Funeral

Professor emeritus Tom Burns passed away on April 25th in Uppsala, Sweden. He is survived by his wife Nora, also a sociologist and by his children Hanna and Nicholas and grandchildren. His academic career spanned over more than 40 years both in the USA and Europe. He was an impressive researcher and an engaged teacher and many of his PhD students continued developing important research and teaching in several universities across European and non-Western universities. Several of his former doctoral students, many of them international students, described Tom as a shaping force in their careers, and remember him as a very supportive and committed colleague.

Professor Burns' research was unique and groundbreaking. Over the decades, he offered theoretical developments in diverse areas, but he was proudest of his theoretical contributions in the theory of actor-system dynamics (ASD) that focused on the dynamic interplay between self-reflecting human agents in social and environmental-social structures. This theory he developed further into the Social rule system theory.

These theories he also applied in several empirical studies, especially in social arenas that he worried about, such as the problems of structural discrimination, and the ecological and social destructiveness of capitalism, but also had several contributions in the issue of European governance.

For all these contributions —professional and personal — Tom Burns will be missed.

Nora Machado, Tom´s wife

Obituary

Professor Tom Burns, has passed on and left us, but as his doctoral student between September 1983-June 1988, his contribution to my development as a sociologist in research methods and theory goes beyond any words. His competence in research and teaching was complemented by his great concern for the wellbeing of his students including those from countries in the Global South, but also his colleagues. It was professor Tom Burns who evaluated my master’s degree results from the University of Nairobi which he rated as good enough and so I did not need to undergo additional courses at the Sociology Department. This allowed me to start my research field work in Kenya immediately after being registered as a student.

After the defense of my thesis in June 1988, Tom encouraged me to publish the thesis into a book at the Gordon and Breach: International Studies in Global Change:1 where he was one of the editors. The book was published in 1991. Besides this, Tom encouraged me to contribute a chapter based on my research in a book entitled: Rule Systems Theory: Applications and Explanations, edited by Helena Flam and Marcus Carson. In this context, Tom was not only a great scholar, but a mentor, colleague and friend. What I present here is not for me alone but what he did for many of his students.

My contact with Tom was not just based in the Sociology Department. Since I started working at the Karolinska Institute immediately after my graduation, he was very keen that I should keep contact with Sociology Department for which I shared time first with Karolinska Institute and later with the Skaraborg Institute for Research and Development.

Besides academic support and mentorship, Tom became a family friend which resulted in many interactions between our two families.

Tom you will be missed, but do rest in peace.

Beth Maina Ahlberg