The role of American Foundations in Sociology Institutionalization (1945-1960)

Abstract

This paper states the role of foundations Rockefeller, Carnegie and Ford in the institutionalization of sociology after de Second World War. The leading foundations have had enormous sums of money at their disposal and much empirical work can only be carried out if funding is avalaible to cover its expenses. But, which were the beneficiaries in Europe and United States? Private and public funding has played a significant and increasing role for sociology, but the question of how research is affected by the patterns of available funding is, also, a significant one. Ford has played and important role in introducing the behaviorism in the political analysis, and some sociologist have tended to assume that foundations are obviously associated with power and capitalisme, but others consider that it cannot provide a sufficient explanation on the impact of funding on sociological methods; other factors are also logically required. Has time come to offer an alternative account of the reasons for foundation behavior in relation to the social sciences?