Pitirim Sorokin

Pitirim Sorokin (1889–1968), founder of Harvard’s Sociology Department, developed the theory of cultural mentalities—Ideational, Idealistic, and Sensate—describing the cycles of cultural and civilizational change. His landmark work Social and Cultural Dynamics remains essential to the field.

Place in the ISCSC

Sorokin was the first President of the International Society for the Comparative Study of Civilizations. He’s call for interdisciplinary civilizational research formed one of the intellectual pillars of the ISCSC. His holistic framework for understanding long-term cultural patterns continues to influence the Society’s scholarly work.