The Renaissance of Historical Orientation in Sociology

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Abstract
In the last decade one may observe an important reorientation of theoretical thinking in sociology. It is marked by the emphasis on social processes, human agency and the dimension of time. These aspects of social reality become central foci of 'new historism' or 'historical sociology'. With the ascendance of this new trend the relationship of sociology and history enters a third phase: after initial hostility and mutual stereotyping through attempts at external integration, it reaches a phase of immanent integration. From ahistorism typical of early nineteenth century European sociology, as well as early American sociology, our discipline moves gradually toward the recognition of the historical coeflicient of social phenomena, and accordingly the necessity of historical perspective in social studies. Historical orientation is recon structed as a set of six ontological and six methodological assumptions, and it is suggested as a fruitful approach not only to traditional macro-structural problems, but also to the domain of micro-structures and micro-processes.

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