The Department of Sociology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens bids farewell with deep sorrow to Konstantinos Tsoukalas, an emblematic figure of Greek sociology and the country's critical intelligentsia. Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the University of Athens and member of the Academy of Athens, Konstantinos Tsoukalas left an indelible mark on the study of Greek society, the state, social inequalities, education, and mechanisms of social reproduction. His deep theoretical training, extensive and multifaceted historical knowledge, and unique ability to analyze the fundamental concepts of sociology through the transformations of modern and contemporary societies established him as one of the founders of sociological thought in Greece with significant international recognition.
His original and penetrating analyses have decisively influenced the way generations of social scientists approach and interpret the particularities, contradictions, and transformations of Greek society. He was a charismatic university teacher with a broad perception of social and political problems, an ability to popularize complex theoretical debates, and an insistence on promoting a critical social science focused on the normative framing of sociological ideas. He served the public university with passion, a high democratic ethos, collegiality, love for his students, and respect for society.
With his rich scientific and written work, his contribution to the shaping of sociological thought in Greece, and his ongoing and critical presence in public discourse, he opened new paths in social and political theory. His work, thought, moral constitution, and intellectual legacy will continue to serve as a point of reference for Greek sociology, the coming generations of social scientists, and our Department. (The photograph is from the Department's first event).
