Slovak Sociology and Postcommunist Transformation

The development of sociology in Slovakia is explored on two analytically distinct levels, though closely linked. The first is focused on historical developments in Slovak sociological thinking describing the main authors and their contribution to the reflection of society living on Slovak territory before introducing sociology as an independent discipline. The second level of analysis concerns Slovakia’s historical experiences and how its delayed social and political development, together with the dynamics of nation and state building, determined the trajectories taken by the social sciences and sociology in particular. The study distinguishes sociology as a science during the Communist regime in the late 1980s, and attention is primarily paid to the developments regarding the institutionalization of sociology and the involvement of sociologists in public life after 1989. Currently, sociology in Slovakia is respected as an independent subject for university study, the quality of staff available has improved, its university departments and research centers are quite well-established, international collaboration has been developed, and there is a well-functioning professional organization. Many things still need to be accomplished, and, most of all, a consolidation of all the positive achievements that have already been made is required.