Political Sociologist Looks at the Left and the Right
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 14, 2004
Kathleen McPartland
530-898-4260
Cynthia Siemsen, Sociology
530-898-6200
Political Sociologist Looks at the Left and the Right
The Department of Sociology, College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, and the California State University, Chico Chapter of Amnesty International will present a colloquium by G. William Domhoff titled “After So Many Setbacks, Why Doesn’t the Left Do Differently?”
The colloquium, which is free and open to the public, will be held Oct. 25, 3 - 4:30 PM in Kendall 207/209.
Domhoff is widely recognized as a political sociologist who researches the elite within the upper class in the American power structure. This colloquium will concentrate on his recent book “Changing the Powers That Be: How the Left Can Stop Losing and Win.” (2003)
“Domhoff’s talk should be nothing less than provocative, given the current presidential election,” said Cynthia Siemsen, professor of sociology. “Over the past four decades, his works have inspired and irked social theorists. There is no doubt his work has influenced the way sociologists, political scientists and economists view the role of the power elite.”
Domhoff has published a dozen books. He is the primary author on three editions of Who Rules America?, the book for which he is most well-known. This book has been widely used in introductory sociology classes for more than thirty years. The journal “Contemporary Sociology” indicates that it is among the top 10 selling sociology books of all time.
A short list of his main works in sociology includes “Diversity in the Power Elite: Have Women and Minorities Reached the Top?” (1998), “State Autonomy of Class Dominance (1996), Blacks in the White Establishment?” (1991) and “Jews in the Protestant Establishment” (1982).
Domhoff began his academic career at California State University, Los Angeles in the early 1960s, moved on to the University of California Santa Cruz in the mid-’60s, where he became a full professor of psychology and sociology in 1976. He remains connected to UC Santa Cruz as a research professor.
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