Introduction

pp. 1-13

in: Larissa Titarenko, Elena Zdravomyslova, Sociology in Russia, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 2017

Abstract

Dramatic sociological development in Russia has a span longer than a century, starting in the mid-nineteenth century and running till the present day. During this time, wars and revolutions shook political regimes several times, urging great changes in the largest society in Europe and creating challenges for sociology. This book provides a brief history of sociology in Russia from pre-revolutionary development through the contradictory Soviet time to the current stage. Several particularities of Russian sociology are discussed: breaks of continuity between its main historical periods, late institutionalization of sociology in the Soviet period, decline of its role in contemporary Russia, and the influence of the relationship between sociology and power throughout its history.