Analysis of Social Structure and Change
Code
Weight of the course
Period
Course Leader
Lecturer
Teaching Methods
Exam
Contact
ISS-1101
3 ECTS
TERM 1
Amrita Chhachhi
Amrita Chhachhi, Erhard Berner
Workshops
Participatory Lecture
Tutorial
Written examination: 100%
Sharmini Bisessar
Learning objectives
After the completion of the course, students will be familiar with fundamental concepts and
approaches in social theory, including power and dominance, social differentiation, class, and
gender, and have acquired competencies in the analysis of: (1) the interdependence of structure
and agency; (2) different kinds of social action within that framework; (3) tendencies and causes
of social change; (4) inequality and its explanations; and (5) the role of collective action and
politics in social change.
Course description
This course introduces participants to fundamental conceptual tools in social theory. It presents
key concepts developed by classical (K. Marx, M. Weber) and contemporary sociological theories
on the structure of classes, gender, ethnicity and their intersections, processes of spatial,
economic and social segregation, and consequences in terms of poverty and vulnerability.
Emphasis is laid on structural change and the political process as well as on chances and
constraints of collective action and social movements.
Indicative reading
Elliott, A. (2008) Contemporary Social Theory: An Introduction. Routledge. (1st edition)
Giddens, A. (2009) Sociology. Cambridge and Oxford: Polity (6th edition)
Layder, D. (2005) Understanding Social Theory. London: Sage (2nd edition)