publishes the quarterly English-language Polish Sociological Review (entitled Polish Sociological Bulletin from its inception in 1961 until 1993, and "Bibliographical Information"). It also organizes the Polish Sociologocial Convention (Ogólnopolski Zjazd Socjologiczny) in irregular intervals of averagely about three years.
The PTS also operates a research institute offering social research services to public and private clients (Zakład Badań Naukowych PTS). The proceeds from its work contribute to the PTS budget.
established the first Polish organization of sociologists under the name of "Polish Sociological Institute" (Polski Instytut Socjologiczny/PIS). Initially, the PIS combined the tasks of a research institute with the representation of sociologists across the country. In 1931, on the first ever national convention of sociologists in Poznań
, separate professional organization under the name of Polskie Towarzystwo Socjologiczne (PTS) was created on Znaniecki's initiative. This association, one of the first of its type in Europe, co-existed with the PIS. Relatively little is known about its activities. Its first two presidents were Ludwik Krzywicki
(1931-1935) and Stefan Czarnowski
(1935-1938). In 1935, PTS and PIS jointly organized the second Polish Sociologocial Convention in Warsaw. Both bodies existed until the outbreak of World War II
in 1939. Towards the end of the war, in 1944 the PIS was reactivated in the Soviet-controlled part of the country, but not so the PTS; some of its previous tasks were reassigned to the new PIS.
In 1951, sociology was declared a "bourgeois
" science in Poland. All sociological university departments and institutes, including the PIS, were closed, their employees transferred to neighbouring disciplines such as philosophy
or history
.
After sociology had been readmitted to academic life in Poland in 1956, a group of sociologists at the universities of Warsaw
and Łódź around Stanisław Ossowski set up a Sociological Section within the Polish Philosophical Association (Polskie Towarzystwo Filozoficzne), which became a member of the International Sociological Association
(ISA) (of which Ossowski had already been a founding member in 1949).
The following year, the section transformed into an independent body, adopting the traditional name Polskie Towarzystwo Socjologiczne. Ossowski was elected its first president, other founding board members included Nina Assorodobraj, Józef Chałasiński, Antonina Kłoskowska, Jan Lutyński, Stefan Nowak, Zygmunt Pióro, Jan Strzelecki and Jan Szczepański
.
During the time of communist
rule in Poland, while academic life was highly formalized, hierarchically structured, and subject to political pressure, the PTS remained fully autonomous from government intervention, making it an attractive venue for unrestricted scholarly as well as political debate. However, lack of government support also constituted a constant problem for the organizational work of the PTS; e.g., the first post-war national convention did not take place until 1965.
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. The PTS defines its mission as "supporting the development of sociology and popularizing sociological knowledge within society".
Currently the organization states to have approx. 1,000 members, out of which the majority are employed by universities or research institutions.
Full membership requires a degree in sociology, a related discipline, or any other discipline if the applicant has an established body of work in sociology. Undergraduate students and may register as associated members. Honorary members include James S. Coleman and Shmuel Eisenstadt
Shmuel Eisenstadt
Shmuel Noah Eisenstadt was an Israeli sociologist. In 1959 he was appointed to a teaching post in the sociology department of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. From 1990 until his death in September of 2010 he had been a professor emeritus...
.
Its seat is in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
with regional offices in Białystok, Gdańsk
Gdansk
Gdańsk is a Polish city on the Baltic coast, at the centre of the country's fourth-largest metropolitan area.The city lies on the southern edge of Gdańsk Bay , in a conurbation with the city of Gdynia, spa town of Sopot, and suburban communities, which together form a metropolitan area called the...
, Katowice
Katowice
Katowice is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, on the Kłodnica and Rawa rivers . Katowice is located in the Silesian Highlands, about north of the Silesian Beskids and about southeast of the Sudetes Mountains.It is the central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolis, with a population of 2...
, Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, Lublin
Lublin
Lublin is the ninth largest city in Poland. It is the capital of Lublin Voivodeship with a population of 350,392 . Lublin is also the largest Polish city east of the Vistula river...
, Łódź, Opole
Opole
Opole is a city in southern Poland on the Oder River . It has a population of 125,992 and is the capital of the Upper Silesia, Opole Voivodeship and, also the seat of Opole County...
, Poznań
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
, Rzeszów
Rzeszów
Rzeszów is a city in southeastern Poland with a population of 179,455 in 2010. It is located on both sides of the Wisłok River, in the heartland of the Sandomierska Valley...
