George Steinmetz, "The Colonial Origins of Modern Social Thought: French Sociology and the Overseas Empire" (Princeton UP, 2024)
Dec 6, 2024
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George Steinmetz, a renowned sociologist from the University of Michigan, discusses his pivotal work on the intersection of French sociology and colonialism. He emphasizes how colonial experiences shaped foundational theorists like Pierre Bourdieu and critiques the prevailing myths of French colonial thought post-World War II. Steinmetz highlights the role of sociology in colonial administration and education and explores the tensions between sociology and law during this era. His insights call for a deeper understanding of how colonial legacies continue to influence contemporary social thought.
The podcast emphasizes the underacknowledged influence of colonialism on the development of modern sociology, particularly in the French context.
Steinmetz highlights four key figures whose colonial experiences fundamentally shaped their sociological theories, illustrating the interconnectedness of empire and social thought.
Despite their ties to the French state, many colonial sociologists adopted critical stances against imperialism, reflecting complex relationships with their contexts.
The author plans to expand the discourse by examining sociologists from other colonial powers, aiming to deepen the understanding of sociology's colonial legacies.
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Exploring Colonial Influences on Sociology
The book under discussion outlines the profound impact colonialism had on the development of modern sociology, particularly emphasizing how French sociology was shaped by its colonial context. The author asserts that many sociologists were deeply engaged with colonial themes, often serving as key figures in fostering social policies within colonial frameworks. Through historical analysis, the work illustrates the complexities and contradictions inherent in the sociological discourse of the time, raising critical questions about the ethical implications of scholarship produced under colonial conditions. This exploration ultimately challenges the oversight in understanding how deeply intertwined sociology's evolution is with its colonial past.
Contributions from Key Sociologists
The text delves into the contributions of several prominent sociologists, outlining their distinct approaches to the study of colonial societies. Figures like Raymond Aron, Jacques Berck, and George Ballandier are highlighted for their innovative methodologies and theoretical advancements that emerged from their engagement with colonial issues. Their collective work reflects a critical response to the colonial mindset and a push toward decolonizing social thought within their fields. By documenting these contributions, the text reframes the narrative surrounding these scholars and positions them as pivotal in linking sociology to broader anti-colonial sentiments.
Debates on Classical Sociological Figures
The ongoing debates surrounding foundational figures in sociology reveal the need for a nuanced understanding of their works in a contemporary context. Critics argue that figures like Durkheim and Weber may have held problematic views shaped by their times, leading to calls to reevaluate their legacies. However, there is also a recognition of the importance of contextual readings of their texts, revealing insights that can resonate in today's discussions about race, colonialism, and social structures. The call to move beyond simplistic interpretations underscores the challenge of reconstructing a more inclusive sociological tradition that acknowledges both the contributions and limitations of its historical figures.
Future Directions in Sociological Research
The author expresses intentions to explore further the interplay of sociology and colonialism through upcoming works that will examine British and German sociologists in their respective contexts. This future research will aim to chart how these sociologists influenced postcolonial thought and the broader academic landscape. Additionally, the author plans to investigate the legacies of lesser-known sociologists, enriching discussions of race and societal structures across sociological scholarship. By broadening the scope of inquiry, the author seeks to foster deeper engagement with the historical and contemporary intersections of sociology and empire.
It is only in recent years that sociologists and historians of the social sciences have given empire the attention it deserves in histories of the discipline. In this context, George Steinmetz’s The Colonial Origins of Modern Social Thought: French Sociology and the Overseas Empire (Princeton University Press) is likely to be a touchstone text in these debates. Providing a new history of the French national discipline inspired by a ‘Neo-Bourdieusian Historical Sociology of Science’, Steinmetz highlights the centrality of ‘colonial sociology’, work centered on and/or created in the French overseas colonies and protectorates to the discipline’s development.
The French state, eager to consolidate its empire after World War II, were eager to draw on the expertise of sociologists in pursuing this goal; as Steinmetz shows therefore, during this period, a focus on ‘the colonial’ became central to French sociology to the extent that roughly half the French sociological field could be considered ‘colonial sociologists’. Despite this entanglement with the French state these colonial sociologists became strong critics of imperialism. Alongside the many stories he uncovers Steinmetz explores in depth the case of four such colonial sociologists: Raymond Aron, Jacque Berque, Georges Balandier and Pierre Bourdieu, seeking to show not just the centrality of colonialism to each writer but how their experiences of empire formed their basis for their future work; for example, how Bourdieu’s concepts of habitus, capital and field can be traced to his experiences in colonial Algeria.
In our discussion, which also marks the imminent release of the text in paperback, George takes us through this hugely enlightening text, including reflections on why there may have been some ‘disciplinary amnesia’ in sociology’s unwillingness to confront empire, the relations between sociology and other imperial disciplines, how sociologists from the colonies developed their own work, the lessons from his text about how we should confront colonial sociologists and whether Durkheim had an ‘imperial gaze’.
Your host, Matt Dawson is Professor of Sociology at the University of Glasgow and is the author of G.D.H. Cole and British Sociology: A Study in Semi-Alienation (2024, Palgrave Macmillan), among other books.
