A Critical Analysis of Durkheim’s Role in the Institutionalization of French Sociology

Emile Durkheim is considered to be the pioneer who established “scientific sociology” and institutionalized it in France. The position owned by Durkheim in Sociology even exceeds the position of August Comte, the founder of this new subject. However, Durkheim’s efforts at institutionalizing Sociology in France was highly affected by politics. This situation has negatively affected the development of the French Sociological Tradition and its institutionalization. Durkheim’s efforts distanced many groups which worked on Sociology in France from this new subject. In this context, the main objective of this article is to analyse the socio-political context related to the Durkheim’s efforts to institutionalizing sociology and its impact on the development of this new subject in France.