Faculté des sciences sociales | Faculty of Social Sciences
Sociologie et anthropologie | Sociology and Anthropology
Political Sociology
SOC 2312A
Dr. José López
Fall 2011
Course Outline
Class Schedule:
Tuesday 13:00-14:30
Thursday 11:30-13:00
STE A0150
Professor’s Office hours:
Thursday 13:30-15:30
Desmarais, 8101D
562-5800 ext. 1233
jlopez@uottawa.ca
Official Course Description
This course provides an introduction to the study and analysis of political
sociology. It explores the social dimensions (class, social movements, and
interest groups) of power and political institutions. It examines social power
and democracy as well as contemporary dimensions of political sociology.
Course Objectives
The course will examine a number of key themes, concepts and theories that
are debated in the field of political sociology. It will be broadly concerned with
exploring the social basis for democracy. It will introduce students to the
social dimension of a variety of political phenomena such as the modern
nation-state, the governance of science and technology, political
communication and citizenship. It will also explore the challenges faced by the
nation-state as a result of social movements, new conceptions of democracy
and globalization.
Readings
Required readings found in a course pack that is available from Merriam Print
(252 Laurier Ave. E. 613-567-5050).
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Evaluation
Student assessment will have three components:
1. Mid term exam (30%)
2. Two written assignments (2x15% = 30%)
3. Final Examination (40%)
1. The Mid term exam (1 hour duration) will take place October the 21st in
class
2. Students will be required to submit two 1,000 word assignments dealing
with the readings. The first is due on October the 13th, the second on
December the 1st. Further details will be provided in class.
3. The final examination (40%) will take place during the normal examination
period. It will cover all the course material (course reader, documentaries,
lectures and discussions). Further details will be given during the revision
session on December 6th.
Policy on language quality and late submissions
Class attendance is necessary to successfully complete this course.
You will also be judged on your writing abilities. It is recommended to take the
appropriate measures to avoid mistakes such as spelling, syntax, punctuation,
inappropriate use of terms, etc. You may be penalized up to 15%, to the
professor’s discretion.
Late submissions are not tolerated. Exceptions are made only for illness or
other serious situations deemed as such by the professor. There will be a
penalty for late submissions. University regulations require all absences from
exams and all late submissions due to illness to be supported by a medical
certificate.
Absence for any other serious reason must be justified in writing, to the
academic assistants of the Faculty, within five business days following the
date of the exam or submission of an assignment. The Faculty reserves the
right to accept or refuse the reason. Reasons such as travel, jobs, or any
misreading of the examination timetable are not acceptable.
In the case of illnesses, medical certificates are accepted. However, the
Faculty who needs additional information concerning a medical certificate or
who wants to verify its authenticity must send it to the University of Ottawa
Health Services (located at 100 Marie-Curie).
A penalty of 5% will be given for each subsequent day following the due date
(weekends not included). This goes for assignments submitted through e-mail
as well, and, in this case, the time that the e-mail was received will be counted
as the time of submission of the document.
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We suggest that you advise your professor as early as possible if a religious
holiday or a religious event will force you to be absent during an evaluation.
Topics and Schedule
Week 1
Sept 8
Topic
Course
Orientation
Reading
Week 2
Sept 13
& 15
Introduction to
Political
Sociology
Janine Brodie (2002) “Three Stories of Canadian Citizenship”
in, Contesting Canadian Citizenship, Edited by Robert
Adamoski, Dorothy E. Chunn and Robert Menzies,
Peterborough: Broadview Press, pp. 43-66.
The Emergence
of the Modern
Nation State
Lars Bo Karspersen (2000) “Giddens’ Theory of the State:
The Nation-State and War”, Anthony Giddens: An
Introduction to a Social Theorist, Oxford: Blackwell, pp. 6683.
Ernest Gellner (1997) Nationalism, London: Weidenfeld &
Nicolson, pp.14-30.
Week 3
Sept 20
& 22
Week 4
Sept 27
& 29
Nationalism and
the Nation State
Documentary
Power: the
classic debate
Mark Haugaard (1997) The Constitution of Power, pp. 9-22.
Public Policy
John W. Kingdon (1993) “How do Issues get on Public Policy
Agendas”, in Sociology and the Public Agenda, Edited by
William Julius Wilson, Newbury Park: Sage, pp. 40-50
State Power
James W McAuley (2003) An Introduction to Politics, State
and Society, London: Sage, pp. 27-40.
