The paper revisits the 1996 volume The Sociologist and the Sirens: The Challenge of Qualitative Methods (Cipolla and De Lillo, eds.), reflecting on the enduring relevance of its central metaphor. While the volume, based on a 1993 conference, set out to explore the tensions between qualitative and quantitative approaches, this article reclaims and further develops that metaphor, interpreting it as a lens through which to understand the challenges and ambiguities inherent in all social research. Beyond methodological binaries, both qualitative and quanti-tative traditions reveal similar tensions: between subjectivity and rigor, uncertain-ty and control, sensitivity and formalization. Nearly thirty years later, the sirens continue to symbolize research practice as a liminal, hybrid process – requiring navigation between opposing poles such as emotion and reason, involvement and detachment. In this view, the sirens represent not only the seductive risk of meth-odological dadaism, but also the generative tensions that shape the sociological imagination, inviting researchers to embrace complexity, inhabit liminal spaces, and engage with the transformative and risky nature of the research encounter.
The idea of merit eludes a firm and precise definition. The concept varies across social groups, cultural, religious and national contexts, and historical periods. Any definition of merit involves an element of evaluation. Even some relevant conse-quences. For example, on the order of social statuses. This paper examines varia-tions in the meaning, and utilisation, of the term in different cultural and religious contexts – from India to China and many Western countries. In conclusion, a debate on value judgments cannot be resolved scientifically. The social sciences can instead shed light on the consequences of different value orientations and the practices associated with them.
The Olympic Games are more than a global sporting event; they are a pro-found sociological and economic phenomenon. Viewed through the lens of economic sociology, the Olympics reveal intricate relationships between social structures, cultural narratives, and financial outcomes. This field of study ex-plores how societal factors shape the economic impact of hosting the Games, from urban development and infrastructure investments to labour dynamics and consumption patterns. This article examines the Olympic Games as a nexus where economic be-haviours are deeply embedded in social and institutional contexts. Key themes include the role of social capital in mobilising public and private investments, the influence of cultural identity and nationalism in shaping economic participa-tion, and the legacy effects on host cities' socioeconomic landscapes. The arti-cle also investigates the stratified economic benefits of the Games, highlighting disparities in income, employment, and resource allocation between different social groups. Using case studies from the recent Olympic Games, the article illustrates how social networks and institutional frameworks mediate economic opportunities and risks. For example, while host cities often anticipate long-term financial benefits, social inequalities may be exacerbated, with marginalised communities bearing the costs of displacement and resource diversion. The global broadcasting and sponsorship deals tied to the Olympics underscore the interplay between cultural production and economic power in a hyperconnected world. By integrating economic sociology with analyses of the Olympic Games, this research provides a critical perspective on the broader implications of me-ga-events. It argues for more equitable and sustainable approaches to planning and evaluating such events, emphasising the need to balance economic ambitions with social responsibilities.
