Anomie, solidarity, and conflict: French sociology and the limits of dialogue

What explains the splintering of the sociological imagination? Why do so ma ny rival schools contend for influence? Is there a chance for consensus? Do nald N. Levine seeks to answer these questions in his intriguing recent stu dy of the sociological tradition. He contends that sociology has been divid ed from the start along national lines, yet continues to progress towards h armony thanks to the "dialogical" commitments of the various national tradi tions. I argue that Levine misjudges the character and depth of past and pr esent rifts, and that he overestimates the likelihood of future disciplinar y unity.