Sociología e historia

by Peter Burke

Sociologists and historians are not always the best of neighbours, each group tending to perceive the other in terms of the crudest of stereotypes. However, the two approaches are obviously complementary – change is structured, and structures change. Each discipline can free the other from its own kind of parochialism and the aim of this book is to bridge the gap between these tow subcultures, to give historians a more acute sense of structure and sociologists a more acute sense of change.

Genres: History, Sociology

152 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Peter Burke is a British historian and professor. He was educated by the Jesuits and at St John's College, Oxford, and was a doctoral candidate at St Antony's College. From 1962 to 1979, he was part of the School of European Studies at Sussex University, before moving to the University of Cambridge, where he holds the title of Professor Emeritus of Cultural History and Fellow of Emmanuel College. Burke is celebrated as a historian not only of the early modern era, but one who emphasizes the relevance of social and cultural history to modern issues. He is married to Brazilian historian Maria Lúcia Garcia Pallares-Burke.

Reviews

[Ekin Aksu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative and well-written. Tells the short history of sociology and social history, explains the different methods and models historians and sociologists use in research, and suggests some features for a new model of social change. Even though the last part is only a small part of the book, I want to elaborate on it.

Burke argues that models of social change should

1. allow to explain not only 'forwards', but also backwards and cyclical change. Because counter-examples to a linear, evolutionary model can be found easily. Especially pre-industrial societies are changing in a more cyclical way, because it is affected by population changes a lot more (which is also cyclical before industrialization).

2. emphasize the importance of demography and external factors (such as conquest or trade) more, and be able to explain why some societies are more open or close to external pressure.

3. explain whether the effect of events and individuals on long term trends are important, and when and why. Maybe we can say in Braudel's terminology, the relation between historie evenementielle and historie conjoncturelle.

[Julio César · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una buena introducción para los historiadores, sobre las técnicas que pueden usar de la sociología. Habla de la estructura, del cambio social, de las clases. Para los sociólogos no tan interesados en la historia (como yo) puede ser un poco pesado...

[Javi Martino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Libro imprescindible para quien esté interesado en la historia social. Debería ser obligatorio leerlo en el primer curso de cualquier facultad de historia

[Simón · Rating 4 out of 5]

No es malo, pero incluso como estudiante nada más de sociología creo haber aprendido poco nuevo en la segunda parte, destinada precisamente a "lo que los sociólogos pueden aprender de la historia".
Me gustaría ser optimista y pensar que no se debe a un problema del libro sino a que las últimas décadas desde su publicación han permitido precisamente aprender e interiorizar las críticas a los modelos usados en la sociología para comprender la historia y quizá dar unos pasos hacia uno mejor.