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Cofkagues Fii~Gmem6er (Peter (13Fau APRIL 2002 FOOTNOTES Cofkagues fIi~gmem6er (Peter (13fau I PeterMichael Blau democratic system, graduatesfrom the markedhis lectures (1918-2002) theparty which theological college A later course introduced me to his work 6 Hitler took overin Elmhurst. Asfate on the “dynamics” of bureaucracy: how E~ter Michael Blau died March 12 of Austria wasfascist. would have it, they formal roles areenacted and rules interpreted adult respiratory distress syndrome. He was The National Party were in Europe to in ways that reflect structural verities but 84. He was professor emeritus at Columbia, a was in powerfrom offer a scholarship introduce innovative elements. Ibecame a fellow oftheNational Academy of Sciences, 1918-1938 and it to a Jewish refugee. convertand decided that thestudy of Pitt Professor at Cambridge University, Senior prohibitedfree Recognizing his organizations would be my principal focus. Fellow at King’s College, Fellow ofthe speech, religion, and potential and the Imagine my reactionwhen, in the process American Philosophical Society, Fellow ofthe activities not danger he was still ofworking with him on my dissertation, he American AcademyofArts and Sciences, and sanctionedby the in, theyoffered it to suggested that wepool our data in order to an honorary professor at the Tianjin Academy government. At age him and gavehim do a comparative study ofbureaucracy, ofSocial Sciences. 17, angered by the the address of Paul contrasting an agency he was studying with He completed his doctorate with Robert K. antidemocratic Lehmann, the son my own case. The title of our joint work, Merton at Columbia in 1952 and went on to government, as well of Elmhurst’s Formal Organizations: A Comparative develop theories that continue to be influential as the conditions of President. An Approach, 1962, was a bit audacious since in the study ofmodern society. His endeavor the working class in atheist his entire the comparison involved only two rather was to develop systematic theoretical schemes Europe generally, he lmfe, myfather similar organizations—both social welfare to explain macrostructures and their impact on wrote far the always spoke of agencies—but it setthe stagefar the daily life. He wrote his dissertation on underground him, miraculous a productive research programs subsequently bureaucracy, which led to a book on exchange newspaper of the chance launchedby Blau (e.g., Blau and Schoenherr, theory. For the next 50 years, Peter Blau Socialist Worker’s turned out 1971, The Structure of Organizations) and studied macrostructural characteristics of Party, similar to the to be. the Aston group (e.g., Pugh, Hickson, and society. His theories seek to explain how social democratic socialist i-Ic caught the Hinings, 1969 “An empirical taxonomyof phenomena such as upward mobility, occupa- party. He wrote last civilian boat structures ofwork organizations,”Adminis- tional opportunity, heterogeneity, and popula- articles which spoke leaving France. He trative Science Quarterly 14:115-26) in tion structures influence human behavior. He out against his arrived in New which the unit ofanalysis was the organiza- developed the methods used in sociology to government’s York City with a tion rather than the individual participant or draw out and map the diverse constellations of repressive regime few clothes and less work group. Our book also launched my own socialforces. Miller McPherson has called this and distributed the Peter M. BIau than 50 marks career and confirmed my commitment to the typeofconstellation mapping “Blan space.” journal among sewn into his belt. study oforganizations as significant Sociologists today use “l3lau-space” to leftists. The journal In New Thrk, he collective actors. illustrate the effects ofaspects ofhuman was discoveredby contactedPaul Peter Blau representsfar me the consum- society——cultural, evolutionary and institu— thepolice. Myfather, still 17, was convicted of Lehmann, a theologian, scholar, and philan- mate profassional. He was a productive tional—which did not specifically enter Blau’s high treason and given a 10 yearsentencein thropist who would play the role ofsurrogate scholar throughout his long career. His work work. It is the uniquefeature ofBlan’s thefaderal prison in thecenter ofVienna. father and mentor throughout his l~fe. exhibits continuous development and scholarship that his theories wereflexible Ironically, theAustrian government led by After afew weeks practicingEnglish, he intellectual growth. He collaborated with enough to extend beyond the parameters ofthe Sushnig liberated myfather when National took a train to Elmhurst College, spending the many, diverse individuals, both peers and field ofhis time. Socialism gained momentum in Austria. A little money he had. It