For a sociologically substantiated communication theory (DOI: 10.2436/20.3008.01.87)

Abstract

Many sociologists view communication as a peripheral subject and sociological theories and their technical mediations don’t treat communication as a defined field of social structures. The author emphasises the dangers entailed by the considerable amount of empirical research carried out without a clear enough general theoretical framework. German sociologists, beginning with Max Weber, followed by the Frankfurt School and its different generations, and culminating with systemic functionalism, have been dedicated to the subject of communication. The author specifies that, in his opinion, Jürgen Habermas and Niklas Luhmann are the two figures that approach this subject most successfully.

KEY WORDS:

communication, cultural industry, methodology, mass media, research, critical sociology.