St. Petersburg Association of Sociologists

 St. Petersburg Association of Sociologists was established as a voluntary public association of sociologists on the basis of the Northwest Branch of the Soviet Sociological Association, on September 3, 1992. The purpose of the Association is the assistance for the developing sociological science, the improvement of professional activity and professional interaction of SPb sociologists. The succession of SPAS activity is very important. Sociology was most advanced in the former Soviet Union, especially in Leningrad. The first sociological textbooks were published by Vladimir A.Jadov and Andrey G.Zdravomyslov. the Leningrad sociological school was organized, which associated with researches of value orientations.

 Complicated process of reforming of sociological science in St. Petersburg in subject and methodical areas is under way, in educational and publishing. New subject areas were enriched by various research methods (biographical method, discourse analysis, event-analysis, comparative analysis, etc.). Organizational forms of research activity have been changed as well. Big state organizational structures (such as St. Petersburg Branch of Institute of Sociology of Russian Academy of Sciences, Faculty of Sociology of St. Petersburg State University) are being reformed, new NGOs in the sphere of sociological research and education have been established (European University in St. Petersburg, Center for independent Social Research, International School for Science and Technology Sociology, etc.).
 New periodical sociological editions (The Journal of Sociology and Social Anthropology, Telescope: Observations on the Every-Day Life of Peterburgians, etc.

 SPAS cooperates with the International Sociological Association, with a number of national associations, St. Petersburg Sociological Community of Kovalevsky M.M., united teachers of sociological disciplines, and some others. St. Petersburg Association of Sociologists is an affiliated member of Russian Sociological Society (ROS) and presents its interests on St.Petersburg and the North - West of Russia.