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Abstract This investigation analyzes the Desertec project, which envisioned a transition to “clean energy” through constructing solar thermal power plants in the Sahara Desert and linking Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East via high voltage cables. Despite great enthusiasm in the international media and some sectors of civil society, the project faced so many obstacles that even the consortium which initially fostered the initiative decided to withdraw. This article uses this case to critically assess the theoretical and epistemological assumptions of the theory of ecological modernization, pointing out an alternate research agenda which focuses on unsuccessful projects in this area (failure cases), emphasizing the limited scope of this theory and the teleological postulate which assumes convergence between economic and environmental rationalities. Resumen La investigación tiene como objetivo el análisis del proyecto “Desertec”, una iniciativa que pretende estimular la transición hacia “energías limpias” por medio de centrales termosolares en el desierto del Sahara y de la interconexión vía cables HVDC entre Europa, Norte de África y Oriente Medio. A pesar del entusiasmo con el que fue divulgado por la prensa internacional y por sectores de la sociedad civil, “Desertec” enfrentó obstáculos e impases, siendo abandonado por el consorcio que lo había impulsado inicialmente. A partir de este caso, el artículo efectúa un debate crítico con los presupuestos teóricos y epistemológicos de la “Teoría de la Modernización Ecológica” (TME). Se trata de proponer una agenda de investigación que enfoque los proyectos de modernización ecológica que hayan fracasado (failure cases), resaltando el alcance de la TME y el postulado teleológico de que la racionalidad económica tiende a coincidir con los criterios de racionalidad ambiental. Resumo A investigação tem como objeto a análise do projeto “Desertec”, um empreendimento que visa estimular a transição para as “energias limpas” por meio da construção de usinas termossolares no deserto do Saara e interconexão via cabos HVDC entre Europa, Norte da África e Oriente Médio. Apesar do entusiasmo com que foi divulgado pela imprensa internacional e setores da sociedade civil, “Desertec” enfrentou uma série de obstáculos e impasses, sendo abandonado inclusive pelo consórcio de empresas que o havia impulsionado inicialmente. À luz desse estudo de caso, o artigo propõe um debate crítico com os pressupostos teóricos e epistemológicos da “Teoria da Modernização Ecológica” (TME). Trata-se de apontar para uma agenda de pesquisa que enfoque os projetos de modernização ecológica mal-sucedidos (failure cases), sublinhando os limites de abrangência da TME e o postulado teleológico de que a racionalidade econômica tende a coincidir com os critérios de racionalidade ambiental.

All over the world, there is a pressing need to better understand how climate change has been incorporated into governmental agendas, and evaluate the status of adaptation planning and interventions at the local level. In this paper, we seek to contribute towards bridging this gap by identifying local practices connected to climate adaptation in six large Brazilian cities, and presenting a framework, based on the existing literature, for assessing constraints to adaptation across the municipal level. Although local governments are not the only actors who can take the lead through their actions, the employed framework considers that effective adaptation planning in urban areas is highly dependent on municipal efforts. Our findings indicate that six aspects have the highest levels of impact on adaptation in the Brazilian cities studied: administrative practices, political will, level of commitment, mismatch between the scale of urban issues and the extent of local government authority, pressures from private sectors, and inspection. Although these barriers are not specific only to climate issues and can be identified in other environmental arenas, when combined, they cause and worsen constraints to advancing urban adaptation at the local level. Specifically concerning the local dynamics of urban planning, the combination of pressures from private sectors and insufficient inspection negatively affects the ability of these cities to consolidate adaptation interventions. Our results are helpful in the context of large cities, particularly in Global South, where, as in Brazil, competitive urbanism and specific interest groups confront municipal efforts, and make achieving adaptation more difficult.

The article which was recently published contained error in figure captions. The correct caption is given in this article.

As a result of the classical sociological analysis of the scientific method as a way of consolidating the epistemic roots of social sciences reasoning, sociology has created a unique capacity of comprehending science through the scientific method. In this paper, we discuss the rise of a reflexive “vocation” of sociology, i.e., a special epistemic condition towards the understanding of contemporary science held by sociologists. Sociology has initially pointed out the knowledge problem as an internal issue, a challenge regarding the development of a scientific way of thinking about society. Contemporary sociology has pointed out the knowledge problem as a general challenge for science as a whole, replacing the logical demarcation by a new one based on social demarcation of knowledge. Social Studies of Science and Edinburgh’s Strong Programme have finally created a symmetrical sociology of the scientific knowledge, activating the classical reflexive condition of sociology towards scientific knowledge.