, Szczecin
Szczecin
Szczecin , is the capital city of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship in Poland. It is the country's seventh-largest city and the largest seaport in Poland on the Baltic Sea. As of June 2009 the population was 406,427....
, Toruń
Torun
Toruń is an ancient city in northern Poland, on the Vistula River. Its population is more than 205,934 as of June 2009. Toruń is one of the oldest cities in Poland. The medieval old town of Toruń is the birthplace of the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus....
, Warszawa, Wrocław, and Zielona Góra
Zielona Góra
Zielona Góra is a city in Lubusz Voivodeship, in western Poland, with 117,557 inhabitants within the city limits and 294,000 inhabitants within the metropolitan area, including three neighbouring counties ....
.
The PTS publishes the quarterly English-language Polish Sociological Review (entitled Polish Sociological Bulletin from its inception in 1961 until 1993, and "Bibliographical Information"). It also organizes the Polish Sociologocial Convention (Ogólnopolski Zjazd Socjologiczny) in irregular intervals of averagely about three years.
The PTS also operates a research institute offering social research services to public and private clients (Zakład Badań Naukowych PTS). The proceeds from its work contribute to the PTS budget.
History
In its present form, the PTS has had a continuous existence since 1956, but its history can be traced back to 1927, when Florian ZnanieckiFlorian Znaniecki
Florian Witold Znaniecki was a Polish sociologist. He taught and wrote in Poland and the United States. He was the 44th President of the American Sociological Association and the founder of academic sociology studies in Poland...
established the first Polish organization of sociologists under the name of "Polish Sociological Institute" (Polski Instytut Socjologiczny/PIS). Initially, the PIS combined the tasks of a research institute with the representation of sociologists across the country. In 1931, on the first ever national convention of sociologists in Poznań
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
, separate professional organization under the name of Polskie Towarzystwo Socjologiczne (PTS) was created on Znaniecki's initiative. This association, one of the first of its type in Europe, co-existed with the PIS. Relatively little is known about its activities. Its first two presidents were Ludwik Krzywicki
Ludwik Krzywicki
Ludwik Krzywicki was a Polish anthropologist, economist and sociologist. One of the early champions of sociology in Poland, he approached historical materialism from a sociological viewpoint...
(1931-1935) and Stefan Czarnowski
Stefan Czarnowski
Stefan Czarnowski was a Polish sociologist, professor of the University of Warsaw.Member of the Polish pro-independence movements, he fought in the Polish Legions and the Polish-Soviet War. At first supporter of endecja, he gravitated towards supporting Polish Socialist Party.His works centered on...
(1935-1938). In 1935, PTS and PIS jointly organized the second Polish Sociologocial Convention in Warsaw. Both bodies existed until the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1939. Towards the end of the war, in 1944 the PIS was reactivated in the Soviet-controlled part of the country, but not so the PTS; some of its previous tasks were reassigned to the new PIS.
In 1951, sociology was declared a "bourgeois
Bourgeoisie
In sociology and political science, bourgeoisie describes a range of groups across history. In the Western world, between the late 18th century and the present day, the bourgeoisie is a social class "characterized by their ownership of capital and their related culture." A member of the...
" science in Poland. All sociological university departments and institutes, including the PIS, were closed, their employees transferred to neighbouring disciplines such as philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
or history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
.
After sociology had been readmitted to academic life in Poland in 1956, a group of sociologists at the universities of Warsaw
University of Warsaw
The University of Warsaw is the largest university in Poland and one of the most prestigious, ranked as best Polish university in 2010 and 2011...
and Łódź around Stanisław Ossowski set up a Sociological Section within the Polish Philosophical Association (Polskie Towarzystwo Filozoficzne), which became a member of the International Sociological Association
International Sociological Association
International Sociological Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to scientific purposes in the field of sociology and social sciences...
(ISA) (of which Ossowski had already been a founding member in 1949).
The following year, the section transformed into an independent body, adopting the traditional name Polskie Towarzystwo Socjologiczne. Ossowski was elected its first president, other founding board members included Nina Assorodobraj, Józef Chałasiński, Antonina Kłoskowska, Jan Lutyński, Stefan Nowak, Zygmunt Pióro, Jan Strzelecki and Jan Szczepański
Jan Szczepanski (sociologist)
Jan Szczepański was a Polish sociologist and politician. Professor of University of Łódź, its rector from 1952-1956. His works concentrated on theory of sociology, history of sociology, as well as studying of transformations of social structure...
