Plural Modernity: Changing Modern Institutional Forms: Disciplines and Nation-States

TY - JOUR

T1 - Plural Modernity:

T2 - Changing Modern Institutional Forms: Disciplines and Nation-States

AU - Silva, Filipe

AU - Brito-Vieira, Monica Alexandra

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - The article begins with the assumption that modernity is undergoing a profound change. The focus is on the structural transformation of two typical modern institutional regimes: the academic discipline and the territorial nation-state. Their demise as the predominant institutional forms in the realms of science and politics signals the end of the modern project—or at least the need for its profound redefinition. It is suggested that such a redefinition entails a radical conceptual shift in the social sciences and that the meta-theoretical expression of this shift can be designated as 'dialogical pluralism'. At a theoretical level, both modernization theories and the recent program of 'multiple modernities' are rejected. A plural modernity, with several distinct varieties, seems a more promising perspective.

AB - The article begins with the assumption that modernity is undergoing a profound change. The focus is on the structural transformation of two typical modern institutional regimes: the academic discipline and the territorial nation-state. Their demise as the predominant institutional forms in the realms of science and politics signals the end of the modern project—or at least the need for its profound redefinition. It is suggested that such a redefinition entails a radical conceptual shift in the social sciences and that the meta-theoretical expression of this shift can be designated as 'dialogical pluralism'. At a theoretical level, both modernization theories and the recent program of 'multiple modernities' are rejected. A plural modernity, with several distinct varieties, seems a more promising perspective.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=73349127857&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3167/sa.2009.530204

DO - http://dx.doi.org/10.3167/sa.2009.530204

M3 - Article

SN - 0155-977X

VL - 53

SP - 60

EP - 79

JO - Social Analysis: The International Journal of Cultural and Social Practice

JF - Social Analysis: The International Journal of Cultural and Social Practice

IS - 2

ER -