A investigação tem como objeto a análise do projeto “Desertec”, um empreendimento que visa estimular a transição para as “energias limpas” por meio da construção de usinas termossolares no deserto do Saara e interconexão via cabos HVDC entre Europa, Norte da África e Oriente Médio. Apesar do entusiasmo com que foi divulgado pela imprensa internacional e setores da sociedade civil, “Desertec” enfrentou uma série de obstáculos e impasses, sendo abandonado inclusive pelo consórcio de empresas que o havia impulsionado inicialmente. À luz desse estudo de caso, o artigo propõe um debate crítico com os pressupostos teóricos e epistemológicos da “Teoria da Modernização Ecológica” (TME). Trata-se de apontar para uma agenda de pesquisa que enfoque os projetos de modernização ecológica mal-sucedidos (failure cases), sublinhando os limites de abrangência da TME e o postulado teleológico de que a racionalidade econômica tende a coincidir com os critérios de racionalidade ambiental.

O artigo examina, em dois momentos distintos, as principais abordagens sociológicas sobre a ciência no século vinte: a Sociologia do Conhecimento, a Sociologia da Ciência e a Sociologia do Conhecimento Científico. No primeiro tópico são recapitulados os argumentos sociológicos de Karl Mannheim e de Robert King Merton. Defende-se a interpretação de que a obra de Mannheim seja reconhecida enquanto pressuposto epistemológico para o desenvolvimento da Sociologia da Ciência de Merton. Adaptada por Merton, a metateoria sociológica de Mannheim surge através de uma abordagem estrutural funcionalista associada a uma teoria de médio alcance. No segundo momento, são retomados os argumentos de Thomas Kuhn para, logo após, ser analisada a Sociologia do Conhecimento Científico enquanto apreciação construtiva da tradição de pensamento mertoniana. O estudo dos princípios lógicos da Sociologia do Conhecimento Científico de David Bloor e a investigação acerca da tradição de pensamento iniciada na Universidade de Edimburgo, na Escócia, foram o foco elementar dessa etapa do artigo. Finalmente, as principais características de cada uma das tradições são ressaltadas, buscando-se por mudanças e continuidades que viabilizaram o desenvolvimento da abordagem sociológica sobre a atividade científica desde sua gênese clássica até os estudos contemporâneos. The article examines, in two different moments, the major sociological approaches to science in the twentieth century: the Sociology of Knowledge, the Sociology of Science and the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge. In the first topic, Karl Mannheim's and Robert King Merton's sociological arguments are summarized. We support that the interpretation of Mannheim's work must be recognized as an epistemological prerequisite to the development of Merton's Sociology of Science. Adapted by Merton, Mannheim's sociological metatheory appears in Merton through a functional structuralism approach, associated with a middle range theory. In the second moment, we summarize Thomas Kuhn's arguments for, subsequently, examining the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge as a constructive appreciation to mertonian tradition of thought. The study of the logic principles of David Bloor's Sociology of Scientific Knowledge as well as the investigation of the tradition of thought started in University of Edinburgh, Scotland, was the elementary focus of this topic. Finally, the major characteristics of each tradition are elucidated, searching for changes and continuities that enable the development of the sociological approach on scientific activity since its classical genesis until the contemporary studies.

RESENHA A diversidade dos sotaques: o inglês e as ciências sociais The diversity of accents: the english language and the social sciences Marcelo Fetz Cientista social, Mestre em Sociologia e Doutorando em Sociologia pelo Instituto de Filosofia e Ciências Humanas (IFCH) da Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP) RESUMO Neste novo trabalho, Renato Ortiz desenvolve uma arqueologia dos conceitos \"linguística\" e \"língua\" com o objetivo de compreender a posição social da língua inglesa nas esferas da sociedade, da ciência e, especialmente, das ciências sociais. ABSTRACT In this new article, Renato Ortiz develops an archeology of the concepts of \"linguistics\" and \"language,\" with the aim of understanding the social position of the English language in the spheres of society, science, and especially the social sciences. By observing the predominance of the English language in science, he questions the dominant role of this language in the social sciences, which is characterized, if not by the constitution of a universal knowledge, by the development of a cosmopolitan knowledge. A influência do trabalho de Pierre Bourdieu pode ser claramente observada pelo leitor sob o tema da disputa, da hierarquização social e do acúmulo de capital simbólico, substrato teórico empregado pelo autor para o entendimento do Inglês no interior do campo científico.

The article examines, in two different moments, the major sociological approaches to science in the twentieth century: the Sociology of Knowledge, the Sociology of Science and the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge. In the first topic, Karl Mannheim's and Robert King Merton's sociological arguments are summarized. We support that the interpretation of Mannheim's work must be recognized as an epistemological prerequisite to the development of Merton's Sociology of Science. Adapted by Merton, Mannheim's sociological metatheory appears in Merton through a functional structuralism approach, associated with a middle range theory. In the second moment, we summarize Thomas Kuhn's arguments for, subsequently, examining the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge as a constructive appreciation to mertonian tradition of thought. The study of the logic principles of David Bloor's Sociology of Scientific Knowledge as well as the investigation of the tradition of thought started in University of Edinburgh, Scotland, was the elementary focus of this topic. Finally, the major characteristics of each tradition are elucidated, searching for changes and continuities that enable the development of the sociological approach on scientific activity since its classical genesis until the contemporary studies. Adapted from the source document.