Orientations and Futures of Indian and South African Sociologies

Abstract

The hope for a universal sociology has not yet deserved purchase across the global sociological community. Neither is any form of consensus on a universal sociology evident in debates and the literature, but in some cases they are nascent as in the case of India. Sociologists are of course aware of different socio-cultural variables and different forms of scientific knowledge. However, they have not attempted to test the bodies of work, including major theoretical foundations. Consequently, a sociology of sociology remains only an emerging study area. Comparatively, Indian and South African sociologies did come together in the first decade of the 2000s. In recognition of common interests, debate and the fact that scientific knowledge is dominated by northern countries, an agreement was reached between the Indian Sociological Society and the South African Sociological Association in 2008. The publication of a special edition of the South African Sociological Review and the 2008 South African Sociological Congress held at the University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town realized a memorandum of understanding between the respective Presidents of the Society and the Association. There is no material evidence that the more significant clauses of the memorandum of understanding received much attention. The aim of this paper is therefore to outline those important aspects of the orientations of the Indian Sociological Society and the South African Sociological Association, so as to inform any future pursuit of cooperation institutionally, educationally, and sociologically.