.
During the time of communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
rule in Poland, while academic life was highly formalized, hierarchically structured, and subject to political pressure, the PTS remained fully autonomous from government intervention, making it an attractive venue for unrestricted scholarly as well as political debate. However, lack of government support also constituted a constant problem for the organizational work of the PTS; e.g., the first post-war national convention did not take place until 1965.
Conventions
The first convention had the title I Konferencja Socjologów Polskich ("1st conference of Polish sociologist"), the second II Zjazd Socjologów Polskich ("2nd convention of Polish sociologists"). From the third event onwards, the title has been Ogólnopolski Zjazd Socjologiczny ("All-Polish sociological convention"), with the addition of a vaguely defined overarching topic for papers and sessions as stated below.- (I) 1931, PoznańPoznanPoznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
- I Konferencji Socjologów Polskich - (II) 1935, WarsawWarsawWarsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
- II Zjazd Socjologów Polskich - (III) 1965, WarsawWarsawWarsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
- Obraz zmian w społeczeństwie polskim pod wpływem industrializacji i nowego ustroju ("Changes in Polish society under the influence of industrialization and the new system") - (IV) 1969, PoznańPoznanPoznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
- Teoria i badania socjologiczna a praktyka społeczna ("Sociological theory and research and societal practice") - (V) 1977, KrakówKrakówKraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
- Rozwój społeczeństwa polskiego a socjologia ("The development of Polish society and sociology") - (VI) 1981, Łódź - Socjologia polska wobec problemów społecznych kraju ("Polish sociology faced with the country's problems")
- (VII) 1986, Wrocław - Ziemie Odzyskane procesy integracji społecznej ("The Recovered TerritoriesRecovered TerritoriesRecovered or Regained Territories was an official term used by the People's Republic of Poland to describe those parts of pre-war Germany that became part of Poland after World War II...
in the process of social integration", title of the inaugural session) - (VIII) 1990, ToruńTorunToruń is an ancient city in northern Poland, on the Vistula River. Its population is more than 205,934 as of June 2009. Toruń is one of the oldest cities in Poland. The medieval old town of Toruń is the birthplace of the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus....
- Przełom i wyzwania. Teorie zmiany społecznej wobec wyzwań współczesności ("Fundamental change und its challenges. Theories of social change faced with the challenges of the present") - (IX) 1994, LublinLublinLublin is the ninth largest city in Poland. It is the capital of Lublin Voivodeship with a population of 350,392 . Lublin is also the largest Polish city east of the Vistula river...
- Ludzie i instytucje. Stawanie się ładu społecznego ("People and institutions. The development of social order") - (X) 1997, KatowiceKatowiceKatowice is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, on the Kłodnica and Rawa rivers . Katowice is located in the Silesian Highlands, about north of the Silesian Beskids and about southeast of the Sudetes Mountains.It is the central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolis, with a population of 2...
- Śląsk Polska Europa. Zmieniające się społeczeństwo w perspektywie lokalnej i globalnej ("SilesiaSilesiaSilesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
, Poland, Europe: Changing society in local and global perspective") - (XI) 2000, RzeszówRzeszówRzeszów is a city in southeastern Poland with a population of 179,455 in 2010. It is located on both sides of the Wisłok River, in the heartland of the Sandomierska Valley...
- Los i wybór. Dziedzictwo i perspektywy społeczeństwa polskiego). - (XII) 2004, PoznańPoznanPoznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
- Społeczne aspekty wstąpienia Polski do Unii Europejskiej ("Social aspects of Poland's accession to the European UnionEuropean UnionThe European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
") - (XIII) 2006, Zielona GóraZielona GóraZielona Góra is a city in Lubusz Voivodeship, in western Poland, with 117,557 inhabitants within the city limits and 294,000 inhabitants within the metropolitan area, including three neighbouring counties ....
- Co nas łączy, co nas dzieli? ("What Associates Us, What Differentiates Us")
Sections
The PTS currently has 15 sections dedicated to various subfields of sociology. Members can enroll in more than one section.- Sekcja Socjologii Pracy (Industrial sociologyIndustrial sociologyIndustrial sociology, until recently a crucial research area within the field of sociology of work, examines "the direction and implications of trends in technological change, globalization, labour markets, work organization, managerial practices and employment relations to the extent to which...
) - Sekcja Socjologii Wsi i Rolnictwa (Rural sociologyRural sociologyRural sociology is a field of sociology associated with the study of social life in non-metropolitan areas. It is the scientific study of social arrangements and behaviour amongst people distanced from points of concentrated population or economic activity...
