Sociologists Without Borders
Encyclopedia
Founded in Madrid
in 2001, Sociologists without Borders/Sociólogos Sin Fronteras (SSF) is a Non-Governmental Organization
that advances a cosmopolitan sociology and its activities are considered to be Public sociology
. The organization has active chapters in Brazil, Chile, Italy, Spain and the U.S., and recently in Canada and Iran. The Spanish and U.S. chapters each have international members. Each of the chapters has regular meetings and organizes sessions at national sociological conferences, and there is an affiliated online, peer-reviewed journal.
As Sociologists, the group advances human rights
by working through communities, societies, the workplace, and other social institutions. They advance the right to decent employment, social security, education, housing, food security, health care, the rights to cultural, racial, religious, and to an identity and sexual preference. Human rights also includes gender equality and the principle that vulnerable groups need special protections, including children, the aged, the disabled, oppressed racial and ethnic minorities, migrants, and indigenous peoples. These principles are drawn from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
(1948) that recognizes “the inherent dignity” and “the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family,” from various United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization's treaties and declarations on culture.
Human rights are realized with the advance and protection of common (collective) goods, including a sustainable environment, transparent laws and government, natural resources, the internet and information grids, fair trade
, food sovereignty
(the rights of farmers and fishers to manage their own resources), and participatory democracy. Indeed, human rights are themselves common goods because they are indivisible and inclusive.
The group's framework is considered utopian, and Sociologists Without Borders takes the view that this is necessary in a world in crisis: wars, civil strife, diminishing environmental resources, epidemics, and the growing economic gap between the Global North and the Global South. What this pessimistic account leaves out, and what Sociologists without Borders stresses, is that there are growing interdependencies and solidarities around the world and these draw less from nation-states than they do from the capabilities and resourcefulness of ordinary people.
and discrimination
because officers will likely rely on appearance, phenotypes, language and accents to make judgments that will lead to the unnecessary harassment or detention of US citizens and residents, including SSF members and other Sociologists." SSF began a boycott of public and private entities within Arizona and encouraged their members not to travel to the state.
Stanley Aronowitz
, Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, Rodney Coates, Charles Derber, Silvia Dominique, Louis Esparza, Joe Feagin, Frances Fox Piven
, Tanya Golash-Boza, Walda Katz-Fishmann, Mark Frezzo, Amir Mirvasti, Havidán Rodríguez, Alan Spector, Rubén Rumbaut, Antonio Ugalde, Immanuel Wallerstein
Chapters:
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
in 2001, Sociologists without Borders/Sociólogos Sin Fronteras (SSF) is a Non-Governmental Organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
that advances a cosmopolitan sociology and its activities are considered to be Public sociology
Public sociology
Public sociology is an approach to the discipline which seeks to transcend the academy and engage wider audiences. Rather than being defined by a particular method, theory, or set of political values, public sociology may be seen as a style of sociology, a way of writing and a form of intellectual...
. The organization has active chapters in Brazil, Chile, Italy, Spain and the U.S., and recently in Canada and Iran. The Spanish and U.S. chapters each have international members. Each of the chapters has regular meetings and organizes sessions at national sociological conferences, and there is an affiliated online, peer-reviewed journal.
Overview
The group's central pedagogical aim is to develop a globally inclusive sociological curricula. Its epistemological premise is that human rights and collective goods (including sustainable natural resources and participatory democracy) are two aspects of the same concept.As Sociologists, the group advances human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
by working through communities, societies, the workplace, and other social institutions. They advance the right to decent employment, social security, education, housing, food security, health care, the rights to cultural, racial, religious, and to an identity and sexual preference. Human rights also includes gender equality and the principle that vulnerable groups need special protections, including children, the aged, the disabled, oppressed racial and ethnic minorities, migrants, and indigenous peoples. These principles are drawn from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly . The Declaration arose directly from the experience of the Second World War and represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled...
(1948) that recognizes “the inherent dignity” and “the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family,” from various United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization's treaties and declarations on culture.
Human rights are realized with the advance and protection of common (collective) goods, including a sustainable environment, transparent laws and government, natural resources, the internet and information grids, fair trade
Fair trade
Fair trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries make better trading conditions and promote sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a higher price to producers as well as higher social and environmental standards...