Julia S. O’Connor (1999) “Ownership, Class and Public
Policy” in Social Inequality in Canada, James Curtis, Edward
Grabb & Neil Guppy (eds.): Prentice Hall, pp. 35-49.
Week 5
Oct 4 &
6
Challenges to
State Power
Jeff Goodwin and Theda Skocpol. 1989. Explaining
Revolutions in the Contemporary Third World. Politics and
Society 17: 4: 489-509.
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Democracy: the
Social Basis
Anthony Orum (2001) Introduction to Political Sociology, New
Jersey: Prentice Hall, pp. 91-111.
David Held (1996) Models of Democracy, 2nd edition,
Stanford: Stanford University Press, pp. 295-334.
Week 6
Oct 11
& 13
Democracy and
the Media
Frederick J. Fletcher and Daphne Gottlieb Taras (1995) “The
Mass Media: Private Ownership, Public Responsibilities” in
Canadian Politics in the 1990s, 4th Edition, Edited by Michael
S. Whittington and Glen William, Toronto: Nelson Canada,
pp.292-319.
David Taras (2002) Power and Betrayal in the Canadian
Media, Broadview Press, pp. 29-60.
Cees Hamelink, (2007) “The Professionalization of Political
Communication: Democracy at Stake?”, in the
Professionalization of Political Communication, Ralph
Negrine et al (eds), Bristol: Intellect, pp. 179-188.
Week 7
Oct 18
& 20
Review
&
Midterm
Reading Week
October 24-28
Week 8
Nov 1
&
Nov 3
Citizenship and
Welfare
Julia S. O’Connor (2002) “Understanding the Welfare State
and Welfare States: Theoretical Perspectives” in
Political Sociology, Edited by Douglas Baer, Oxford: Oxford
University Press, 110-128.
Citizenship and
Difference 1
Kate Nash (2010) Contemporary Political Sociology,
Cambridge: Blackwell, pp. 131-175.
Linda Trimble (2003) “Women and the Politics of Citizenship”
in Reinventing Canada, Edited by Janine Brodie and Linda
Trimble, Toronto: Prentice Hall, pp. 131-150.
Week 9
Nov 8
& 10
Citizenship and
Difference 2
Malinda S. Smith (2003) “‘Race Matters’ and ‘Race
Manners’” in Reinventing Canada, Edited by Janine Brodie
and Linda Trimble, Toronto: Prentice Hall, pp. 108-125.
Social
Movements 1
William K. Carroll (2002) “Social Movements” in Political
Sociology, Edited by Douglas Baer, Oxford: Oxford
University Press, pp. 371-391.
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Week
10
Nov 15
& 17
Social
Movements 2
Susan D. Philips (1999) “Social Movements in Canadian
Politics: Past their Apex?” in Canadian Politics, Edited by
James Bickerton and Alain-G Gagnon.
Documentary
Week
11
Nov 22
&24
Week
12
Nov 29
Dec 1
Globalisation 1
Arjun Appadurai (2000) “Disjuncture and Difference in the
Global Cultural Economy”, in Readings in Contemporary
Political Sociology, Cambridge: Blackwell, pp.100-114.
Globalisation 2
Keith Faulks (2000) Political Sociology: A Critical
Introduction, Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, pp. 5371, 188-205.
Democratising
Science 1
John Scott (2001) Power, Cambridge: Polity, pp. 92-109.
Steve Patten (2001) “Democratizing the Institutions of Policy
Making: Democratic Consultation and Participatory
Administration”, Journal of Canadian Studies, 35(4), pp.221239.
Democratising
Science 2
Week
13
Dec 6
Jerry Ravetz (2005) “The Post-normal Science of Safety”,
Science and Citizens: Globalization and the Challenge of
Engagement, Edited by Melissa Leach, Ian Scoones and
Brian Wynne, London: Zed Books, pp.43-53.
Review
Bibliography
Baer, Douglas (ed.) 2002. Political Sociology, Oxford: Oxford University
Press.
Brodie, Janine. 2002. Three Stories of Canadian Citizenship. In Contesting
Canadian Citizenship, Edited by Robert Adamoski, Dorothy E. Chunn and
Robert Menzies, Peterborough: Broadview Press, pp. 43-66.
