معرفی
Myron Achiimastos is Professor of Sociology at the University of Crete, Department of Sociology, School of Social Sciences. Since 1998 he has advanced through the ranks from Lecturer to full Professor, currently holding the Chair of Sociology of Culture: Ideology and Culture. His scholarly journey began with a Law degree from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (1980) and continued with graduate studies at the University of Paris VII-Jussieu, culminating in a Doctorat nouveau régime in Sociology (1990).
Education
- 1974: High-school diploma, Ionideios Protypos School of Piraeus
- 1974–1980: Law degree, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
- 1982–1984: DEA en Sociologie Générale, University of Paris VII-Jussieu
- 1985–1990: Doctorat nouveau régime in Sociology, University of Paris VII-Jussieu (mention “Très Honorable”)
Research Interests
His work lies at the intersection of sociology of culture, ideology theory, and religious studies, with a special emphasis on Émile Durkheim’s legacy. Major themes include:
- The morphology and social functions of political ideologies (communist, populist, nationalist)
- Durkheimian sociology—critical editions, translations, and epistemological reassessments
- Religion as a social fact: totemism, collective representations, ritual symbolism
- Mass media and propaganda: agenda-setting, television discourse, national identity construction
- Comparative European left-wing movements and ideological adaptation in pluralist regimes
Publication Trends
Since 1990 he has produced a steady stream of monographs, critical editions, and journal articles. Recent output (2015–2020) centres on critical editions of Durkheim’s canonical texts (Les Formes élémentaires de la vie religieuse, De la division du travail social) accompanied by extensive annotations, bibliographies, and interpretive essays. Parallel scholarly articles explore totemic theory, ideological legitimation, and methodological pitfalls in historical and anthropological documentation. Collectively, his publications bridge French sociological tradition with contemporary debates in sociology of religion and political ideology.
Grants & Research Leadership
- Principal Investigator (2010–2020) for critical edition and restoration of Durkheim’s texts in collaboration with Prof. Philippe Steiner (Sorbonne) and Garnier Classiques.
- Researcher/Co-ordinator of multiple Greek and European projects on communist ideology, media agenda-setting, and local press under dictatorship (1988–1997).
- State Scholarship Foundation (IKY) doctoral fellow, 1985–1989.
Teaching & Mentorship
He has designed and taught over twenty distinct undergraduate and postgraduate courses at the University of Crete, Hellenic Open University (2003–2019), and other Greek institutions, covering classical sociological theory, political sociology, sociology of religion, and Durkheimian thought. He has supervised numerous MA and PhD theses in these fields.
Laboratories & Networks
While no formal laboratory is listed, he maintains active collaborative networks through the Centre d’Histoire et de Sociologie du communisme (Paris), Centre d’Analyse Comparative des Systèmes Politiques (Sorbonne), and the international Durkheimian studies community. He has organised multiple international conferences and seminars in Rethymno, thereby fostering a vibrant hub for Durkheimian and sociological research in Greece.
