Sida Liu and Gihad Nasr on The City and the North: Canada in the Chicago School of Sociology (The American Sociologist)

"The City and the North: Canada in the Chicago School of Sociology"
Sida Liu, Gihad Nasr
The American Sociologist
Published online: June 2025

Abstract: This article explores the intertwined histories of the Chicago School of sociology and Canadian sociology, challenging the conventional view that the Chicago School’s development was confined to the city of Chicago. By examining the academic journeys of prominent Canadian scholars such as Annie Marion MacLean, Roderick McKenzie, Helen and Everett Hughes, and Erving Goffman, it illustrates how their contributions were instrumental in shaping both the Chicago School and Canadian sociology. This research, based on extensive archival materials from primary and secondary sources, suggests that the continuous mobility and interaction of scholars between Chicago and Canada played an important role in the historical evolution of sociological thought. The study aims to “decenter” the Chicago School by highlighting the significant yet often overlooked contributions of Canadian sociologists, thereby providing a new understanding of its legacy and global impact.