Monographic Sociology of Dimitrie Gusti: Social Science and Reform

This book highlights an important moment in the history of Romanian sociology: The idea of getting involved in the knowledge and construction of social life as well as the virtues of the sociologic monograph method that were promoted by the Bucharest Sociologic School and the Banat-Crisana Social Institute. This work now forwards an analysis of Dimitrie Gusti's original sociologic thinking system, a theoretic model underlying the monographic campaigns conducted by multidisciplinary teams. Rural studies were the central axis of the Bucharest Sociologic School. An important innovation of Dimitrie Gusti's School is examined: the launching of social work through the Superior School for Social Work and Assistance Princess Ileana, founded in Bucharest in 1929. A detailed presentation of the monographs conducted by the Bucharest School and the Banat-Crisana Social Institute with their specific characteristics is given, bearing the mark of sociologist Dimitrie Gusti and other remarkable personalities of the Romanian inter-war scientific elite.