Social Theory II: Contemporary Sociology
Spring, 2014
Course Syllabus
Course Objectives
This course aims to examine contemporary sociological theory on the basis of two
basic axes: sociology of action in the USA and recent social theories. Having covered
the key figures of continental sociology in the first semester, we will first examine the
emergence and development of sociology in the United States in this semester. As the
discussion proceeds, it will appear that sociology in the Continent and sociology in
the United States have more or less incompatible theoretical and metatheoretical
standpoints. While the development of classical sociology in Europe culminated with
a macroscopic and non-individualistic sociology of structure (s), sociology in the
USA came into existence as a microscopic and individualistic sociology of action.
(Needless to say that the distinction between these two ‘traditions’ is not a categorical
one, i.e. it is likely to find the examples of non-individualistic and structuralist
sociologies in the USA, and vice versa.) Accordingly, in the first section of this
course we will basically examine the following figures and theories: G.H. Mead and
H. Blumer: Symbolic Interactionism, T. Parsons and R.K. Merton: Structural
Functionalism, R. Dahrendorf and Coser: Conflict Theory, G. Homans and P Blau:
Exchange Theory.
The second section of the course is devoted to the discussion of the recent theories in
sociological theory. The figures and theories to be examined in this second sections
are as follows: Habermas and Critical Theory, Althusser & Poulantzas and Neomarxism, Laclau & Mouffe and Post-marxism, Foucault and Postmodernism, and
Derrida and Post-structuralism.
Course Organization and Requirements:
The course will be taught through lectures and discussions. Participants are required to
attend lectures, read the assigned material for each meeting in advance, and actively
participate in discussions. Assessment will be made on the basis the following:
attendance & participation (10 %), two midterm examinations (30 % each) and a final
examination (30 %).
Course Schedule
w. 1
Introduction
w.2-3
Modern Society and/or the Tragedy of Culture
Simmel (and Social Forms)
George Ritzer
Sociological Theory, (New York: Mc Graw Hill, 2011), pp. 158-187.
w.4
the Emergence of Sociology in the USA and the Chicago School
George Ritzer
Sociological Theory, (New York: Mc Graw Hill, 2011), pp. 190-204.
w.5
Symbolic Interactionism
George Ritzer
Sociological Theory, (New York: Mc Graw Hill, 2011), pp. 351-390.
w.6
Structural Functionalism
George Ritzer
Sociological Theory, (New York: Mc Graw Hill, 2011), pp. 237-264
w.7
Conflict Theory
George Ritzer
Sociological Theory, (New York: Mc Graw Hill, 2011), pp. 265-276
w.8
Exchange Theory
George Ritzer
Sociological Theory, (New York: Mc Graw Hill, 2011), pp. 416-453
w. 9-10
Neo-marxism & Postmarxism
George Ritzer
Sociological Theory, (New York: Mc Graw Hill, 2011), pp. 277-330.
Richard Kearney
Modern Movements in European Philosophy (Manchester: MUP, 1994), pp.
169-189, 299-318.
w. 11-12
Structuralism & Poststructuralism
Anthony Giddens & Jonathan Turner
Social Theory Today, (Cambridge: Polity Press, 1987), pp. 195-223.
Richard Kearney
Modern Movements in European Philosophy (Manchester: MUP, 1994), pp.
252-267, 113-133.
w. 13-14.
Postmodernism
George Ritzer
Sociological Theory, (New York: Mc Graw Hill, 2011), pp. 628-644.
Richard Kearney
Modern Movements in European Philosophy (Manchester: MUP, 1994), pp.
283-298.