History of Swedish Sociological Association (SSA)
In 1961, sociologists from the regions of Uppsala, Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Lund convened in Uppsala to create the Swedish Sociological Association.
After the interim board election, the first professor of sociology in Sweden, Torgny T. Segerstedt, became chairman. In 1962, the first annual meeting of an association took place in Uppsala.
Harald Swedner became the chairman at the annual meeting, and the association’s statutes came into force. The Swedish name of the association is Sveriges Sociologforbund.
Mission of SSA
- SSA focuses on promoting a greater understanding of sociology among governmental authorities, private organizations, and the general public to establish sociology as a valued social science that contributes to the advancement of Swedish society.
- The primary purpose of SSA is to facilitate the scientific advancement of sociology and related domains of social application.
- SSA seeks to protect the trade union interests of its members.
- SSA enhances Swedish sociologists’ professional awareness, ethical principles, and professional responsibility.
Activities of SSA
Organizing research conferences, publishing periodicals such as Sociological Research, and engaging in international partnerships comprise most of SSA’s activities.
International Collaborations of Swedish Sociological Association
- SSA is a member of the European Sociological Association, the International Sociological Association, and the Nordic Sociological Association. Through these foreign partnerships, the organization engages in international sociology-related discussions. SSA contributes actively to the production of Acta Sociologica and the hosting of the Nordic sociology conference.
- The every-four-year ISA conference took place in Sweden in 1978 in Uppsala and 2010 in Gothenburg.
- Ulf Himmelstrand, a Swedish sociologist, specializing in African studies, became the ninth president of the International Sociological Association from 1978 to 1982.
SSA Membership
Membership subscription amount is classified based on economic and other criteria. SSA uses membership fees to publish a journal and organize the conference. The SSA membership fee validity period is two years.
Sociology Days
Every two years, SSA hosts a conference called Sociology Days. In addition to lectures, panel discussions, seminars, evaluation of scientific publications, and publications are organized. SSA organized annual meetings between 1965- 2010; since then, Sociology Days have been held every two years.
Swedish Sociological Association Awards/Honors
Torgny T. Segerstedt’s Award for Best Article in Sociological Research
The Segerstedt Prize is granted to the most current paper published in Sociological Research, which has considerably benefited the sociological discipline. SSA established the award in 1994 and is named after Torgny T Segerstedt.
The Swedish Society of Sociologists’ Prize for Newly Graduated Researchers in Sociology
SSA established this award in 2008 as a prize for the best sociological dissertation in the last year.
Journal/Publications
Sociologisk Forskning/Sociological Research
- Sociologisk Forskning/Sociological Research is the founding journal of SSA, published since 1964.
- The Swedish Research Council aids SSA in publishing the journal.
- The publication focuses mainly on social concerns in Nordic nations.
- The magazine utilizes anonymous double-blind peer review and an open-access policy.
- The journal is indexed in Scopus and Web of Science.
Institutional members of SSA
Member institutions of SSA
- Department of Sociology, Sodertorn University
- Department of Sociology, Umea University
- Department of Sociology and SOFI, Stockholm University
- Department of Sociology and Work Science, University of Gothenburg
- Department of Sociology, Dalarna University
- Department of Sociology, Lulea University of Technology
- Department of Sociology, Orebro University
- Department of Sociology, Malardalen University
- Department of Sociology, Linnaeus University
- Department of Sociology, Karlstad University
- Department of Sociology and Sociology of Education, Uppsala University
- Department of Sociology, Lund University
- Department of Social Sciences, Mid Sweden University