George Fisher’s dreams of freedom and self-government

The article focuses on the biography and creative path of one of the leading American sociologists and political scientists George Fischer (1923-2005). The first part of the article is devoted to G. Fisher’s biography, his difficult life path, including his childhood and youth in Berlin and Moscow, his participation in World War II as an officer in the American army, his scientific and social activities after the end of the war in Germany and the USA. Particular attention is paid to his relations with Russian emigrants of the first and second waves, young Soviet sociologists of the 1960s, as well as his theoretical and practical struggle for a self-governing society. The second part of the article reveals the main stages of G. Fisher's scientific activities. Here his main scientific works, views and concepts are analyzed. The concept of social integration and “inertia” of Soviet people is considered. Issues of conformism in Western society are also considered. The article also tells about G. Fisher’s works dedicated to the pioneers of Soviet sociology - Soviet sociologists of the 1960s. The concept of Soviet society as an alternative model of social structure is also considered. Special attention is paid to the concept of a self-governing society put forward by G. Fischer. G. Fisher concludes that harmony does not derive from concentration, it derives from complex fragmentation. True complexity does not mean individual centers, but a connected network of very diverse, autonomous groups. G. Fisher sees a self-governing conscious community merely as one of historical possibilities. Each generation will choose from these ever-changing opportunities and alternatives. Еach generation will not make its choice in accordance with the choices and desires of past generations, it will be done basing on its own vision of the present. In that light, self rule should not be seen as a prize that people gain and then keep for a long time to come. In no way does self rule mean the end of history.

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