The conservative tradition in sociological thought
Speaker
Since its origins, sociology has shaped—and been shaped by—multiple political traditions, including liberalism, radicalism, progressivism, and conservatism. This lecture examines the conservative tradition in sociology, a tradition central to yet insufficiently recognised within the discipline’s formation.
It explores four recurrent themes within sociology’s conservative tradition: legitimate hierarchy and authority; appeals to nature and God as frameworks for reflecting on social order; the foundational significance of family and community, often against modern forms of individualism; and a commitment to traditionalism, frequently expressed through respect for religion and skepticism toward narratives of progress. Although contemporary sociologists rarely identify as conservative, it is misleading to treat conservatism as external to the discipline and to understand scholarly traditions in identitarian terms. Ideas drawn from the conservative tradition remain deeply embedded in sociological thought, often in unacknowledged ways.
Meet our speaker and chair
Shamus Khan is Willard Thorp professor of sociology and American Studies at Princeton University. He writes on elites, culture, gender and sexuality, and research methodology. This BJS annual lecture is based on a paper co-authored with former LSE Director Craig Calhoun.
Sam Friedman is a sociologist of class and inequality, and his research focuses in particular on the cultural dimensions of contemporary class division. He recently co-authored Born To Rule which explores how the British elite has changed over the last 120 years. He is now working on two new projects; 1) cross-class friendship and 2) the social stratification of contemporary cultural taste.
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