Professor Piotr Sztompka of the Jagiellonian University Institute of Sociology gave an online video interview to the University of California, Berkeley, within the framework of the series "Journeys Through Sociology." The interview was also published on the website of the International Sociological Association (ISA).

In the interview, Professor Sztompka talks about his path towards sociology, which dates back to the 1950s. He thought of becoming a journalist and initially studied law. It was then when he became interested in sociology, discovering that it gives a very broad perspective to study social phenomena. Further on, he describes the beginnings of his international career, which started at Berkeley University, and the first encounters with his American mentors, the most important of whom were Neil Smelser and Robert K. Merton.

In the later part of the interview, Professor Sztompka answers questions about the challenges he had to face as a sociologist before and after the Polish transition of 1989, especially focusing on the issue of social change which accompanied the governmental transformation. This phenomena, which Professor Sztompka personally witnessed, inspired him to reflect upon social change and the idea of social becoming. As he points out, it is much easier to change the system than to change people's mentality. This process has to do with the concept of "civilizational competence".

Piotr Sztompka's contacts with ISA, which began in 1974 are yet another topic of the interview. From 2002 to 2006 Professor Sztompka was the President of the Association.

Last but not least, Professor Sztompka reflects upon the role of theory in sociology and answers the question how his life could possibly look like if he had not become a sociologist.