The indissoluble link between sociology and history is not new to the social sciences. In the early 20th century, Weber (1922) saw relationships between history and sociology as based on mutual and essential support and logical priority. Following the intentions of its Founding fathers, the discipline of sociology arose as a “science of connections” aiming at investigating relationships between social life phenomena and events, even those apparently far from each other. According to a strategic interdisciplinary analysis, also the “Annales” lesson confirmed the indissoluble link between history and social sciences. The principal aim of this book is to underline compromises and differences through concrete cases of empirical research on social conflict, that is a common ground of research both for sociology and history. The book aims also at providing argumentative issues to the challenge represented by the relationship between the two disciplines, showing meaningful convergences.

Liana M. Daher is Full Professor of Sociology, Department of Education, University of Catania. Her main research fi elds are collective action and social movements, migration and multicultural citizenship. She is President of the RC48 (Social Movement, collective action and social change) of the ISA. She has authored books, book chapters and articles on Italian and international journals. She has taken part, both as principal investigator and member, to several national and European research projects.