"The System of Professions"

"The System of Professions," developed by sociologist Andrew Abbott, describes how various professional fields—like law, medicine, and engineering—are organized and develop their expertise over time. It explains how these professions establish authority, boundaries, and identity through a process called "professionalization." This process involves gaining specialized knowledge, creating standards, and often competing to control certain areas of work and knowledge. The system emphasizes that professions are dynamic, shaped by social, economic, and political factors, and continuously negotiate their roles within broader society.