The 37th World Congress of the IIS focused on theory and research at the forefront of sociology and the relationship between sociology and its neighbouring disciplines. This volume constitutes a sustained effort by prominent sociologists and other social scientists to assess the current standing of sociology. It is a stocktaking of the unique nature of sociology in the light of advances within the discipline itself and within a range of neighbouring disciplines. Some of the chapters outline institutional and professional strategies for sociology in the new millennium. Others trace scholarly advances and propose ambitious research programmes drawing on recent developments not only within traditional neighbouring disciplines such as history, political science, and economics, but also within the cognitive, cultural and mathematical sciences.

Peter Hedström is Professor of Sociology and Official Fellow of Nuffield College, Oxford. He is one of the key contributors to the literature on social mechanisms, and he has numerous publications in leading sociology journals. He is the current Secretary-General of the International Institute of Sociology.
Björn Wittrock is University Professor at Uppsala University and Principal of the Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study. He has published extensively in the fields of intellectual history, historical social science and social theory. He is the current President of the International Institute of Sociology.