In 2012, ASA organizes its annual meeting with the theme “Real Utopias: Emancipatory Projects, Institutional Designs, Possible Futures”. This year in August (17-29) at Denver, CO.
Citing from thier web site ( www.asanet.org ): “Real Utopias” seems like an oxymoron: Utopia means “nowhere”—a fantasy world of perfect harmony and social justice. To describe a proposal for social transformation as “utopian” is to dismiss it as an impractical dream outside the limits of possibility. Realists reject such fantasies as a distraction from the serious business of making practical improvements in existing institutions. The idea of real utopias embraces this tension between dreams and practice: “utopia” implies developing clear-headed visions of alternatives to existing institutions that embody our deepest aspirations for a world in which all people have access to the conditions to live flourishing lives; “real” means taking seriously the problem of the viability of the institutions that could move us in the direction of that world. The goal is to elaborate utopian ideals that are grounded in the real potentials of humanity, utopian destinations that have accessible way stations, utopian designs of viable institutions that can inform our practical tasks of navigating a world of imperfect conditions for social change (for more information here).
ASA was founded in 1905, as a non-profit organization. They have three basis principles: (a) Serving sociologists in their work, (b) Advancing sociology as a science and profession, (b) Promoting the contributions and use of sociology to society. ASA has more that 14.000 members and produces an annual meeting every year. They publish ten journals and magazines. This year ASA annual meeting may host more than 6.000 participants.
Best Regards to ASA members and participants.