Iranian Journal of Sociology
Year:2002 | Volume:4 | Issue:1|Papers Count:6

In order to clarify the fairly chaotic concepts of theorizing, at first an attempt will be made to provide a matrix of "conceptual possibilities" of theory based on eight structural and functional definitions of theory. Then a multidimensional concept will be chosen from this matrix. This concept considers three layers for theory. Presuppositions belong to the upper layer. At the next level down, i.e, middle layer, analytic schemes are positioned; and finally substantive propositions, both positivistic, existential and consequential, occupy the lower layer of theory. The main claim is that the analytic theory of action and its derivatives in general and the concept of action space in particular, can play a heuristic role both in the middle layer of theory for classifying and describing social phenomena and in lower layer for explaining them.

This article examines the role of scientific associations in the scientific/ academic system of Iran. A scientific association is an independent institution formed through concious and free union of the practitioners of a scientific field in order to pave the way for the development of science and to promote principles of collective action of work ethics among the practitioners as well as linking the theoritical and practical aspects of the field through free, thoughtful and democratic interaction. The aim of this article is to explain the historical process of the changes relation to independent instututions (non-Government Organizations) and the related notions. The article also explains the existing situation and the role of scientific associations in the country"s scientific/academic system. Finally, it describes the ideal situation and provides an assessment of the possibilities and limitations of such associations concerning their function and their transition from the present situation to the ideal one.

Traditionally, young people were trained for profession and crafts. The training was domained by the master-apprentice system; young people acquired experience as they went through life; family life, work and pleasure were relatively balanced; families appreciated this system and the process it entailed. However, with the emergence of the industrial revolution in the west, the system changed and lifelong training gave its place to short term education. In developing countries like Iran, the logical relationship between mechanical change, agricultural technology" and educational system was never established. Such disharmony led to confusion and distrust towards the traditional approach. Fatalism and irrationality thus affected the attitude of young people and their families toward profession and craftsmanship, and created greater ambiguities.

During the decade of 1986-1996, Khuzestan province, compared to other provinces of the country has had a considerable place in terms of population relation. The dominant pattern of migration in third world countries in that of the villagers to cities, that takes place more according to the model of "step migration", firstly begun from the rural areas to the closest town. The migrant goes into the larger cities where better job opportunity and probably more income are accessible after adapting himself to work and living conditions in the city three or four years past. In Khuzestan during 10 years of study, we witnessed another pattern of migration, though temporarily, it has influenced process of development there. This pattern is "return migration" of the people who relocated to other cities from wartorn areas due to the Iran-Iraq war in the early 80s. They returned home in the late 1980s. This paper, while favoring the classical model of stopmigration, mainly aims to further attend to the model of return migration, which is not much prevailed in the third world countries, but has been effective on socio-economic life of present Khuzestan.

For a long time now drug and addiction has become social problem and the fight against it has been on the agenda of government and international societies. Tackling this chronic and complex issue requires precise knowledge of various dimensions of the problem. In this arduous fight against addiction and drugs, only Those programs succeed that are palnned and implemented on the basis of realistic evaluation of the spread and nature of the problem. To make the above conditions possible, one must recognize that the study of the problem of addiction is an inseparable prat of efficient approach to the fight against addiction. If anti-addiction campaigns and programs are not based on research findings and are not evaluated and modified through systematic research, one can hardly be hopeful of the outcomes.