Conclusion

The Conclusion begins by recapping the key arguments of the book before offering some broader contemplations. These include advocating the value for the concept of semi-alienation for the broader sociology of intellectuals and discussing what direct influence Cole had on British sociology. I then offer five lessons contemporary sociology could learn from returning to Cole: (1) the need to reject origin myths when it comes to the discipline; (2) recognising critique must include a notion of an alternative; (3) seeing structure and agency as a political problem; (4) the need to relativise the decolonial critique; and (5) lessons for how to do public sociology. I conclude by offering some thoughts on what Cole teaches us about being a sociologist.