) - Sekcja Socjologii Nauki (Sociology of science)
- Sekcja Socjologii Dewiacji i Kontroli Społecznej (Sociology of deviance)
- Sekcja Socjologii Miasta (Urban sociologyUrban sociologyUrban sociology is the sociological study of social life and human interaction in metropolitan areas. It is a normative discipline of sociology seeking to study the structures, processes, changes and problems of an urban area and by doing so providing inputs for planning and policy making. Like...
) - Sekcja Antropologii Społecznej (Social anthropologySocial anthropologySocial Anthropology is one of the four or five branches of anthropology that studies how contemporary human beings behave in social groups. Practitioners of social anthropology investigate, often through long-term, intensive field studies , the social organization of a particular person: customs,...
) - Sekcja Metodologii Badań Społecznych (Methodology of social researchSocial researchSocial research refers to research conducted by social scientists. Social research methods may be divided into two broad categories:* Quantitative designs approach social phenomena through quantifiable evidence, and often rely on statistical analysis of many cases to create valid and reliable...
) - Sekcja Socjologii Jakościowej i Symbolicznego Interakcjonizmu (Qualitative researchQualitative researchQualitative research is a method of inquiry employed in many different academic disciplines, traditionally in the social sciences, but also in market research and further contexts. Qualitative researchers aim to gather an in-depth understanding of human behavior and the reasons that govern such...
and Symbolic interactionismSymbolic interactionismSymbolic Interaction, also known as interactionism, is a sociological theory that places emphasis on micro-scale social interaction to provide subjective meaning in human behavior, the social process and pragmatism.-History:...
) - Sekcja Socjologicznych Problemów Bezpieczeństwa Narodowego (formerly Sekcja Socjologii Wojska) (Military sociologyMilitary sociologyMilitary sociology aims toward the systematic study of the military as a social group rather than as an organization. It is a highly specialized subfield which examines issues related to service personnel as a distinct group with coerced collective action based on shared interests linked to...
) - Sekcja Socjologii Medycyny (Medical sociologyMedical sociologyMedical sociology is the sociological analysis of medical organizations and institutions; the production of knowledges and selection of methods, the actions and interactions of healthcare professionals, and the social or cultural effects of medical practice...
) - Sekcja Pracy Socjalnej (Sociology of social workSocial workSocial Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
) - Sekcja Socjotechniki (Social engineeringSocial engineeringSocial engineering may refer to:* Social engineering , efforts to influence society on a large scale* Social engineering , the practice of obtaining confidential information by manipulating and/or deceiving people....
) - Sekcja Socjologii Prawa (Sociology of lawSociology of lawThe sociology of law is often described as a sub-discipline of sociology or an interdisciplinary approach within legal studies...
) - Sekcja Socjologii Religii (Sociology of religionSociology of religionThe sociology of religion concerns the role of religion in society: practices, historical backgrounds, developments and universal themes. There is particular emphasis on the recurring role of religion in all societies and throughout recorded history...
) - Sekcja Historii Socjologii (History of sociologyHistory of sociologySociology emerged from enlightenment thought, shortly after the French Revolution, as a positivist science of society. Its genesis owed to various key movements in the philosophy of science and the philosophy of knowledge. Social analysis in a broader sense, however, has origins in the common stock...
) - Sekcja Kół Naukowych PTS ("Scholarly circles of the Polish Sociological Association")
- Sekcja Socjologii Młodzieży i Edukacji (Sociology of youth and educationSociology of educationThe sociology of education is the study of how public institutions and individual experiences affect education and its outcomes. It is most concerned with the public schooling systems of modern industrial societies, including the expansion of higher, further, adult, and continuing...
)
Presidents
- 1957-1963 Stanisław Ossowski
- 1964-1968 Nina Assorodobraj
- 1969-1972 Władysław Markiewicz
- 1972-1976 Jerzy SzackiJerzy SzackiJerzy Ryszard Szacki is a Polish sociologist and historian of ideas, and emeritus professor of the University of Warsaw....
- 1976-1983 Stefan Nowak
- 1983-1989 Janusz Ziółkowski
- 1989-1994 Antonina Kłoskowska
- 1994-1998 Antoni Sułek
- 1998-2002 Andrzej Kojder
- 2002-2005 Włodzimierz Wesołowski
- 2005- 2010 Piotr Gliński
- 2010 - Grażyna Skąpska