This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Sanghera, B. Articles by Iliasov, A. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Moral Sentiments and Professionalism in Post-Soviet Kyrgyzstan

Understanding Professional Practices and Ethics

University of Kent, b.s.sanghera{at}kent.ac.uk

Aibek Iliasov

University of Edinburgh, aibek_ss{at}yahoo.com

The article focuses on sociological and ethical aspects of professional practices in post-Soviet Kyrgyzstan and offers three competing conceptual approaches to Soviet and post-Soviet professionalism: the moral consensus, the social control and the moral sentiments approaches. This article aims to contribute to the debate on how professional relationships are socially constructed, paying particular attention to their ethical content. We argue that the sociology of professions needs to engage with moral philosophy since moral reflexivity helps professionals to shape their responsibility to others. Were this not so, we would not care to judge others' actions, question their intentions or reason on how to live. Furthermore, as vulnerable and dependent human beings, we care for and have responsibilities to others. We suggest that the moral sentiments approach captures the tensions and conflicts of post-Soviet Kyrgyzstani professions, highlighting the importance of positive emotions and organizational capabilities to undertake good practices. This perspective argues that human beings are reflexive beings who are motivated by ultimate concerns and goals, pursue life projects, make commitments and act purposefully. The article shows how post-Soviet Kyrgyzstan professions operate in difficult political and economic conditions, and how far professionals possess positive sentiments for effective and good actions.

Key Words: capabilities • corruption • emotions • ethics • institutions • post-Communism • professionalism

International Sociology, Vol. 23, No. 3, 447-467 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0268580908088900


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?