An August issue of the Newsletter of the Altruism and Social Solidarity Section-In-Formation is available now. On this site you can also get access to full content of the new issue. Click here

The purpose of the section is to promote theoretical development and empirical research pertaining to altruism and social solidarity. In the broadest sense, this subject matter consists of individual and social activity that is intended to benefit the welfare of others. The activities of the section are directed towards establishing the discipline of sociology in the forefront of theoretical development and empirical testing in this essential interdisciplinary area of scientific investigation. These activities include the following: to provide for periodic regular exchanges of information at the Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association; to link with other scientific groups working on psychological, cultural, and genetic aspects of altruism and solidarity; to develop and augment a community of scholars dedicated to the study of altruism and social solidarity; to provide an ongoing social context and support system for efforts to gain greater knowledge and understanding of the nature, sources, and effects of altruism and social solidarity; to encourage the investigation of the policy implications of this knowledge; and to facilitate the dissemination of information to publics regarding aspects of altruism and social solidarity that will benefit individual lives and the social organization of modern society.
http://www.csun.edu/~hbsoc126/

Dr. Rein Taagepera granted his permission to present on the site two chapters from his "The Finno-Ugric Republics and The Russian State", which complements Pitirim Sorokin's research and recollections about his native land in early writings and in autobiography "A Long Journey." At the same time, it enriches understanding and knowledge of Komi in the context of other Finno-Ugrics today, as well as in the history.   

As soon as the Pitirim Sorokin Research Center was established in Syktyvkar (capital of the Republic of Komi) in early 2009 Sorokin's family provided access to over 1770 documents in the family's archive in Boston area. Substantial part of these documents was conveyed to the former Governor of the Republic during the official visit of Sergei Sorokin and Richard Hoyt to Russia. The book "Pitirim Sorokin: Selected Correspondence" was published by the Center presenting to the Russian-speaking World invaluable insights to Pitirim Sorokin's biography and thoughts. Another project is on the way, which is based on historical and sociological analysis of documents related to the WWII and the Russian War Relief Inc. The working title of the project is "From War to Peace". The book is scheduled for publication in 2010 and devoted to 65th anniversary of victory over Nazis.                

A new project was commenced at the Sorokin Research Center under a working title "From War To Peace" focused on evolution of Pitirim Sorokin's theoretical views on wars and practical assistance Sorokin's family contributed to the Russian people fighting against Nazis during Great Patriotic War. New documents related to activities of the Russian War Relief Inc. in New York, Massachusetts, and, especially, in Sorokin's hometown of Winchester will be engaged in the research. The book will be published in Russia. Work in progress can be followed on the Russian-language site of the Pitirim Sorokin's Research Center at www.pitirimsorokin.org

Authors have done a brilliant job bringing together the correspondence of one of the great and colorful intellectual figures of the last century – giant of global thought, pioneer of Russian sociology and architect of American sociology.

In the year 2009 the most memorable thing for me was the visit to Russia, where I was overwhelmed by the hospitality shown Dr. Richard Hoyt and myself by the Komi government, as well as by the graciousness of the Vladyka Pitirim and the musicians at the Sobor for offering a generous sampling of my own musical compositions in concert at the Komi National Gallery.

I had a chance to meet, or renew acquaintance with a great number of people in Komi both official and unofficial, to see the northern forests with their characteristic "yagel," and appreciated that time was given for us to see some great examples of art and musical culture in St. Petersburg, and additional details about the ethnic culture in Komi that I had not seen earlier. It was something gaze at some of the most beautiful ancient icons, or to stand in front of Aivazovsky's huge romantic sea painting, "The Billow" ("Val") in the Russian Museum ‐ something I will never forget.

More importantly, perhaps, it was encouraging to observe that my father Pitirim's legacy is cherished in Komi, and that steps are being taken to assure the permanence of his memory there and a fuller appreciation of his profound contributions towards understanding social changes that affect all of us.

I have recently visited a number of universities in the US, Europe and Russia and encountered very impressive processes underway. For example, in Russia, where the society has lost the so called "formational" (feudalism, capitalism, communism, etc.) philosophical outlook, there has been nothing less than a gigantic explosion of interest to the civilizational paradigm. The libraries and bookstores there are presently bursting with new publications and studies. In every book or dissertation there are multiple quotations from CCR and the civilization studies classics. A number of civilization-related academic centers have been recently opened throughout Russia, for example the Sorokin Research Center was established at the Syktyvkar State University as recently as March 1st, 2009. Lately, the mandatory course of a brand new scientific discipline - Culturology was introduced in every Russian school, every college and every university. The course is based almost entirely on the works of civilization classics (Vico, Danilevsky, Berdyaev, Spengler, Toynbee, Nietzsche, Kroeber, Schweitzer, Freid, Jung, Sorokin, Mechnikov, Russell, L. White, Lotman, Huntington, and others). There are some interesting and/or original concepts which are introduced in the Culturology textbooks.