, food sovereignty
Food sovereignty
"Food sovereignty" is a term coined by members of Via Campesina in 1996 to refer to a policy framework advocated by a number of farmers, peasants, pastoralists, fisherfolk, indigenous peoples, women, rural youth and environmental organizations, namely the claimed "right" of peoples to define their...
(the rights of farmers and fishers to manage their own resources), and participatory democracy. Indeed, human rights are themselves common goods because they are indivisible and inclusive.
The group's framework is considered utopian, and Sociologists Without Borders takes the view that this is necessary in a world in crisis: wars, civil strife, diminishing environmental resources, epidemics, and the growing economic gap between the Global North and the Global South. What this pessimistic account leaves out, and what Sociologists without Borders stresses, is that there are growing interdependencies and solidarities around the world and these draw less from nation-states than they do from the capabilities and resourcefulness of ordinary people.
The SSF Think Tank
On July 25, 2008, The SSF US Chapter released an online discussion platform for reflection and discussion among concerned Sociologists, other Social scientists, NGOS, Governments,Academics, Students, Activists, Journalists and Individuals,who want to discover and hopefully help fight the "Challenges to Human Rights" in a global environment. This can be accessed at2010 Arizona Boycott
In response to Arizona SB 1070, SSF petitioned Arizona Governor Jan Brewer to roll back the law, stating: "SSF believes that Arizona Law SB1070 is a form of racial profilingRacial profiling
Racial profiling refers to the use of an individual’s race or ethnicity by law enforcement personnel as a key factor in deciding whether to engage in enforcement...
and discrimination
Discrimination
Discrimination is the prejudicial treatment of an individual based on their membership in a certain group or category. It involves the actual behaviors towards groups such as excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to another group. The term began to be...
because officers will likely rely on appearance, phenotypes, language and accents to make judgments that will lead to the unnecessary harassment or detention of US citizens and residents, including SSF members and other Sociologists." SSF began a boycott of public and private entities within Arizona and encouraged their members not to travel to the state.
Members and Office Bearers
- Judith Blau, President, US Chapter
- David Brunsma, Treasurer, US Chapter
- Keri Iyall Smith, Vice President, US Chapter
- Valentine J Gandhi, Rafael Gallegos, Web Resources Editors
- Executive Committee:
Stanley Aronowitz
Stanley Aronowitz
Stanley Aronowitz is professor of sociology, cultural studies, and urban education at the CUNY Graduate Center. He is also a veteran political activist and cultural critic and an advocate for organized labor.-Social Text:...
, Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, Rodney Coates, Charles Derber, Silvia Dominique, Louis Esparza, Joe Feagin, Frances Fox Piven
Frances Fox Piven
Frances Fox Piven is an American professor of political science and sociology at The Graduate Center, City University of New York, where she has taught since 1982.-Life and education:...
, Tanya Golash-Boza, Walda Katz-Fishmann, Mark Frezzo, Amir Mirvasti, Havidán Rodríguez, Alan Spector, Rubén Rumbaut, Antonio Ugalde, Immanuel Wallerstein
Immanuel Wallerstein
Immanuel Maurice Wallerstein is a US sociologist, historical social scientist, and world-systems analyst...
- Stephanie Blake, Administrator
- Student Executive Committee: Mustafa Jumale, Aurelia Lorena Murga, Joel Ritsema, Daniel Weinstein
- Journal Editors: David Brunsma, Mark Frezzo, Keri Iyall Smith
- Representatives to American Association for the Advancement of Science: Judith Blau, Mark Frezzo, Jerry Krase (Alternate)
- Beatrice and Sidney Award Committee: Gran (Chair), Joe Feagin, Walda Katz-Fishman, Judith Wittner
- ASA Liaison: Louis Esparza
- Poet Laureate: Rodney Coates
- Ali Tayefi http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dc82npk9_111fjbz3n&revision=_published&pli=1, President, Iran Chapter
External links
- Sociologists Without Borders´s Updates -- the official newsletter of Sociologists without Borders
- International Sociologists Without Borders´s web log -- the official newsletter of International Association of Sociologists without Borders
- Societies Without Borders -- the official journal of Sociologists without Borders
Chapters: