'American' Sociology

For those who - quite understandably - can't be bothered to read the Canadian Journal of Sociology, the Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology, and the official newsletter of the Canadian Sociology Association, Society, may not know that the disciplinary boundaries of Canadian sociology, as well as the meaning of practicing sociology qua sociologist, has been a heated (insofar, of course, as the veneer of politeness in Canada allows) issue debated by senior scholars, tenure track assistant professors and, indeed, graduate students such as myself. Unfortunately, the meaning of "sociology" and "Canadian sociology" isn't quite as exciting as the so-called "Theory Wars" and, hence, few are likely aware of the debate - including Canadian sociologists (and especially the Canadian social science academy as a whole).

As most will heartily acknowledge, questions of "Canadian-ness" (I'm tempted to think of 'Randolph' Dupree from the occasionally funny "You, Me and Dupree") are always overdetermined, on the one hand, by the proximity to the United States and, on the other hand, the post-colonial legacy (including, of course, the double conquests of the Natives and of Quebec). Consequently, the debate has been primarily limited to "Canadian Anglophone sociology" with the occasional bone thrown to "Canadian Francophone sociology." Likewise, "Canadian sociology" is repeatedly contrasted with "American sociology" with, surprisingly, the odd disparaging remark made at "British sociology." (The Continent, of course, is left out of the picture, except for gratuitous remarks on the perceived influence of Bourdieu, Foucault or Lacan.)

The question, then, has become one of "autonomy" and "professionalization" - what makes a sociologist a sociologist and what makes sociology a sociology. The fractured and divided (a terrible thing, of course) nature of Canadian sociology is thus mocked by the unity and cohesiveness of American sociology. We are constantly told that Canadian sociology would be much better if it were like American sociology - but only if it kept its "Canadian-ness."

My question - to my readers, that is - concerns American sociology: anecdotally, can it be said that American sociology is as 'unified' as the Canadian polemicists claim? It seems to me - once again, anecdotally - that the same fracture is repeated in American sociology as in Canadian sociology: a generally well-organized and well-funded 'applied' or 'scientific' sociology versus a weaker, disparate 'theoretical' and 'theoretico-empirical' sociology.

I'd request comments and observations from American readers especially. Anonymous comments are welcome as publicly speaking out against your own discipline can be dangerous.

(The reason I ask is that I'm tempted to wade into this debate - the voices of graduate students are, as of yet, sorely lacking in the published material.)