The Russian-American Project
“Pitirim Sorokin”

In the USA science, culture and technology have reached the present-day heights in many ways through the talents of the immigrants from Russia. A glaring example is the life and creation of Pitirim A. Sorokin (1889-1968), the first-string sociologist of the 20th century.

Born in the family of peasants and craftsmen of the Russian depth of the country – Turia village of the Vologda province (the Republic of Komi now) he brilliantly graduated from the Saint Petersburg University department of law. Imbibed the achievements of the Russian sociological school (M.M. Kovalevsky, E de-Roberti, etc.) he became a major figure of the Russian sociology of the early 20s of the 20th century; he established the first chair of sociology at the Petrograd University, published a number of brilliant sociological works, was one of the leaders of the most numerous party of socialist-revolutionaries, was elected to the Constituent Assembly.

Being exiled from Russia Pitirim Sorokin came to the USA after a year in Prague. He established the Harvard University Department of Sociology and chaired it for 30 years, published tens of fundamental works which gained international recognition. They comprise a 4-volume book “Social and Cultural Dynamics”, “The Basic Trends of Our Time”, works on sociological theories, convergence of Russia and USA, sociology of revolution, social mobility, agrarian sociology, and altruistic love. He was elected the Chairman of the American Sociological Association. Jointly with Arnold Toynbee he founded the International Society for the Comparative Study of Civilizations. The Pitirim Sorokin doctrine of integralism, dynamics of civilizations, altruistic love is highly sought for in the 21st century, and is one of the cornerstones of the post-industrial paradigm of sciences about society.

In the USSR the ideas of Pitirim Soroking were denied for many decades; however from the 90s they gained wide recognition. His basic writings were published (Appendix 1). In 1999 in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Syktyvkar a scientific conference dedicated to the 110th birth anniversary of the scientists was delivered, the Pitirim Sorokin – Nikolai Kondratieff International Institute was founded. The papers of the conference “Return of Pitirim Sorokin” appeared in Russian and English.

In 2009, scientific conferences dedicated to the 120the birth anniversary of Pitirim Sorokin were held at the R.A.S. presidium, Saint Petersburg State University, and Syktyvkar. The memorial plaque on the house in Saint Petersburg where Sorokin lived was opened. The Pitirim Sorokin – Nikolai Kondratieff International Institute established the Pitirim Sorokin-Nikolai Kondratieff Golden Medal “For Distinguished Contribution to Macrosociology, Theory and Dialogue of Civilizations” conferred upon the scientists and political figures of Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, France, and Lebanon. It is envisaged to hold the roundtable session “Scientific Legacy of Pitirim Sorokin and the Future of Civilizations” on 29 October 2009 at the Harvard University. The “Culture” TV channel showed the movie about Pitirim Sorokin. The proposals drafted to establish the Pitirim Sorokin memorial museum on the premises of his mansion in Boston where his enormous library is stored. It appears necessary to implement the Russian-American project “Pitirim Sorokin” in the development and mutual intertwining of sociological sciences of Russian and the USA. Such project may be fulfilled under the UNESCO aegis as well as under the patronage of President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev – a graduate of the Saint Petersburg University Department of Law and US President Barack Obama who earned his law degree at the Harvard University Department of Law.

The scope of the project:

1. Publication in 2009 in Russian and in 2010 in English the collection of “Pitirim Sorokin – the Facets of Life and Works to be prepared for such publication by the Saint Petersburg State University Department of Sociology and P. Sorokin-N. Kondratieff International Institute and comprising his works, novel and story, poems and narratives, assessments of his life and works by the Russian and US scientists, and archival papers.

2. The establishment in 2010 of the Pitirim Sorokin memorial museum in Saint Petersburg State University (the basics of such museum was laid at the department of sociology) and in Boston.

3. Publication of the Pitirim Sorokin collected works in Russian.

4. The establishment of the “Pitirim Sorokin” exposition at the display devoted to the Russian scientists in the USA, in Saint Petersburg and in Washington.

5. Tailoring the e-library of Pitirim Sorokin (as a part of the world e-library) comprising its works in different languages and the prime books from his private library.

This project may be performed by the President B.N. Yeltsin Library and Library of the US Congress, departments of sociology of the Saint Petersburg and Harvard Universities, Pitirim Sorokin – Nikolai Kondratieff International Institute and other entities concerned.

The activities under the project could be coordinated by the Russian-American commission of the following indicative composition:

Alexander Vershinin (Director of the President B.N. Yeltsin Library) and James H. Billington (Librarian of the United States Congress) – co-chairmen; Henry Skvortsov (Pro-Rector and Chairman of the Saint Petersburg State University Department of Sociology), Robert Sampson (Chairman of the Harvard University Department of Sociology) and Yuri Yakovets (President of the P. Sorokin – N. Kondratieff International Institute) – deputy chairman; commission members – Sergey Sorokin (Professor, the son of Pitirim Sorokin), Alexander Boronoev (deputy chairman of the Saint Petersburg State University), Gennady Ossipov (Academician, Director for the R.A.S. Institute of Socio-Political Research), Edward Tiryakian (Professor, pupil of Pitirim Sorokin), Daniel Granin (writer, he met with Pitirim Sorokin), Boris Kuzyk (R.A.S. corresponding member, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the P. Sorokin – N. Kondratieff International Institute), Vladimir Dobrenkov (chairman of the Moscow State University Department of Sociology), Nikita Pokrovsky (Professor, R.A.S Institute of Sociology), Nikolai Borissov (Director of the Center for Cross-Disciplinary Research of the Saint Petersburg State University), and others.

It is necessary to determine the issue of financing the activities under the project. The implementation of such project will make available the utmost rich scientific legacy of the outstanding Russian-American scientists for the present and future generations, will promote the establishment of the integral socio-cultural system on the planet.

Yu.V. Yakovets,
President of the Institute,
Professor of the Russian Academy
of Public Service under the RF President,
Academician of the R.A.N.S.