Males L. Sociocultural Analysis: the Conceptual Framework.

The dissertation is aimed at revealing theoretical and methodological foundations of sociocultural analysis. In this work the social and the cultural are separated only for analytical reasons although their constant interaction and interrelationships are inevitable in the observed reality. History of sociological theorizing is treated herein as advancing from culturally biased to recognitions and reflections of culture. The dissertation surveys relevant theoretical accomplishments in the humanities, maintains them as the line of development for sociological knowledge, and considers them in mutual complementarity from the sociocultural theoretical and methodological perspectives. The author argues for the knowledge-acquisitive potential of the following principles and conditions of sociocultural analysis: contextuality, interdisciplinarity, reflexivity, non-hierarchical analysis of cultural diversity, and analysis of semiotic foundations of culture through the processes of symbolization of cultural meanings. Furthermore, the dissertation advances some approaches to the deconstruction of cultural traditions and formation of cultural sensitivity within sociological theorizing.