To my pre-postmodern mind, the study of disciplines is heavily informed by the sociology of professions. Of which there is a sizeable theoretical and research literature . (For example, Merrijoy Kelner and Beverly Wellman are studying the professionalization of complementary and alternative medicine.) The work that most people I know in this area start from is: Abbott, Andrew. 1988. The System of Professions: An Essay on the Division of Expert Labor. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Enjoy, Barry ___________________________________________________________________ Barry Wellman Professor of Sociology NetLab Director wellman@chass.utoronto.ca http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~wellman Centre for Urban & Community Studies University of Toronto 455 Spadina Avenue Toronto Canada M5S 2G8 fax:+1-416-978-7162 ___________________________________________________________________