Global Diversity, Dialogue, and the Futures of Sociological Theory

Throughout the history of what we know as sociological theory, there has been a fundamental tension between the quest for scientifically universal knowledge of the world and the realities posed by the actual existence of different modes of social life in the world. Efforts have been made to either account for or press Sociological Theory to include the varieties of cultural differences, the ways in which we talk about how societies “understand” and “coexist with” one another (whether as equals or positioned within historical structures of domination), and how or whether shared frameworks for meaning and action are or can be envisioned or developed. Yet both the intellectual foundations of mainstream sociological thought and the dominant epistemes of social theory remain disproportionately Western European and North American (WENA), leaving vast bodies of knowledge and modes of knowing from the Asia, Africa, Latin America, and indigenous communities around the world unrepresented or underrepresented in theoretical discourse. WENA sociological theory is not just the lingua franca of social theorizing; it is the altar upon which all other modes of knowing must place themselves for legitimation as “sociological.”As patterns of global migration, digitalisation, and geopolitical realignment reshape the conditions of social life, and the risks to humankind are unevenly distributed across the world, the need to interrogate and expand the theoretical vocabulary of sociology has never been more urgent. Understanding the diversity of sociological knowledges and modes of knowing not merely as a social phenomenon to be described, but as a resource for enriching theory itself, is a central challenge for contemporary sociology.This Research Topic addresses a fundamental tension in contemporary sociological theorizing: the chasm between the global plurality of human social experience and the comparatively narrow range of intellectual traditions that shape theoretical frameworks. Despite a longstanding and growing awareness of this imbalance, progress toward a genuinely polyphonic sociological canon has been slow. This collection aims to accelerate that progress by inviting contributions that interrogate how sociological theory engages, or has failed to engage, with cultural diversity, cross-regional dialogue, and the multiplicity of intellectual traditions worldwide.Recent attention by the broader social theory community to decolonial theory, Southern sociology, comparative intellectual history, and global social thought highlight pathways toward a more inclusive and dynamic theoretical landscape. This Research Topic will level these forms of theory and theorizing, exploring how cultural and epistemic plurality reshapes foundational concepts such as solidarity, identity, power, and social change. Timed to coincide with the United Nations World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development (21 May 2026), this collection affirms that dialogue across difference is not only a social value but a generative force for theoretical renewal.This Research Topic welcomes original contributions that advance sociological theory through engagement with cultural diversity, interdisciplinary exchange, and cross-geographical intellectual dialogue. The editors welcome submissions that discomfit mainstreams, traditions, and epistemological and ethical hierarchies. Submissions may be empirical, theoretical, or conceptual in nature, including original research articles, review articles, and perspective pieces. Suggested themes which may be explored, include, but are not limited to:• Comparative sociological thought, both inter- and intranationally• Intellectual history and the sociology of knowledge across regions, traditions, and messy intertwined histories• Cosmopolitanism, pluralism, and visions of coexistence• Decolonial, “Southern,” and other subalternized forms of sociological theory and theorizing• The effects of anthropology, international relations, hierarchical histories, and cultural studies on sociological theory and social anthropology• Dialogue, mutual understanding, and social transformation as theoretical and empirical problems• Unrepresented or underrepresented intellectual traditions and their contributions to global social theory• Sociological perspectives on cultural diversity and the SDGs, particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)In order to fully reflect the goals of this Research Topic, if you anticipate that Frontiers’ article processing charges will present an obstacle to publishing your contribution, please contact the Topic Editors early in the writing or submission process. Topic editors: Scott Schaffer, John Offer Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80725/global-diversity-dialogue-and-the-futures-of-sociological-theory