UKZN Professor Publishes Book on Global Sociology

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Professor in the School of Social Sciences within the College of Humanities Radhamany Sooryamoorthy has published a new book: Sociology Global: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives, which examines the discipline of sociology as it is applied in a variety of countries.

Sooryamoorthy’s research focuses on trends in sociology; broad and general fields, subfields and research areas; prominent, flourishing, emerging and/or declining sociological fields; the origins of sociological knowledge, and geographical regions and countries.

He outlined features of his book, drawn from a large canvas of research, including the fact that it provides students, researchers, and practitioners with a solid foundation for studying sociology.

The book examines characteristics of global sociology in terms of language, research methodology, disciplinary backgrounds, interdisciplinarity, and authorship; the relationships between the country of affiliation of authors and research areas; the effects of gender of the author, and its interrelationships with the discipline, department, research areas and collaboration.

In an endorsement of the book, Professor Mohammed Bamyeh of the University of Pittsburgh in the United States said: ‘Sooryamoorthy has produced an excellent, highly readable and necessary survey of sociological research around the world in a way that pays serious attention to voices from the global south.

‘His statistical analysis of a wide range of journals and data bases reveals major trends in sociological knowledge as well as factors that influence it in various locations, making this an indispensable resource for anyone interested in global social knowledge structures, problems, contributions, and fortunes.’

‘I hope that this book with a global perspective on sociology will facilitate an understanding of sociology in any region or country,’ added Sooryamoorthy.

The book is available from Anthem Press in the UK and US (https://anthempress.com/sociology-global-pb) and at most bookstores.

Words: Sinoyolo Mahlasela

Photograph: Supplied