Pacyfikacja, ryzyko i zaangażowanie w późnym kapitalizmie

The starting point is the chiasm in the sociological tradition between the quest for a neutral perspective and the social engagement. The author demonstrates that this chiasm has dictated the rhythm of the developments in social thought and research and academic institutions for more than a century. She analyzes three motifs in the common history of sociology and capitalistic culture: pacification, violence and risk. She also stresses the importance of detachment for the pacification in the Western culture. She claims that in late capitalism involvement has become a dominant tendency in thinking about social sciences, for which reason sociology is more of a fuel-provider for social fears than the factor favoring pacification, which is reserved for detached research attitude.