JOURNAL ARTICLE

Wicked Problems Untamed by Attacking Sociology in Higher Education: (Re)Entrenching Sociologies to Prevent Environmental Crises.

  • Published In: Sociology, 2025, v. 59, n. 6. P. 1090 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Misiaszek, Greg William 3 of 3

Abstract

The article examines how the global neoliberalization of higher education (HE) deprioritizes and delegitimizes transformative sociologies, thereby undermining society's capacity to address complex "wicked" environmental problems that intertwine social injustice and ecological harm. It argues that (post) critical sociological teaching, integrated with ecopedagogical and transdisciplinary approaches, is essential in HE for fostering reflexivity and praxis aimed at socio-environmental justice and planetary sustainability. The text highlights how attacks on sociology in HE serve neoliberal and hegemonic interests by narrowing critical perspectives, reinforcing anthropocentrism, and marginalizing epistemologies from the Global South and Indigenous knowledge systems. Ultimately, the article calls for thickening transformative sociologies within HE curricula to disrupt fatalistic narratives, deconstruct oppressive global structures, and enable pluralistic imaginaries necessary for addressing super wicked environmental challenges.

Additional Information

  • Source:Sociology. 2025/12, Vol. 59, Issue 6, p1090
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Environmental Sciences
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:0038-0385
  • DOI:10.1177/00380385251343489
  • Accession Number:189753475
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