The Effectiveness of Sociology in Addressing Social Problems and Crises in Iran: Perspectives of Sociological Elites and Experts

This study analyzes the role and position of sociology in addressing social problems and crises in Iran, with a particular focus on the factors shaping its effectiveness. The theoretical framework integrates three strands of literature: public sociology, institutional theories, and the sociology of crisis. The research employed a qualitative approach and thematic analysis. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 35 sociology professors, university lecturers, and members or directors of specialized groups within the Iranian Sociological Association. Participants were selected through purposive sampling, followed by a theoretical sampling logic until saturation was reached.

The findings indicate that the effectiveness of sociology in Iran is constrained by five interrelated themes: the epistemic disconnection of sociology from the Iranian context, the weakness of problem-oriented sociological training, institutional limitations and declining academic autonomy, the detachment of sociology from the public sphere and civil society, and the weak linkage between sociology, policymaking, and crisis management. The analysis shows that these themes do not operate separately; rather, they form an interconnected and mutually reinforcing pattern that limits sociology’s capacity to understand, explain, and intervene in social crises. The study concludes that enhancing the effectiveness of sociology in Iran requires simultaneous transformation at three levels: epistemic, institutional, and public-policy. This entails producing context-sensitive knowledge, strengthening the relative autonomy of academic institutions, and expanding a critical, problem-oriented form of public sociology.

Keywords: Public sociology; effectiveness of sociology; academic autonomy; indigenous sociology; social crises; social policy.