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SOC 351 POLITICAL SOCIOLOGY
Full Course Title:
Political Sociology
Politička sociologija
Course Code:
Course Level/BiH cycle:
SOC 351
1st Cycle (Bachelor of Arts)
ECTS credit value:
6
Student work-load:
(Table with hours for: Lectures; Exercise; Other; Individual learning)
For the whole semester:
Length:
Faculty/School/Department:
Lectures
Tutorial /
Practical training
e.g.
Project
Individual
learning
TOTAL
45
15
30
60
150
One semester
FASS; Social and Political Sciences (SPS) and Cultural Studies (CULT)
Course leader:
Assist. Prof. Dr Tuba Boz
Contact details:
Office:
e-mail:
Office hours:
Phone:
Site:
IUS main campus building
Host Study Program:
Social and Political Sciences (SPS) and Cultural Studies (CULT)
Course status:
Area Elective Course
Pre-requisites:
None
Access restrictions:
None
tboz@ius.edu.ba
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Assessment:
Presentations, group activities, consultations, quizzes, exams and take-home exams.
Date validated:
May 2012
Course aims:
Learning outcomes:
Indicative syllabus content:
The aims of this course are to:
1. To advance student’s knowledge of theories of political sociology;
2. To ensure that students are able to use various methods of research and analysis;
3. To ensure students are able to examine state and societal relations from a theoretical
and practical perspective;
4. To equip students with skills to write reports and recommendation for policy outcomes;
5. To enrich students abilities in critical and lateral thinking.
On successful completion of this course IUS student will be able to:
1. To understand and evaluate theories concerning politics and society;
2. To conduct sophisticated quantitative and qualitative research;
3. To think about and discuss issues concerning demographic changes and social
dynamism from a theoretical and practical perspective;
4. To employ interdisciplinary approaches when conducting research and write reports
and make policy recommendations;
5. To think critically, creatively and solve problems.
This course is designed to advance and equip students with the core issue concerning theories of
political sociology. The main themes to be dealt with may include: State and Society; Power and
Politics; Political Culture; Voting patterns; Demography; Migration; Globalization; Social
Stratification; Environment; Population Growth; Racism; Bureaucracy and International
Organizations; Social Protection; Social Movements; Mass Media; Social Media; Feminism;
Surveillance; Privacy and the Public Sphere.
Teaching occurs via lectures, seminars and tutorials, individual and team- work in-class activities.
Learning delivery:
Assessment Rationale:
Assessment Weighting:
Essential Reading:
Recommended readings:
In order to provide solid undergraduate foundation in the SPS and CULT programs and to enable
students to develop a critical and evaluative understanding of culture with the socio-political
environment, and to demonstrate commitment and diligence at any time, different assessment
methods are proposed for this module. Therefore, appropriate and diverse assessment methods
include field-work project, presentations, group activities, consultations, exams and take-home
exams with the aim to help students to stay focused and active, and fully benefit from the
module.
Attendance and participation 5%
Research paper 20%
Midterm exam 25%
Presentation 10%
Final exam 40%
1. Thomas Jansoki and Robert R. Alford. The Handbook of Political Sociology. New York:
Cambridge University Press. 2005.
2. William Du Bois and R. Dean Wright. Applying Sociology: Making a Better World. U.S:
Pearson. 2000.
3. Anthony M. Orum and John G. Dale. Political Sociology: Power and Participation in the
Modern World.
4. Keith Faulks. Political Sociology: A Critical Introduction. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University
Press. 1999
Additional/recommended reading:
Intranet web reference:
Important notes:
Students have to make sure to avoid plagiarism or even the vague possibility of plagiarism. Note
that copying from the internet or even taking ideas from internet sources without proper citation
is also a form of plagiarism, not only copying from paper based texts. Students are expected to
paraphrase the arguments whenever possible and add proper citations from the original text.
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Each final essay will be checked against anti-plagiarism software.
Failing to gain at least 30% from each assignment results in failing the course (that is students are
expected to undergo each of the four assignment forms (class participation, position paper, oral
presentation, final essay). Absence from class is allowed only with strong reason. Students are
allowed one “free miss” but more than one absence without documentation will negatively affect
the grade.
Quality Assurance:
At the study program Cultural Studies and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences special attention
is paid to quality assurance. A prerequisite for the application of quality assurance policy is to
develop awareness among academic staff, but also among students about the importance of
monitoring and improving the quality of teaching. It also implies an understanding that quality
monitoring is an evaluation of work, but the establishment of an institutional system with its full
implementation at all levels. Since the internal quality monitoring mission of the University or
Faculty within the University, this track will be given special attention, as follows:

Continuous improvement of policies and procedures for quality assurance due to the
specificity of the program,

Clearly established procedures and application of procedures in adoption of study
program in accordance with the guidelines. These procedures are established and there
is a need for further work on them,

Establishment of procedures for student evaluation and there is a need for its verbatim
and transparent application,

Selection of qualified and competent teaching staff,

Evaluation of efficiency of use of premises and equipment,

Regular information about the programs is done through the written and printed
materials,

