From the powerful structure to the dominance of meaning: the educational sociology between institutions and processes. (English)

DELLA STRUTTURA ONNIPOTENTE AL DOMINIO DEL SIGNIFICATO: LA SOCIOLOGIA DELL'EDUCAZIONE FRA ISTITUZIONI E PROCESSI. (French)

Diffused only relatively late and under the influence of practical educational activities, the sociology of education in Italy has been traditionally linked to the evolution of the sociological theory as well as of the field of analysis. Beyond the dualism between conflict and integration, nowdays the most relevant division is among those who have a structural orientation and those who speak of subjective significant; the former school of thought focusses its attention on the institutions; the latter on the processes. Nowdays deterministic paradigms are refused in favour of the individual purposiveness both in the marxist paradigm (which points out the centrality of the human agency) and among the economists of the human capital. The most satisfying heuristic model is offered by multivel theories, derived from Weber and developed by Collins, which try to link together macrosocial processes and individual biographies, beyond rigid disciplinary boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Studi di Sociologia is the property of Vita e Pensiero Public University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)