Using Dynamic Social Theory for an Equitable Society by Disrupting Higher Education

• In Event: Sociology of Education Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 24. Equity, Justice, and Health in Shaping Educational Outcomes

Abstract

Universities create social and political polarisation, as well as social mobility (Grossmann & Hopkins 2024; Lind 2021). This paper shows how public sociology can use the innovative approach of ‘Dynamic Social Theory’ (Alexander 2025) to transform our dominant model of university teaching and research into engines of social justice, using examples of practice.
The approach has three elements:
One: All institutions are sociological experiments, conducted through trial and error, imitation and innovation. Results are embedded into infrastructure, norms, procedures, rituals, and relationships, as well as beliefs, stories, and theories that constitute every institution, from micro (e.g. lessons, assessment) to macro (a university or education system).
Two: Institutions act as social models that are replicated and adapted to achieve various purposes. They can be seen as “dynamic theories”, equivalent to hypotheses in natural science.
Three: sociologists can help citizens, practitioners and policymakers to improve outcomes of institutions by systematically using observation, reflection, data, research methods and lessons from models that contribute to creating equality and better social outcomes.
This will be illustrated through case studies of peer-research by homeless people, the living wage campaign and education (Alexander 2001), with lessons for public sociology in higher education.

Titus Alexander is a community educator and independent scholar based in Scotland.
References
Alexander, T. (2001) Citizenship Schools: A practical guide, Campaign for Learning, with UNICEF UK
(2025) Social models as dynamic theories: how to improve the impact of social and political sciences, Front. Polit. Sci., 01 May 2025, Volume 6 https://doi.org/10.3389/fpos.2024.1443388
Grossmann, M., and Hopkins D.A.(2024) Polarized by Degrees How the Diploma Divide and the Culture War Transformed American Politics, UK: Cambridge University Press
Lind, M. (2020), The New Class War: Saving Democracy from the Metropolitan Elite, Portfolio Books;

Author

• Titus Alexander