Dr. Christopher Powell
In a social struggle, any particular work of social science inevitably favours one side or another, depending on what it reveals and to whom.
Areas of Expertise
complex systems theory; relational sociology; social transformation; sociological theory; genocide studies
Research
I study the emergent forces generated by complex social systems, and the egalitarian or inegalitarian effects of these forces.
In the first part of my career I worked in the field of genocide studies, looking at how genocide results from normal systemic features of modern societies. For this work I drew on classical systems thinkers like Marx and Parsons, as well as other relational theorists like Elias, Foucault, Bourdieu, and Dorothy Smith.
Recently I鈥檝e left genocide studies to focus on radical projects of social transformation, from distributed-network models of social movement organizing (Occupy, Idle No More, Black Lives Matter) to worker co-ops (the Mondragon Corporation) to participatory budgeting (the Porto Alegre model) and others. I plan to analyze the mechanisms of egalitarian collective decision making using tools from systems thinking (Donella Meadows), general systems theory (Ludwig von Bertalanffy), and complex systems theory (e.g. Hartmut Bossel, Stefan Thurner, etc.).
I鈥檓 aiming to use these theories to produce analyses and tools that would aid social movement actors in extending the scope and effectiveness of radically democratic collective action.
Website
Courses
- SOC 107: Sociology of the Everyday
- SOC 473: Classical Sociological Theory
- SOC 475: Contemporary Sociological Theory
- SOC 507: Race and Ethnicity in Canadian Society
- ACS 400: Ideas that Shape the World: Modernity (co-taught)
Graduate Program Membership
Recent & Selected Publications
Powell, C. 2023. Radical Complexity: Using Concepts From Complex Systems Theory to Think 成人大片 Socialist Transformation. 13(1).
Powell, C. 2022. 鈥淭ransforming Sociological Theory鈥� in 4th ed. (pp. 44-49), edited by J. Jean-Pierre, V. Watts, C.E. James, P. Albanese, X. Chen and M. Graydon. Toronto: Oxford University Press Canada.
Powell, C. and P. Strongblood. 2021. 鈥淔raming sociological inquiry: Theoretical traditions and developments鈥� (Chapter 2) in edited by S. Knudson and D. Hahn. Toronto: Pearson Canada.
Powell, C. 2018. Canadian Review of Sociology/Revue Canadienne De Sociologie 55(2): 298-301.
Powell, C. 2018. 鈥� in Cambridge Handbook of Social Problems, edited by J. Trevino. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Powell, C. 2017. Canadian Review of Sociology 55(2): 298-324.
Powell, C. 2017. 鈥淎nti-genocide鈥� in (pp. 268-83), edited by S. Totten. New York: Routledge.
Powell, C. 2016. Genocide Studies and Prevention 10(1): 44-59.
Powell C. and A. Amarasingam. 2016. 鈥淎trocity and Proto-Genocide in Sri Lanka鈥� in (pp. 19-48), edited by S. Murray. Calgary: University of Calgary Press.
Powell, C. 2015. 鈥淭ranscendence or Struggle: Top-Down and Bottom-Up Narratives of Human Rights鈥� in (pp. 128-144), edited by A. Muller, K. Busby and A. Woolford. Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press.
Powell, C. and J. Peristerakis. 2014. 鈥淕enocide in Canada: A Relational View鈥� in , edited by A. Woolford, J. Benvenuto, and A.L. Hinton. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.
Powell, C. 2013. 鈥淩adical Relationism: A Proposal鈥� in (pp. 187-207), edited by F. D茅pelteau and C. Powell. New York: Palgrave.
Webinar
Relational Sociology International Online Seminar with Christopher Powell presenting Radical Relationism Redux (Canadian Sociological Association, October 21, 2022)