Soviet/Russian Sociology: Main Stages and Directions of Its Revival/Rebirth

Soviet/Russian Sociology:
Main Stages and Directions of Its Revival/Rebirth


Toshchenko Zh.T.

Corresponding Member of RAS, Academic Director of the Sociology Department, Russian State University for the Humanities, Moscow, Russia; Chief Researcher, Institute of Sociology of FCTAS RAS, Moscow, Russia zhantosch@mail.ru

ID of the Article: 10996

Rubric: To the history of sociology in Russia

For citation:

Toshchenko Zh.T. Soviet/Russian Sociology: Main Stages and Directions of Its Revival/Rebirth. Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya [Sociological Studies]. 2026. No 6. P. 30-47


 Full Text.


Abstract

This article analyzes the main stages in the development of Soviet/Russian sociology from the 1950s to the 2020s. It provides an analysis of the state of sociological thought in Russia and its development directions. Its revival/rebirth and functioning are examined in the context of real events related to the contradictory state of Soviet/Russian society, its gradual strengthening, the creation of various research organizations, and their initial regional and local research. The article describes the main directions of development, both in terms of the use of specific concepts, primarily drawing on the experience of global sociology, and in terms of the specifics of its application, taking into account the needs and interests of society and the state. It describes the key features of sociological thought at each stage, which, in subsequent stages of development, were refined, clarified, and acquired new aspects, giving rise to new fields and new problems of both theoretical and applied nature. It also describes the key achievements and characteristics of each stage of Soviet/Russian sociology and the problems that arose during its development and functioning.


Keywords
Soviet/Russian sociology; stages and directions of its development; theoretical and empirical sociology; social structure; theory and practice of social planning; economic sociology; political sociology; sociology of culture and education

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