In this talk I will discuss the world’s parliaments as a global institution. By it I mean, for instance, that in their structures and practices, legislatures are very similar. It is evident, say, in that opening words of a session can be verbatim copies of those in other parliaments. Through such isomorphic, invariant practices, legislatures symbolize, sanctify, and naturalize the nation-state as the component part of world society. The global standardization of parliamentary practices has also constituted what is the world over understood by politics, radiating to the forms that political organization into parties, ideologies and movements has assumed. Furthermore, the invariant rules observed constitute parliamentary practices as rituals. In addition to the sanctity of rational, evidence-based reasoning embodied in the authority of science, there are four sacred principles that define national parliaments as an institution: national sovereignty, parliamentary immunity, the national interest or common good, and sanctity of fellow parliamentarians. These principles are honored in frontstage sessions, whereas bargaining between conflicting group interests takes place in backstage occasions. Yet frontstage performances are important because they frame the issues and justify the decisions taken by commonly approved virtues and principles. In addition to passing (or proposing) laws, national parliaments legitimate rule and serve as switchboards in global governance and travel of ideas.
Pertti Alasuutari is professor emeritus of sociology at Tampere University. Renowned for his textbooks in qualitative research, Researching Culture, Sage 1995, and An Invitation to Social Research, Sage 1998, during the past 20 or so years he has focused on studying politics and policymaking from a global perspective. His research interests also include media and social theory.
The Helsinki Institute for Social Sciences and Humanities organizes a weekly Brown Bag Seminar to highlight novel methodological approaches in humanities and social sciences. Bring your own lunch, we bring fresh methodological topics!
There will be a 20-minute introduction to the methodological theme, followed by an open discussion of 40 minutes. The seminars are open to everybody. We expect a multidisciplinary and methodologically curious audience from different faculties and units of the central campus. The most important prerequisite for participation is not methodological expertise, but an open mind towards new methodological innovations and discussion across methodological and disciplinary boundaries.
Tapahtuma-ajat
- Alkaa:
- 19.3.2025 12:15
- Loppuu:
- 19.3.2025 13:15
- Tapahtumapaikka:
- HSSH Seminar Room & Zoom
- Osoite:
- Fabianinkatu 24 A, 5. krs, huone 524
- Postitoimipaikka:
- Helsinki
- Etätapahtuma nimi:
- Zoom
- Etätapahtuma osoite:
- Avaa verkkosivut
Tapahtuman muut tiedot
- Tapahtuman tyyppi:
- Esitelmät ja keskustelutilaisuudet
- Kuvaajan tiedot:
- Veikko Somerpuro
- Verkkosivut:
- Avaa verkkosivut
- Yhteyshenkilö:
- Anna Jarske-Fransas
- Sähköpostiosoite: