Radical Intellectuals: What Happened to the New Urban Sociology?

Aleksandra Sasha Milicevic

International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 2001, vol. 25, issue 4, 759-783

Abstract: This article is about the rise and fall of radicalism among ‘new urban sociologists’ during the 1960s and 1970s. First, I analyze the social and theoretical developments of that time and demonstrate the novelty of the questions that the new urban sociologists posed. Second, I examine the features of the practical engagements and motivations of the members of this group and show how they changed over time. Finally, I discuss the processes of institutionalization of this group. The story of the new urban sociologists is the story of members of the same generation who, dissatisfied with the development of theory in their field, developed a distinct approach to urban problems. The project that they developed combined elements of both intellectual and political projects. I consider both aspects of this project in light of Gouldner’s sociology of intellectuals, and show that de‐radicalization was a consequence of a peculiar combination of political disillusionment, theoretical triumph and a successful project of professionalization. Cet article porte sur l’essor et la chute du radicalisme chez les ‘nouveaux sociologues urbains’ au cours des années 1960–70. Tout d’abord, il analyse les évolutions sociales et théoriques de cette époque en démontrant la nouveauté des questions posées par ces sociologues. Ensuite, il examine les caractéristiques des engagements concrets et des motivations des membres de ce groupe, en marquant leurs changements avec le temps. Il termine par les processus d’institutionnalisation du groupe. L’histoire des nouveaux sociologues urbains est celle de personnes d’une même génération qui, insatisfaits de l’évolution théorique dans leur domaine, ont mis au point une approche différente des problèmes urbains. Le projet qu’ils ont développé combinait des éléments de travaux tant intellectuels que politiques; l’article en examine ces deux aspects à la lumière de la sociologie des intellectuels de Gouldner, démontrant que la dé‐radicalisation a résulté d’une association particulière de désillusion politique, de succès théorique et d’un travail réussi de professionnalisation.

Date: 2001
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