Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences

The Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences (Sociologický ústav AV ČR, v. v. i.) is a public research institution and a constituent part of the Czech Academy of Sciences. It carries out scientific research in sociology and public opinion, and is headquartered at Jilská 1 in Prague. Its current director is Mgr. Jindřich Krejčí, Ph.D. The institute's self-governing organizational structure includes the Institute Council (Rada SOÚ) and the Supervisory Board (Dozorčí rada). The institute traces its origins to the Institute of Sociology of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, founded on 1 January 1965, with Miloš Kaláb as its first director and Zdeněk Strmiska as deputy director. In 1968 the institute took an active part in the democratization process of the Prague Spring, and in 1969 it published "Czechoslovak Society," a sociological analysis of social stratification. Its operations were halted in 1970 for political reasons during the period of normalization; some staff emigrated, others were forced to abandon academic careers, and some moved to the Institute for Philosophy and Sociology. The institute was restored in 1990 with sociologist Jiří Musil as director, and rehabilitated staff returned. Since the 1990s the institute has developed research in economic sociology, social stratification, local issues, and political sociology. It publishes the journal Sociologický časopis (Czech Sociological Review) and, since 1993, the Czech Sociological Review under Jiří Večerník. In 1993 a workplace in Ústí nad Labem was established for cross-border cooperation, and Michal Illner became director. In 1996 the institute published the "Velký sociologický slovník" (Great Sociological Dictionary) and "Czech Society in Transformation," followed in 1997 by the Human Development Report and in 1998 by the founding of the Sociological Data Archive and the publication of the Report on the Development of Czech Society 1989–1998. In 2001 Marie Čermáková became director, and the Center for Public Opinion Research (CVVM) became part of the institute. In 2002 the institute was restructured into specialized departments, an agreement was concluded with the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University for doctoral training in sociology and social policy, and a new Sociological Library was built after the August floods destroyed most of the sociological literature collection. The institute hosts several research departments, including the Center for Public Opinion Research (CVVM), the Czech Social Science Data Archive (ČSDA), Economic and Religious Studies, and Gender & Sociology. CVVM, whose tradition dates to the Czechoslovak Institute for Public Opinion Research founded in 1946, conducts surveys on political, economic, and social topics and publishes the journal Naše společnost. ČSDA archives data from Czech social science research and international surveys, is a member of CESSDA, and participates in ISSP and ESS; it publishes the journal Data a výzkum – SDA Info. The Gender & Sociology department, founded in 1990, is a key institution for gender studies and feminist theory in the Czech Republic. The institute also operates a specialized Sociological Library with about 25,000 volumes, and hosts events such as the ISSP General Assembly in Prague in 2026 and the first ERC grant hosted by the institute (CLOSER project).

The Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences was founded on 1 January 1965 as the Institute of Sociology of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, with Miloš Kaláb as director and Zdeněk Strmiska as deputy director. In 1966 its departments covered general sociological theory, sociological methodology, sociology of capitalist societies and contemporary world development, sociology of social groups, sociology of leisure, and theory and sociology of religion; it also began publishing the journal Sociologický časopis. In 1968 the institute actively participated in the democratization process of the Prague Spring, and in 1969 it published "Czechoslovak Society," a sociological analysis of social stratification, with contributions from its staff. In 1970, however, its operations were halted for political reasons during normalization. Some staff emigrated, others were forced to give up academic careers, and some moved to the Institute for Philosophy and Sociology, where they were placed in the sociological section. The institute was restored only in 1990, with sociologist Jiří Musil as director, and rehabilitated staff returned. It began cooperating with universities, continued publishing Sociologický časopis, and started to profile itself in economic sociology, social stratification, local issues, and political sociology. In 1993 the Czech Sociological Review was launched under Jiří Večerník, and a workplace in Ústí nad Labem was established for cross-border cooperation. That year Jiří Musil left to lead Central European University, and Michal Illner became director. In 1996 the institute published the "Velký sociologický slovník" (Great Sociological Dictionary) and "Czech Society in Transformation," followed in 1997 by the Human Development Report. In 1998 the Sociological Data Archive was founded, with PhDr. Marie Čermáková as deputy, and the Report on the Development of Czech Society 1989–1998 was published. In 2001 Marie Čermáková became director, and the Center for Public Opinion Research (CVVM) became part of the institute. In 2002 the institute was restructured into specialized departments, an agreement was concluded with the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University for doctoral training in sociology and social policy, and a new Sociological Library was built after the August floods destroyed most of the sociological literature collection. The institute's research departments include CVVM, the Czech Social Science Data Archive (ČSDA), Economic and Religious Studies, and Gender & Sociology. CVVM's tradition dates to 1946, when the Czechoslovak Institute for Public Opinion Research was founded under the Ministry of Information; in its current form CVVM was established in 2001 under the institute. ČSDA archives data from Czech social science research, international surveys with Czech participation, and public opinion research; it is a member of CESSDA and participates in ISSP and ESS. The Gender & Sociology department was founded in 1990 and has since been a key institution for gender studies, feminist theory, and methodology in the Czech Republic. The institute also operates a specialized Sociological Library with about 25,000 volumes, and hosts events such as the ISSP General Assembly in Prague in 2026 and the first ERC grant hosted by the institute (CLOSER project).

• 2026

  Institute hosts ISSP General Assembly in Prague; first ERC grant (CLOSER project) hosted.

• 2002

  Institute restructured into specialized departments; doctoral agreement with Charles University; new Sociological Library built after floods.

• 2001

  Marie Čermáková becomes director; Center for Public Opinion Research (CVVM) becomes part of the institute.

• 1998

  Sociological Data Archive founded; Report on the Development of Czech Society 1989–1998 published.

• 1997

  Publication of the Human Development Report.

• 1996

  Publication of "Velký sociologický slovník" and "Czech Society in Transformation."

• 1993

  Czech Sociological Review launched under Jiří Večerník; workplace in Ústí nad Labem established; Michal Illner becomes director.

• 1990

  Institute restored with Jiří Musil as director; rehabilitated staff return.

• 1970

  Institute's operations halted for political reasons during normalization.

• 1969

  Publication of "Czechoslovak Society," a sociological analysis of social stratification.

• 1968

  Institute actively participates in the democratization process of the Prague Spring.

• 1966

  Departments established covering general theory, methodology, social groups, leisure, and religion; Sociologický časopis published.

• 1965

  Institute of Sociology of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences founded on 1 January; Miloš Kaláb becomes director.

A leading public research institution in sociology and public opinion within the Czech Academy of Sciences.

• Sociologický časopis / Czech Sociological Review

• Naše společnost

• Data a výzkum – SDA Info

• Velký sociologický slovník

• Religionistická encyklopedie

1. 1Homepage - Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciencessoc.cas.cz
2. 2Library of the Institute of Sociology CAS - Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciencessoc.cas.cz
3. 3Gallery - Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciencessoc.cas.cz
4. 4Eduroam - Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciencessoc.cas.cz
5. 5Institute of Sociology - Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6Sociologický ústav Akademie věd České republiky - Wikipediacs.wikipedia.org