Status of Sociology and Some Questions of Thai Social Science Academic Works

Abstract

An intense controversy within the discipline of sociology was raised within the American Sociological Association in 2004 under Michael Burawoy’s presidency. The debate concerned the prime location of the discipline among for sub-fields of sociology: professional sociology, policy sociology, critical sociology and public sociology. In Thailand, social science is expected to provide policy suggestions. However, the promise of the social science lays in its proposal for public communication – to engage in public discussion, constructing public space where subalterns can speak for themselves. In this situation, social science also faces several fundamental questions: How can case studies lead to theory construction? How can diversity be dealt with in case studies? How can social science research help solve social problems? Can social science represent the public?