Re-Establishment of the Viennese Society for Sociology

In 1907, a Viennese Sociological Society was founded at the initiative of the social scientist Rudolf Goldscheid (1870-1973). It existed until 1934, trying to establish sociology as an academic subject of study and to integrate it into political education at school. Other founding members were Max Adler, Carl Grünberg and Karl Renner.

In the autumn of 2016, the Viennese Society for Sociology was re-established, with Eva Buchinger (Center for Innovation Studies & Policy) as vice chair. Based on Goldscheid’s ideas, the Society has the objective to investigate current issues from a sociological perspective and to progress academic studies by organizing lectures, workshops and conferences.

On 1 December, a first symposium was held at the premises of the National Bank of Austria, focusing on current questions pertaining to fiscal sociology. Prof. Max Haller, Chair of the Society, succeeded in attracting outstanding speakers like Prof. Ewald Nowotny (Gouvernor of the National Bank), Werner Kogler (Member of Parliament) and Johannes Ditz (former Minister for Economic Affairs). Further events are planned for spring 2017.

At AIT, Eva Buchinger is primarily concerned with innovation policy on the demand side. As a member of the Society’s committee, she will take up questions related to innovation sociology and thus contribute to push research in this area.