This semester, I am enrolled in Sociology 4100, titled Contemporary Social Theory. In this course, we look at important sociological theories that help us understand and study society. It explains how sociological theories are created and how they connect to research methods in real-world studies. Each week, we are given readings to complete, followed by a reading response assignment. The task is straightforward: we summarize the readings in the first part and then choose a notable aspect to elaborate on for the remainder of the response.
The readings for this response are from Bruno Latour’s work, Reassembling the Social. In this text, Latour critiques the conventional understanding of society and the “social.” He argues that the term “social” has been misunderstood by social scientists. Instead, Latour suggests we view it as a dynamic process of assembling connections. Latour’s first source of uncertainty is the notion that groups are not predefined; rather, they are continuously forming through interactions. The second source of uncertainty is the idea that action is overtaken. Latour posits that actions are not merely the outcomes of individual intentions but are shaped by a network of diverse actors, both human and non-human. Recognizing and understanding these interactions challenges our traditional view of agency and highlights the complexity of social interactions. According to Actor-Network Theory, Latour outlines several steps for tracing associations. He advises researchers to prioritize local contexts before considering global perspectives, emphasizing the importance of following actors and their associations across different networks to understand their interactions and influences. Latour suggests that global phenomena can only be uncovered by compiling local information and identifying broader patterns. Keeping the social flat allows researchers to focus on connections and interactions between actors without assuming pre-existing social structures or hierarchies. By closely examining how associations are formed and maintained, rather than presuming stable social groups, researchers make a first move by shifting their focus from social explanations to tracing associations and connections between actors.
Grassroots movements typically begin with small-scale protests and initiatives at the local level. However, they gain momentum through social media and other support, demonstrating how local actions can have a global impact. On Saturday, April 5th, 2025, millions of people across various cities in the United States took to the streets to protest against the current President. Support was strong in all 50 states, with local grassroots movements mobilizing individuals to participate in rallies nationwide. The wave of protests extended beyond the United States, as news agencies reported demonstrations in London, Berlin, Lisbon, Paris, and numerous other international locations. Grassroots movements are constantly formed and reformed through the interaction of various actors, human and non-human. These interactions create a dynamic network which is central to Bruno Latour's idea of the social being a process of assembling connections.References:
