Policy Sociology as Public Sociology: Personal Reflections upon Civic Participation Research in Taiwan

Like many Taiwanese sociologists of my generation. I was drawn into the academic world of professional sociology because of the belief in the social and political relevance of sociology. I have always hoped that my own research has "instrumental values" for Taiwan's political and social reforms, and tended to think that such sociological intervention requires certain kinds of public engagement. Therefore, I am very sympathetic to Michael Burawo's ideas of public sociology. I am positive about the claim that we need to build up organic connections between public engagement and professional sociology. Also, the arguments that both sides of profissional and public sociologies can benefit from each other seem cogent to me.