Sociology
A.Y. 2019/2020
Learning objectives
The course's objective is primarily to explore the basic sociological concepts in the understanding of modern societies and their development, with a particular emphasis on sustainability. The workshop on Social mobility and social inequality will examine the theoretical approaches of the social sciences to inequalities.
Expected learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
- articulate orally and in writing an original and critical stance on the different social theories concerning the functioning of social groups and individual behaviour.
- understand and evaluating critically the core sociological and socio-legal concepts, which are relevant to sustainable development;
- understanding the methodology of formulating hypotheses and verifying testable propositions in the social sciences.
- articulate orally and in writing an original and critical stance on the different social theories concerning the functioning of social groups and individual behaviour.
- understand and evaluating critically the core sociological and socio-legal concepts, which are relevant to sustainable development;
- understanding the methodology of formulating hypotheses and verifying testable propositions in the social sciences.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Sociology module:
· Introduction: sustainability and society (week 1)
· Sociological concepts (week 2)
· Groups, classes and inequality (week 3)
· Organizations and bureaucracies (week 4)
· Law and Development (week 5)
· Conflict and violence (week 6)
· Law and social control - Deviance (week 7)
· Behavior and emotion (week 8)
· Behavior and emotion (week 9)
· Legal pluralism and globalization (week 10)
· Social Sustainability - Research methods in the social sciences (week 11)
Sociology workshop:
1) What inequality is? Theories and grounded reflections (week 1)
2) Forms of capital and approaches to inequality starting from Bourdieu's reflections (week 2 - Oct. 3)
3) Macro-inequalities: theories of economic dependency and world system theories (week 3)
4) Subaltern studies and post-colonial theories (week 4)
5) Counterhegemonic approaches to justice and epistemology of the South (week 5)
6) Mid-term examination (Week 6)
7) Gender inequality (week 7)
8) Social mobility and empowerment (week 8)
9) Starting from experience: case studies from the class (week 9)
10) Starting from experience: case studies from the class (week 10)
11) Starting from experience: case studies from the class (week 11)
· Introduction: sustainability and society (week 1)
· Sociological concepts (week 2)
· Groups, classes and inequality (week 3)
· Organizations and bureaucracies (week 4)
· Law and Development (week 5)
· Conflict and violence (week 6)
· Law and social control - Deviance (week 7)
· Behavior and emotion (week 8)
· Behavior and emotion (week 9)
· Legal pluralism and globalization (week 10)
· Social Sustainability - Research methods in the social sciences (week 11)
Sociology workshop:
1) What inequality is? Theories and grounded reflections (week 1)
2) Forms of capital and approaches to inequality starting from Bourdieu's reflections (week 2 - Oct. 3)
3) Macro-inequalities: theories of economic dependency and world system theories (week 3)
4) Subaltern studies and post-colonial theories (week 4)
5) Counterhegemonic approaches to justice and epistemology of the South (week 5)
6) Mid-term examination (Week 6)
7) Gender inequality (week 7)
8) Social mobility and empowerment (week 8)
9) Starting from experience: case studies from the class (week 9)
10) Starting from experience: case studies from the class (week 10)
11) Starting from experience: case studies from the class (week 11)
Prerequisites for admission
None
Teaching methods
The first part of the course will deal with the most influential theories of power, status, social stratification, justice, development and bureaucracy, with references to the latest empirical research and the support of selected readings of the classics of sociology and social sciences. With the theoretical foundations and concepts of sociology, we will review the methods of social research, to understand the capabilities and limitations of field research. In the second part, the course will explore the social foundations of development, underdevelopment and inequality, with its dynamics of social change, both inter-state and inter-individual. In the third part, the course will analyze the reciprocal interactions between society and the legal system, that is, how the law affects and is affected by the most important social processes. We will address in particular the issues of law as a social institution, the perception and the sense of justice, the management and resolution of conflicts, and the processes of globalization and migration.
Teaching Resources
TEXTBOOK:
Elwell, Sociocultural Systems (http://www.aupress.ca/books/120219/ebook/99Z_Elwell_2013-Sociocultural_Systems.pdf)
READINGS
Sociology - Study Materials (available on ARIEL)
· Martinelli, Sociology in Political Practice and Public Discourse (week 2)
· Crozier, The Bureaucratic Phenomenon (week 4)
· van Schaik & Burkart, The evolution of human normativity (week 8)
· Tamanaha, Understanding Legal Pluralism: Past to Present, Local to Global (week 10)
Sociology Workshop - Study Materials (available on ARIEL)
· Said, Edward, Orientalism, chapt. 1, pp. 33-110, New York, Pantheon, 1978 (week 3)
· De Sousa Santos, Boaventura, Epistemologies of the South, chapt. 4-5, Routledge, 2016 (week 5)
· Pierre Bourdieu, Loic Wacquant, Toward a reflexive sociology, chapt. 2, § 3-4-5, The University of Chicago, 1992 (week 7)
Elwell, Sociocultural Systems (http://www.aupress.ca/books/120219/ebook/99Z_Elwell_2013-Sociocultural_Systems.pdf)
READINGS
Sociology - Study Materials (available on ARIEL)
· Martinelli, Sociology in Political Practice and Public Discourse (week 2)
· Crozier, The Bureaucratic Phenomenon (week 4)
· van Schaik & Burkart, The evolution of human normativity (week 8)
· Tamanaha, Understanding Legal Pluralism: Past to Present, Local to Global (week 10)
Sociology Workshop - Study Materials (available on ARIEL)
· Said, Edward, Orientalism, chapt. 1, pp. 33-110, New York, Pantheon, 1978 (week 3)
· De Sousa Santos, Boaventura, Epistemologies of the South, chapt. 4-5, Routledge, 2016 (week 5)
· Pierre Bourdieu, Loic Wacquant, Toward a reflexive sociology, chapt. 2, § 3-4-5, The University of Chicago, 1992 (week 7)
Assessment methods and Criteria
1. Course attendance and class discussion of reading assignments: 30%
2. A mid-term test with open-ended questions (October/November): 30%
3. A final-term research paper (January): 40%
2. A mid-term test with open-ended questions (October/November): 30%
3. A final-term research paper (January): 40%
Sociology
SPS/07 - GENERAL SOCIOLOGY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 42 hours
Professor:
Cominelli Luigi
Shifts:
-
Professor:
Cominelli Luigi
Workshop on "Social mobility and social inequality"
SPS/07 - GENERAL SOCIOLOGY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 21 hours
Professor:
Verdolini Valeria
Shifts:
-
Professor:
Verdolini ValeriaProfessor(s)
Reception:
Office hours: Tuesday 10,30 am-12,30 pm (online on MS Teams, Team code 7kv5eto)
Room 2011 - Dept. Cesare Beccaria - Sect. Philosophy and Sociology of Law