Public sociology, a perspective on the move

The aim of this Handbook is to provide an overview of public sociology by focusing on four main points: - the reasons for the enduring importance of public sociology in the current context and in light of ongoing changes in the social world; - the connections between public sociology and other approaches which, in the social sciences, develop dialogues and conversations of different kinds and levels; - the construction of a thematic agenda consistent with the scientific programme underlying public sociology; and - the applications of public sociology in empirical research and teaching. Therefore, our intention in this Handbook, as well as in this chapter, is not explanatory; nor is it to systematically develop an already-established analytical programme. Rather, we assemble some features of public sociology that appear most promising, and we explore its potential for collaboration and hybridization with research paths that move at its borders and/or traverse some of its directions of development