Exploring Global South Perspectives on Professions: Re-imagining and Critically engaging with Theoretical Frameworks

Historically professions were viewed as important units of sociological analysis, because of their power as a societal institution with the ability to contribute to social order and regulate the power of the market and the state. However, the contemporary world of work is characterized by markedly different socio-economic conditions, less stable and structured forms of society, increasingly fragmented livelihoods, and rapidly shifting economic environments. These developments have important ramifications for shaping the future of work, transforming - and at times transgressing - the traditional ways in which work has been controlled, conducted, conceived, and organized. Such shifts have implications for notions of what constitutes a profession, as well as for understandings of professionalism, professional values and standards, and the identities required to navigate complex contemporary contexts. Additionally, they raise questions about the extent to which these constructs remain relevant for understanding societies, individual behaviour, and related sociological phenomena.Rather than merely dismissing professions, this Research Topic aims to critically interrogate the role of professional work in society, particularly in relation to the perpetuation and dismantling of inequality and importantly, to address a continuing gap in scholarship and theory development on professions in the Global South.A third objective relates to fostering and enabling a forum for critical engagement with established and emergent theory and constructs applied to the study of professions. A key requirement for acceptance of abstracts and papers would be the need to illustrate engagement with one or more constructs that will facilitate advancement, or even the proposal of new constructs. Here, recent theoretical and conceptual contributions to the field, such as the constructs of connective professionalism, hybrid professionalism and ecological professionalism would benefit from increased engagement from southern perspectives and experiences to what has largely been a conceptual/theoretical debate and critique.While valuing the opportunities that such constructs promise for extending the value of understanding new forms of profession and professionalism, we see this Research Topic as offering an opportunity not only to extend the compendium of Southern work on professions, but also to stimulate epistemological and theoretical reflection on professions as a concept for sociological analysis. It is important for us that this issue assists towards theorizing and critically engaging epistemologies reflected in largely Global North narratives on professions.We hope that the scope of manuscripts will facilitate exploration of professions across diverse Global South contexts.1) At the micro-level: within workplaces between individual professionals or groups of professionals of different segments of society, as behaviours within organizations are strongly impacted by the professional values and identities individuals adopt or resist.2) At the meso-level: where power relations are mediated by the profession in relation to organizations, for instance social closure enforced by professionals under the pretext of organizational commitment, which can only be uncovered through analysis and research within the context of a profession.3) At the macro-level: where powerful professions can challenge government or markets and resist interference where ethically unjust policies or programmes are being proposed, but can also collude with the market to keep prices for certain services at a premium or maintain labour market inequality.This Research Topic also encourages authors to identify a core construct and topic for engagement that will assist in elevating theory, and welcomes manuscripts centered on themes including, but not limited to:• How is professionalism defined and operationalized in Global South professions? • How do meanings of professionalism shift across institutional, organizational, and cultural context? • Do professionals identify with the notion of profession and see themselves as adhering to professionalism criteria? Is this important for the professional identity? • How do professionals view their role in society towards addressing social problems?• What new constructs or ideas can the study of Global South professions offer wider sociological scholarship or more general scholarship on professions? • With formal employment declining, do professions offer a useful way to understand sociological phenomena in the wider world of work and livelihoods?• How has the Covid-19 pandemic/post Covid economy and society contributed towards new forms of professionalism/professions/professional identity?• What are the historical and contemporary barriers that marginalized individuals face in entering and advancing within professions? How do these contribute towards societal inequality?• In what ways do professional cultures and norms in different fields either promote or hinder inclusivity, diversity, and equity?• How does social closure manifest itself in professions, especially in a context where legal barriers have largely been eliminated and robust policies enacted? Topic editors: Angelique Wildschut, Debby Bonnin Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79327/exploring-global-south-perspectives-on-professions-re-imagining-and-critically-engaging-with-theoretical-frameworks