International Conference
Institute of Sociology at the Faculty of Philosophy, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje
Abstract submission deadline: May 5, 2025
The Institute of Sociology at the Faculty of Philosophy, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, is proudly celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. To mark this milestone, we are delighted to invite scholars and researchers to participate in the upcoming international scientific conference dedicated to this occasion. The conference will be held from September 10 to 12, 2025, in Skopje, North Macedonia.
The idea of re-examining “normality” in 21st-century societies challenges the sociological tradition of studying social structures in their stable state. What can we say today about the stability of social norms, values, laws and morality? The general goal of the conference is to rethink the concept of “normality” in contemporary conditions – does it represent a state of stability that is being strived for or a dynamic process of continuous adaptation that facilitates the integration of individuals into communities?
The conference’s title is inspired from the use of ideas like “fluid society,” “liquid modernity,” “multiple normalities” and other which in the sociological analyses are used for conceptualizing the new and ever more flexible and short-lived forms of sociability. Both, the new ideas and the process raise the question of redefining “normality” in contemporary societies. In sociology and other social sciences, these analyses highlight the changing nature of attitudes towards work, marriage, family, friendships, urban and rural phenomena, and economic relations – especially in their grey and black zones, such as corruption. It changes also the institutional frames characteristic for the modern, fixed norms and principles.
In such situations, individuals develop a unique rationality, which encourages them to act based on their priorities, which often change depending on the context. Instead of adhering to predefined rules, they adopt flexible identities, allowing them to adapt more quickly and efficiently to rapid and unpredictable societal changes. This highlights a dynamic process of constantly reshaping individual and collective identity in response to complex social challenges.
More Information HERE!