Heterodox Out Loud

Is Sociology Broken? Jukka Savolainen on Ideology and Reform | Ep 35

May 6, 2025

In this engaging discussion, Jukka Savolainen, a sociology professor at Wayne State University, tackles the pressing issues within the field, including ideological bias and a lack of viewpoint diversity. He shares his journey from Finland to the U.S. and critiques the influence of postmodernism on sociology. Jukka emphasizes the need for empirical rigor and discusses historical government interventions, like the reformation of Copenhagen's sociology department. He calls for unity among sociologists to foster open inquiry and diverse perspectives in research.

43:32

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Jukka Savolainen

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Quick takeaways

The podcast discusses the ideological bias within sociology, highlighting the necessity of viewpoint diversity to enrich empirical research.

It emphasizes the role of external interventions, exemplified by the Danish government's restructuring of sociology to enhance methodological rigor and relevance.

Deep dives

Dismantling and Rebuilding Sociology in Denmark

In the 1980s, the Danish government took action to address concerns about the direction of sociology at Copenhagen University, which had become dominated by non-empirical Marxist theories. They engaged a panel of external Nordic sociologists to evaluate the department, ultimately leading to the decision to dismantle it for a couple of years and rebuild it from the ground up. This intervention stemmed from the government's need for sociologists who could analyze social data relevant to Denmark's welfare system. Today, the reformed sociology department in Denmark is recognized as one of the most impressive in the field, highlighting the potential for meaningful change through government involvement.

Intro

2min

Navigating the Landscape of Sociology

11min

Reviving the HX Sociology Community: A Global Perspective

3min

Revitalizing Sociology: A Call for Empirical Integrity

23min

University Reforms and Ideological Challenges in Higher Education

3min

A Call to Unity in Sociology and Open Inquiry

2min

How can sociology reclaim its commitment to rigorous inquiry and viewpoint diversity? Today, John Tomasi sits with Jukka Savolainen, Ph.D., Sociology professor at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, and the moderator of the Heterodox Academy’s Sociology community. They discuss the discipline's current challenges, including ideological bias and lack of viewpoint diversity, and explore potential paths toward reform.

Jukka shares his journey into sociology and his decision to leave Finland to pursue a PhD in the United States due to concerns about postmodernist influences in Finnish sociology. He addresses the core aims of sociology, its present state of fragmentation, and the impact of ideological bias on research and discourse. Jukka highlights the importance of empirical evidence and viewpoint diversity while pointing out taboos and restrictions on certain topics within the field.

The conversation also examines the role of external interventions, using the example of the Danish government's restructuring of the sociology department at Copenhagen University in the 1980s, and the more recent actions by the state of Florida.

In This Episode:

💥 The ideological capture of sociology and its impact on research

💥 The lack of viewpoint diversity in the field

💥 The importance of empirical evidence and rigorous methodology

💥 Efforts to reform sociology from within

💥 The role of external intervention in addressing systemic problems

💥 The case of Mark Regnerus's controversial study on same-sex parenting

About Jukka:

Jukka Savolainen is a professor of sociology and criminology at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, holding a dual appointment in the departments of Sociology and Criminology & Criminal Justice. He earned his Ph.D. in sociology from the State University of New York at Albany and an M.Soc.Sci. from the University of Helsinki. His research focuses on criminology, demography, cross-national comparisons, and the sociology of violence. Savolainen has been a vocal critic of ideological conformity in academia, particularly within the field of sociology, and is an active member of Heterodox Academy, where he serves as a moderator of its sociology community. He has also contributed essays to outlets like Quillette and the National Association of Scholars, challenging prevailing narratives on race, policing, and academic freedom. Previously, Savolainen served as Director of the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research.

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