Shifting Practices in New Zealand Sociology

Type of content
Journal Article
Publisher's DOI/URI
Thesis discipline
Degree name
Publisher
University of Canterbury. School of Sociology and Anthropology.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Language
Date
2006
Authors
McManus, R.
Abstract

There is a widespread sense of unease in New Zealand sociology. This disquiet emerges in the day to day as hushed concerns over student numbers, furrowed brows at budget balances and squeamish stomachs over research outputs. General and pervasive, this sense of unease is linked to profound changes in the organisation, provision and practice of an academic sociology radically re-shaped by neoliberal policies in New Zealand higher education (Olssen, 2002). There is an apprehension that under current conditions, sociology is unable to maintain itself as an academic discipline in New Zealand (Crothers, 1999). Yet still, people continue to be employed as sociologists in academic institutions and new sociology programmes continue to emerge (Spoonely, 2005). Discomfit between a pervading sense of unease about sociology and life on the ground for academic sociologists merits further investigation. This article seeks to embark on such an investigation. Using a variety of information gathering strategies, this paper identifies key trends in the recent disciplinary practices of New Zealand sociology – to assess whether this unease is symptomatic of a discipline in demise or not – and concludes that sociology is maintaining itself as an academic discipline, but in new and as yet, unfamiliar ways.

Description
Citation
McManus, R. (2006) Shifting Practices in New Zealand Sociology. New Zealand Sociology, 21(2), pp. 270-288.
Keywords
sociology, New Zealand sociology, globalisation, tertiary teaching
Ngā upoko tukutuku/Māori subject headings
ANZSRC fields of research
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