Delta Scan: The Future of Science and Technology, 2005-2055: Changing Times, Changing Topics in Sociology

Key Pages

Category:
Science and Technology

Domain:
Social Sciences

Keywords:
Conflict - war, terrorism, genocide, ethnic cleansing, bioterrorism, netwars, genetic modification

Outlook:
As sociologists incorporate the challenges of the 21st century into the discipline, new areas of research such as sociology of terrorism and sociology of war are arising.

Summary Analysis:
The history of sociology, the scientific study of human society and social interaction, shows that the evolution of the discipline bears an imprint of the times. Sociology's origins can be traced to the Industrial Revolution. Urbanisation and industrialisation -- the growth of cities and the development of the factory system -- produced a host of new social problems, among them inadequate housing, poverty, pollution, and crime. As these conditions manifested themselves, sociology developed to help people understand why and how society was changing. In this century as we confront wars, terrorism, and ethnic cleansing, along with bioterrorism, genetic modification, and machine-human interactions, the discipline is responding to these new challenges. Sociologists at all levels, from theorists to ethnographers, will probably rise to the occasion, increasingly conducting empirical research with the help of ever more sophisticated tools for computation and analysis.

Implications:

Rise of new areas of research such as sociology of terrorism and sociology of war
Study of new interlinkages such as gender and terrorism or ethnicity and war

Early Indicators:

Offering by universities of courses on the psychology and sociology of terrorism and war
Publication in distinguished sociology journals of articles theorizing on the sociology of terrorism

What to Watch:

Research funding is increasingly diverted to new topics in sociology.

Parallels/Precedents:

Popularization of the sociology of science and technology with the growth of the IT industry and the Internet in the 1990s

Enablers/drivers:

Sociology's ability to incorporate change
Advent of new social challenges -- bioterrorism, netwars, genetic modification
Post 9/11, increased US funding for study of issues related to terrorism and homeland security

Leaders:
Institutions:

University of Arizona
University of Pennsylvania
University of Cincinnati
Sciences Po, Paris, France, Centre for the Study of Social Change [link]
University of Manchester, Centre for Research on Socio-Cultural Change [link]
University of St Andrews, Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence [link]
King's College London, Centre for Defence Studies [link]
UK Economic and Social Research Council, Society Today web site [link]

Figures:

Sources:

Turk, Austin T. "Sociology of Terrorism." Annual Review of Sociology 30:271-86 2004.
Interview with Ben Crow, Professor, Department of Sociology, University of California, Santa Cruz
Interview with W Richard Goe, Professor, Department of Sociology, Kansas State University
Social Sciences in Europe [link]
Drivers shaping Genomics [link]
Use of technology to enhance learning: call for research bids [link]
Housing and social exclusion [link]
Rural Economy and Land Use, UK research programme [link]

At A Glance:
When:
3–10 years

Where:
Global

How Fast:
Years

Likelihood:
Medium-High

Impact:
Low

Controversy:
Medium

Related Outlooks:

About this outlook: An outlook is an internally consistent, plausible view of the future based on the best expertise available. It is not a prediction of the future. The AT-A-GLANCE ratings suggest the scope, scale, and uncertainty associated with this outlook. Each outlook is also a working document, with contributors adding comments and edits to improve the forecast over time. Please see the revision history for earlier versions.

Category:	Science and Technology
Domain:	Social Sciences
Keywords:	Conflict - war, terrorism, genocide, ethnic cleansing, bioterrorism, netwars, genetic modification
Outlook:	As sociologists incorporate the challenges of the 21st century into the discipline, new areas of research such as sociology of terrorism and sociology of war are arising.
Summary Analysis:	The history of sociology, the scientific study of human society and social interaction, shows that the evolution of the discipline bears an imprint of the times. Sociology's origins can be traced to the Industrial Revolution. Urbanisation and industrialisation -- the growth of cities and the development of the factory system -- produced a host of new social problems, among them inadequate housing, poverty, pollution, and crime. As these conditions manifested themselves, sociology developed to help people understand why and how society was changing. In this century as we confront wars, terrorism, and ethnic cleansing, along with bioterrorism, genetic modification, and machine-human interactions, the discipline is responding to these new challenges. Sociologists at all levels, from theorists to ethnographers, will probably rise to the occasion, increasingly conducting empirical research with the help of ever more sophisticated tools for computation and analysis.

	Implications:	Rise of new areas of research such as sociology of terrorism and sociology of war Study of new interlinkages such as gender and terrorism or ethnicity and war
	Early Indicators:	Offering by universities of courses on the psychology and sociology of terrorism and war Publication in distinguished sociology journals of articles theorizing on the sociology of terrorism
	What to Watch:	Research funding is increasingly diverted to new topics in sociology.
	Parallels/Precedents:	Popularization of the sociology of science and technology with the growth of the IT industry and the Internet in the 1990s
	Enablers/drivers:	Sociology's ability to incorporate change Advent of new social challenges -- bioterrorism, netwars, genetic modification Post 9/11, increased US funding for study of issues related to terrorism and homeland security
	Leaders:	Institutions: University of Arizona University of Pennsylvania University of Cincinnati Sciences Po, Paris, France, Centre for the Study of Social Change [link] University of Manchester, Centre for Research on Socio-Cultural Change [link] University of St Andrews, Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence [link] King's College London, Centre for Defence Studies [link] UK Economic and Social Research Council, Society Today web site [link]
	Figures:
	Sources:	Turk, Austin T. "Sociology of Terrorism." Annual Review of Sociology 30:271-86 2004. Interview with Ben Crow, Professor, Department of Sociology, University of California, Santa Cruz Interview with W Richard Goe, Professor, Department of Sociology, Kansas State University Social Sciences in Europe [link] Drivers shaping Genomics [link] Use of technology to enhance learning: call for research bids [link] Housing and social exclusion [link] Rural Economy and Land Use, UK research programme [link]

At A Glance:	When:	3–10 years
	Where:	Global
	How Fast:	Years
	Likelihood:	Medium-High
	Impact:	Low
	Controversy:	Medium