SOCIAL SCIENCE IN THE TIME OF COVID-19

Authors

  • Steve Matthewman University of Auckland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11157/sites-id518

Abstract

This article discusses the role of the social sciences in the time of COVID-19. The pandemic has led to a renewed appreciation of the social and with this comes the prospect for the social sciences to gain greater relevance. We note the reasons why disasters lead to an increase in sociality and the activities that social scientists are well-placed to undertake: speaking truth to power, calling out lies and sectional advantage, separating fact from opinion, assessing the consequences of political action, predicting social futures (saying how the world will be), assessing public opinion (saying how people would like it to be), and advocating for social justice (saying how the world should be). Social science work shows that another world is possible and that another world is desired. More significantly, it also shows how to bring this world into being.

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Published

15-08-2022

How to Cite

Matthewman, S. (2022). SOCIAL SCIENCE IN THE TIME OF COVID-19. Sites: A Journal of Social Anthropology and Cultural Studies, 18(1), 80–102. https://doi.org/10.11157/sites-id518

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 1 (2021): General Issue

Section

Articles

License

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