The world of social scientists circa 2009
MANDALUYONG, METRO MANILA. It was fascinating to witness hundreds of social scientists from different parts of the world gathered at Griegallen Hall (Bergen, Norway) for the very first World Social Science Forum last week. I consider myself fortunate to be given a chance to listen to what “experts” say about the present state of social science viewed from different perspectives. What most impressed me is the insistence of some social scientists to be socially relevant especially in the field of policy. This reminded me of why I chose sociology to be my profession. However, the practice of social science does not necessarily lead to a romantic relationship with policymakers. Rather, according to the experienced experts, their engagement with power and the powerful in their respective societies is never smooth.
This description reminds me of the thorns guarding beautiful roses. Here I imagine the rose as society’s goal, be it equality, justice or order. The stems and branches that hold firm this rose are the social institutions. The thorns are the by-products of these institutions that are endowed with power to either guard or hurt society’s goals.
Listening to the discourses of fellow social scientists at the World Social Science Forum, I realized that our practice of social science does not necessarily mean that we are guarding the “rose”. We, too, are suspects. We, too, have pretences to resolve. Our scientific ways of examining the workings of society (thought to be the beacon of our intellectual power) could also hurt society. For one needs to first ask, whose society are we talking about and for whom?