Brodie, Janine and Linda Trimble (eds.). 2003. Reinventing Canada. Toronto:
Prentice Hall.
De la Porta, Donatella and Mario Diani. 1999. Social Movements: An
Introduction. Malden Mass: Blackwell.
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Faulks, Keith. 2000. Political Sociology: A Critical Introduction, Edinburgh:
Edinburgh University Press.
Gellner, Ernest. 1997. Nationalism. New York: New York University Press
Goodwin, Jeff and Theda Skocpol. 1989. Explaining Revolutions in the
Contemporary Third World. Politics and Society 17(4): 89-509.
Haugaard, Mark. 1997. The Constitution of Power. Manchester: Manchester
University Press.
Held, David.1996. Models of Democrac. 2nd edition, Stanford: Stanford
University Press.
Karspersen, Lars Bo. 2000. Anthony Giddens: An Introduction to a Social
Theorist, Oxford: Blackwell, pp. 66-83.
Kingdon, John W. 1993. How do Issues get on Public Policy Agendas. In
Sociology and the Public Agenda. Edited by William Julius Wilson, Newbury
Park: Sage, pp. 40-50.
Nash, Kate. 2010. Contemporary Political Sociology, Cambridge: Blackwell.
Nash, Kate. 2000. Readings in Contemporary Political Sociology, Cambridge:
Blackwell.
McAuley, James. 2003. An Introduction to Politis., State and Society, London:
Sage.
Orum, Anthony. 2001. Introduction to Political Sociology. New Jersey:
Prentice Hall.
Susan D. Philips .1999.Social Movements in Canadian Politics: Past their
Apex?” in Canadian Politics, Edited by James Bickerton and Alain-G Gagnon,
Peterborough: Broadview, pp. 371-391.
Patten, Steve. 2001.Democratizing the Institutions of Policy Making:
Democratic Consultation and Participatory Administration. Journal of
Canadian Studies, 35(4):.221-239.
Pierson, Christopher. 1996. The Modern State, London: Routledge.
Scott, John. 2001. Power. Cambridge: Polity.
Resources for you
Mentoring Centre - http://www.sciencessociales.uottawa.ca/mentor/fra/
The goal of the Mentoring Centre is to help students with their academic
and social well being during their time at the University of Ottawa.
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Regardless of where a student stands academically, or how far along
they are in completing their degree, the mentoring centre is there to help
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A student may choose to visit the mentoring centre for very different
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insight into programs and services offered by the University, while older
student may simply want to brush up on study and time management
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of their degree.
In all, the Mentoring Centre offers a place for students to talk about
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While students are able to voice their concerns and problems without
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services offered by the University of Ottawa.
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At the AWHC you will learn how to identify, correct and ultimately avoid errors
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• Learn what the expectations are for academic writing
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Student Resources Centres http://www.communitylife.uottawa.ca/en/resources.php
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Beware of Academic Fraud!
Academic fraud is an act committed by a student to distort the marking of
assignments, tests, examinations, and other forms of academic
evaluation. Academic fraud is neither accepted nor tolerated by the
University. Anyone found guilty of academic fraud is liable to severe
academic sanctions.
Here are a few examples of academic fraud:
• engaging in any form of plagiarism or cheating;
• presenting falsified research data;
• handing in an assignment that was not authored, in whole or in part,
by the student;
• submitting the same assignment in more than one course, without
the written consent of the professors concerned.
In recent years, the development of the Internet has made it much easier
to identify academic plagiarism. The tools available to your professors
allow them to trace the exact origin of a text on the Web, using just a few
words.
In cases where students are unsure whether they are at fault, it is their
responsibility to consult the University’s Web site at the following address:
http://www.socialsciences.uottawa.ca/eng/writing_tools.asp « Tools for
Writing Papers and Assignments ».
Persons who have committed or attempted to commit (or have been
accomplices to) academic fraud will be penalized. Here are some
examples of the academic sanctions, which can be imposed:
• a grade of « F » for the assignment or course in question;
• an additional program requirement of between 3 and 30 credits;
• suspension or expulsion from the Faculty.
Last session, most of the students found guilty of fraud were given an « F
» for the course and had between three and twelve credits added to their
program requirement.
For more information, refer to:
http://www.uottawa.ca/academic/info/newsletter/fraud_e.html
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