Gabriel A. Acevedo

Gabriel A. Acevedo, M.A.; M. Phil; Ph.D. in sociology Yale University (2005), B.A. in sociology and Theology, University of Saint Thomas (St. Paul, MN) 1999. My primary interests are in the areas of social theory, cultural sociology, sociology of religion, and social movements. The dissertation research focuses on the sociological implications of fatalism as a shared, collective worldview. Drawing on classical social theory, the thesis develops a multi-dimensional model of fatalism and applies the analytical model to cross-national survey data. A theoretical chapter from the dissertation appeared in Sociological Theory as “Turning Anomie on its Head: Fatalism as Durkheim's Concealed and Multidimensional Alienation Theory” (Vol. 23, No. 1. March 2005, pp. 75-85). Current empirical work makes use of Gallup and World Values Survey data to examine fatalism in predominantly Islamic countries and challenges a one-sided evaluation of Islam as a ‘fatalistic’ religion that motivates irrational behaviors. At the undergraduate level, Dr. Acevedo will teach introductory sociology courses, contemporary and classical social theory. Graduate courses will include seminars in advanced theory, social movements/collective behavior and courses that examine the intersection between theory and research methods. Please check the links to the left for my current research interests and courses I am teaching at UTSA.