Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Official website of the State –
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November 14th is Sociologist's Day in Russia—a professional holiday for specialists who help society understand itself. Why has this particular date become key for Russian sociology, how did the field develop, and who is traditionally celebrated on this day?
From Auguste Comte to the present day
Sociologist's Day was established in 1994 at the initiative of St. Petersburg State University (SPbSU). The date was chosen to commemorate the event that marked the beginning of organized Russian sociology: on November 14, 1901, the first Russian sociological circle opened in St. Petersburg.
The discipline itself emerged much earlier—in the first half of the 19th century, when the Industrial Revolution, urbanization, and rapid economic growth reshaped society. In 1839, the French philosopher Auguste Comte coined the term "sociology" and laid the methodological foundations of the new science, dividing it into social statics and dynamics. Karl Marx, Émile Durkheim, and Max Weber influenced the development of the discipline: the former viewed society through the prism of class relations, the latter through collective consciousness, and the third through "social action" and ideal types.
In Russia, sociology actively developed from the late 19th century onward, thanks to the work of Nikolai Mikhailovsky and Pyotr Lavrov. After 1917, the discipline fell into obscurity: during the Soviet period, research was virtually nonexistent, but in the 1960s, a gradual revival began: departments were opened, research institutes were established, and research schools were formed.
From theory to practice
Today, sociology is not only an academic science but also a practical tool for analyzing social processes. Contemporary sociologists work with large volumes of data, conduct interviews and focus groups, utilize observations and experiments, and analyze the impact of culture, technology, and globalization. Surveys are often conducted not by the scientists themselves, but by specially trained interviewers, while methodologists are responsible for the quality of the instruments and the interpretation of the results.
Contemporary research is becoming increasingly interdisciplinary: sociology today encompasses over 70 fields—from the sociology of family, fashion, entrepreneurship, and even death to the sociology of animals, toys, war, and sexuality. Science is growing in complexity along with society.
One of the major international studies of recent years, published in Psychological Bulletin (2018), revealed a curious dynamic in social behavior: an analysis of more than 500 studies found that people's propensity to deceive decreases with age—from 47% in 20-year-olds to 35% in 60-year-olds, with minimal differences between men and women. These results illustrate the precise and insightful insights modern sociology can provide.
New generation managers
At the State University of Management, sociology is not an abstract theory, but the foundation of management education. In the "Sociology and Psychology of Management" program, students study the mechanisms of social systems, methods of public opinion analysis, group and organizational behavior, the fundamentals of communication, and the psychological aspects of management. Graduates work in research centers, government agencies, analytical services, the corporate sector, HR, marketing, and strategic planning.
And congratulations on this day are received not only by our scientists and teachers, but also by specialists who use sociological data in their professional activities: political scientists, marketers, PR experts, civil servants, and analysts.
Dear colleagues, happy professional holiday! May your research uncover new patterns, help inform important management decisions, and may your interest in human society never wane. Thank you for transforming complex processes into clear meanings, advancing science in general, and education and management in particular.
Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: November 14, 2025.
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