Sociology and Power: Lessons of Relations between Them in Russia

Abstract

The article examines various types of relations between sociology and the authorities that exist in the society in general, in Russia, in particular. In the course of consideration of the history of sociology and contemporary Russian context it is concluded that the confrontation between sociology and the authorities can give way to real interaction only if the government will not interfere with the formation of civil society and its various entities. For this a necessary condition would be to refuse from the authoritarian regime and the police state, the substantial tightening of ideological pressure, from attempts to plantations conservative values, activation of Orthodox fundamentalism. The methodological basis of author's analysis is the thesis that sociology identifies itself with one of the elements of civil society, while at the same time, it is an institutional phenomenon.