was at this time that the juniors. His work was grounded in deep He is theauthor ofhundreds ofarticles and pact between Sushnig and Hitler lifted the ban censored letters that myfather had received knowledge ofand respectfar thegrand 11 books, many ofwhich are still widely read by on political activity. Political prisoners on both periodically from his parents stopped coming. theorists ofthe 9th century, but he remained 1 students ofsociology. He is considered oneof ends ofthespectrum—national and democratic He learned 50 years later from the Austrian open to new theoretical ideasand methodolo- thefounders ofcontemporary American socialists alike—werefreedfrom prisons. government the details oftheir deaths in gies. He exhibitedhigh profassional integrity sociology and oneof the most prominent Hitler marched into the Heldenplatz in Auschwitz in May 1942. and, although devoted to his scholarship was scholars ofhis time. He taught many oftoday’s March of 1938 cheered by hundreds of He received his BA the same month that equally committed to teaching and to prominent sociologists. To his students and thousands ofAustrians. Soon after that my his parents were killed. In the Midwest, he mentoringjuniors. He assaulted his projects colleagues, he was known for his fairness, father stood on line at various embassies to get gavespeeches arguingfor American interven- with enormous enthusiasm, energy, and integrity, modesty, and humor. Former a visa. His parents chose to stay in Vienna, but tion in Europe. When America did enter the endurance, inspiring and exhausting his graduate students Craig Calhoun, Marshall sent their daughter to England on the kinder- war, myfather enlisted in theArmy and research assistants. All ofthese daunting Meyer, and Richard C. Scott wrote, “Peter transport. Myfather tried to escape over the servedfarfour years. Based on his flueney in intellectual qualities were tempered by his Blan is not only oneoftodays most influential Czech border but Nazis caught him at the German, he was made an interrogation officer. sense ofhumor, personal warmth, old-world sociologists, he is one ofsociology’sfinest border. He roas kept in a border patrolfor two After the war, he enteredgraduate school charm, and fundamental human decency. people We neverknew any [teacher)of months. During these months, theNazi officers at Columbia University, rvherehe studied He will be much missed. and long greater intellectual honesty, dedication to tortured and starved him,forcing him to eat with Paul Lazarsfeld, Robert Lynd, and remembered. sociology, and personal integrity. As time goes only lard and completing exercises until he Robert Merton, three ofthe leading sociolo- W. Richard Scott on, wegrow more impressed with how fainted. He was released on an officer’swhim, gists of their era. Stanford University remarkable these qualities are It is all the and roent to Prague wherehe livedfar a year. He is survived by his wmfe, Judith Blau, more pleasure, therefore, to know Peter Blan Hefled Prague when Hitler invaded Czechoslo- Professor at the University ofNorth Carolina- because he reassures us thatfame and academic vakia. He took a very dangerous risk by Chapel Hill; two daughters, Pamela Blau of distinction cango hand in hand with a sense of returning over the Czech border to visit his Cambridge, MA, and Reva Blan ofWellfleet, Ipreparedfor lunches with Peter more humor and carefor otherpeople.” (Structures parents, roho had moved to the Ghetto because A4A; his sister Ruth Layland ofLeicester, or less the same way I preparedfar my of Power and Constraint: Papers in Honor of theJewish laws. Meanwhile, a high school England; a cousin Eva Selka ofQueens, NY; classes. At times, Ialmostfalt Ishould be of Peter Blau, Calhoun, Meyer, Scott, eds. teacher, Fritz RedI, had arrangedfor the and onegrandson, Ezra Fellman-Blau. taking notes during themeal. He seemed to Cambridge: 1990) Spiegelfamily to sponsor myfather’s affidavit Reva Blau ([email protected]) have read everythingand was particularly He was a professor at the University of in his immigration to America. The next day he interested in the work ofjunior scholars. Chicagofrom 1953 to 1970 and at Columbia caught thetrain to France, which turned out to Editor’s note: For an autobiographical Lunches were mostly harmonious affairs, Universityfrom 1970 to 1988. He was the be the last train befare all theborders were essay see Blau, Peter M. (1995). “A especiallybecause ofthe glimpse into the past President oftheAmerican Sociological closedcompletely. In France, he turned himself Circuitous Path to Macrostructural five decades ofsociology he offered. The only Association in 1973. From 1979 through 1983, into theAllied forces because he knew that, Theory, “ Annual Review ofSociology. Palo disagreement
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