Augustana Saturday Scholars Series

Join us for a special Saturday Scholars Series presentation featuring Dr. Geraint Osborne, Professor, Social Sciences (Augustana), live at Augustana.

Between Deviance and Conformity: Why Free Societies Need Rule Breakers

Why are some people celebrated as innovators while others are condemned as deviants? Why do societies fear certain forms of difference while embracing others? And what role do outsiders, dissenters, and rule-breakers play in social change?

Drawing on more than three decades of teaching and research in sociology, Dr. Geraint Osborne explores the dynamic relationship between conformity, deviance, and democracy.

At a time of increasing political polarization and cultural conflict, this lecture asks a timely question: How can democratic societies maintain social cohesion while protecting individuality, diversity, and freedom of expression? The answer, sociology suggests, lies in recognizing that healthy societies require both conformity and deviance, both order and dissent, and that many of history's most important advances began with people who refused to accept that the status quo was inevitable.

This presentation takes place in person at Augustana and those wanting to attend in person are asked to register. The session will also be livestreamed and available to watch wherever is convenient for you. A watch party will be held at CAB for those who are on Main Campus.

Speaker Bio

Geraint Osborne is a professor of sociology. His courses and research topics focus on crime, deviance and social control, political sociology, historical sociology and qualitative methods. Geraint has also previously worked as a researcher for Environment Canada, Canada Post Corporation, Correctional Services Canada, and Heritage Canada.