Expansion, Crises and Closures

Abstract

This chapter analyses the most turbulent period of Danish sociology. In the 1960s sociology was institutionalised in Denmark with both departments and degrees in the field and prosperous prospects for the future. However, 20 years later Danish sociology was close to being erased from the academic landscape. The chapter argues that in order to understand this dramatic change for sociology, it is necessary to understand how conflicts within sociology about methods, theoretical frameworks and the purpose and goal of sociology alongside changing configuration of the academic field exposed sociological knowledge and institutions for a harsh critique and the closing of the sociological departments.