Message from the Executive Committee for the General Assembly

Dear Colleagues,

In advance of the upcoming General Assembly of the European Sociological Association, the Executive Committee advises the membership of proposals to introduce changes into the ESA Statutes as well as the Ethical Guidelines. It is the Committee’s belief that the modifications described below address organizational and social demands which we are facing in the 21st century. According to Article 13 of the Statutes, changes may be proposed under specific conditions which have been met; per Article 5 of the Statutes, approval will require a 51% majority of the regular ESA members in good standing who take part in the vote during the General Assembly.

1. Proposed changes to the ESA Statutes:

ARTICLE 6: THE PRESIDENT AND THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 

Article 6.4

Original Text

6.4 The President appoints a General Secretary and an Executive Secretary. The Executive Committee, with the advice of the President, appoints three Vice-Presidents and a Treasurer from within the Committee. The President, the General Secretary, the Treasurer and the Executive Secretary constitute the ESA Office. The ESA Office reports to the Executive Committee and is responsible for implementing its decisions. 

It is proposed that Paragraph 6.4 be replaced by the following language: 

6.4 The President appoints an Executive Secretary. The Executive Committee, with the advice of the President, appoints three Vice-Presidents and a Treasurer from within the Committee.

Article 6.8

Original Text

6.8 The General Secretary keeps the records of the Association and supervises the work of the Office. The General Secretary has the power to engage the Association, sign bills and invoices, and use the Association credit card within limits of a given authorization. 

It is proposed that Paragraph 6.8 be replaced by the following language: 

6.8 The Executive Secretary is in charge of the administrative affairs of the Association and the organisation of the Office. S/he reports to the Executive Committee and is responsible for implementing its decisions.

The Executive Secretary, in consultation with the Treasurer and the President, draws up a budget each calendar year for approval by the Executive Committee. 

The Executive Secretary is empowered by the President to engage the Association, sign bills and invoices, and use the Association credit card within limits of a given authorization set by the Executive Committee in consultation with the Treasurer.

The remuneration of the Executive Secretary and of other members of the staff of the ESA shall be determined by the President in consultation with the Treasurer and the Executive Committee.  

ARTICLE 14: DISSOLUTION

Article 14

Original Text

In the event of dissolution, the net assets of the Association shall be transferred to an international organisation or institution whose objectives are similar to those of the Association. The use of the assets shall be decided by the General Assembly, which shall mandate the President or the General Secretary to execute its decision.

It is proposed that the final paragraph of Article 14 be replaced by the following language: 

In the event of dissolution, the net assets of the Association shall be transferred to an international organisation or institution whose objectives are similar to those of the Association. The use of the assets shall be decided by the General Assembly, which shall mandate the President to execute its decision.

The aforementioned proposals are supported by the Executive Committee unanimously. The changes presented before the membership for approval will serve to streamline the functionality of the ESA’s administration, to adapt it to present day needs, to clarify the roles of both the Executive Committee and the Executive Secretary, and to more closely align the organizational structure of the ESA with that of the ISA.

If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, please send it to the Policy Committee through the following link [https://forms.office.com/r/M6cAXD4bxT], and it will be taken into account for the discussion at the General Assembly.

2. Proposed change to the ESA Ethical Guidelines:

It is proposed that a new, additional ethical guideline be inserted between the current Ethical Guidelines 3 and 4 (requiring renumbering of the current Ethical Guidelines 4-12): 

Ethical Guideline 4. The ESA with its membership takes a stand against sexual harassment, revictimization, and second-order sexual harassment. 

The aforementioned proposal has the full support of both the Executive Committee and four Research Networks (RN 34, RN 29, RN 11, and RN 10). The addition presented before the membership for approval was suggested by the Solidarity Network of Victims of Gender Violence in Universities which highlights that ESA members are, in fact, already contributing sociological analyses in the vanguard of this issue.

If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, please send it to the Policy Committee through the following link [https://forms.office.com/r/cy6bT2ZGZA], and it will be taken into account for the discussion at the General Assembly.  

We encourage a thorough reading of the revisions submitted before you. It is our hope that thoughtful consideration will foster first discussion and then certitude.

Kind regards,

ESA Executive Committee

June 11th, 2021