Openness to external quality monitoring procedures established by the relevant
domestic and foreign institutions.
In addition to the above areas of quality assurance, students of IUS or a study program Cultural
Studies internally evaluate the quality of teaching and teachers in all courses at the end of each
semester. The evaluation is done electronically and anonymously. In addition, and evaluate the
quality of textbooks and instruments in the laboratory and used in practice. Academic staff
submitted an annual report on recent activities of the Vice-Rector for Education at the latest two
weeks after the final exam. The independent evaluator who is not a member of the academic
staff of Universities, administered evaluation questionnaire, and a member of the study program
(for each program separately) and Dean of the Faculty discusses the research findings as well as
student evaluations and together carried revising the plan for improving professional work.
Semesterally, the members of each program of study reviewed the sufficiency and adequacy of
available facilities, textbooks and teaching aids (instruments, technical equipment ...) and,
according to the findings of the report sent to the Dean, which contains proposals for the
purchase or repair of existing equipment/aids. Program members also reviewed the adequacy of
program information available on the website of the University, and send their proposals and
suggestions in the form of a letter to the Dean.
Course Schedule:
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Week
1
Lesson
/ Date
Topics to be covered
Introduction to Political
Sociology - Political sociology
in the new Millenium
Class activities
Problems/ Assignments
(Homework)
Relevant reading:
Learning objectives
(After this lesson
student will be able to:)
Thomas Janoski and Robert R.
1. Define the discipline of
Alford.,The Handbook of Political political sociology
Sociology
2. Explore the various
Introduction
theoretical approaches to
political sociology
3. Analyze the social base
or roots of politics in civil
society
4. Approach the issue of
globalization of the world
and politics
1
Theories of political sociology
Rulemaking, rulebreaking,
and power
Pages 33-54
1. Understand the social
rules which control social
life and social
relationships
2. Define social and
political power
3. Analyze the
distributional perspective
on power resources
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4. Define and understand
the problem of actionability
5. Analyze rules as
instruments of power
6. Understand the state as
promulgator and enforcer
of power
2
Neopluralism and
neofunctionalism in political
sociology
Pages 55- 71
1. Define and use the
concepts of pluralism,
neopluralism and
neofunctionalism in
political sociology
2. Explore and
understand the theories of
pluralism, neopluralism
and neofunctionalism
2
Conflict theories in political
sociology
Pages 72-95
1. Understand various
conflict theories in political
sociology
2. Analyze theoretical
approaches of Marxism,
Leninism and
“Revisionism”
4. Analyze various world
systems and globalization
theories
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5. Define the relation
between class, status and
symbolic conflict
3
State-centered and political
institutional theory: retrospect
and prospect
Pages 96 - 114
1. Define the statecentered and political
institutional theory
2. Analyze the examples
and models of statecentered theory
3. Understand structural
political institutionalism
4. Consider issues in
political institutional
theoretical projects
3
Culture, knowledge, politics
.
Pages 115- 134
1. Analyze various postwar
approaches to politics and
culture
2. Define the concepts of
civic culture, crowd
mentality, hegemony,
globalization,
postmodernity etc.
3. Define and utilize
various theoretical
approaches, such as
structuralism, critical
theory etc.
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4
Feminist theorizing in political
sociology
Pages 135- 152
1. Define and analyze
various neo-marxist and
feminist theories in
political sociology
2. Define the concept of
the patriarchal state
3. Analyze various
mechanisms of exclusion
(public/private divide)
4. Explore the issues of
gendered identities and
feminisms
5. Analyze feminist
dialogue across
citizenship theories
4
Poststructuralist discourse
theory: Foucault, Laclau,
Mouffe, and Žižek
Pages 153-171
1. Define and analyze
poststructuralist discourse
theory
2. Define the concepts of
social antagonism,
dislocation, hegemony, the
split subject, etc.
3. Understand the
retroactive construction of
the social basis of politics
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5
Rational choice theories in
political sociology
Pages 172-186
1. Define and utilize
rational choice theories in
political sociology
2. Analyze various rational
choice models of political
institutions and cultural
aspects of politics
3. Understand the relation
between history and
rational choice theory
5
Theories of race and state
Pages 187-198
1. Define various theories
of race, state and ethnicity
in political sociology
2. Analyze the relation
between political
institutions and race
3. Define the theories of
the racial state
4. Understand the
organizational structure of
liberal democratic and
racial states
Student presentations
Student presentations
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6
Civil society: the roots and
processes of political action
Pages 199-226
1. Define the roots and
processes of political
action
2. Analyze the
development of social
psychological models of
voting
Money, participation and
votes
Social cleavages and
electoral politics
3. Understand various
economic models,
processes and
mechanisms of voting
4. Define social structural
factors, group-level factors
and organizational factors
5. Explain recent trends,
processes and
mechanisms of political
participation and voting
behavior
6. Define how the
campaign finance data is
used to investigate
capitalist class influence
7
Public opinion, political
attitudes, and ideology
Pages 227-246
1. Understand the relation
between public opinion,
political attitudes, and
ideology
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2. Analyze various social
cleavages
3. Explore the relation of
economic development
and public opinion
7
Nationalism in comparative
perspective
Pages 247-265
1. Explore the political
effects of nationalism as
compared to other forms
of consciousness
2. Distinguish types of
nationalism and their
implications for political
action
3. Define and analyze the
concepts of nationalism,
terrorism, etc.
8
Political parties: Social
biases, organization, and
enviroment
Pages 266-286
1. Explore party origins
2. Assess social biases
3. Analyze the structure
and culture of political
parties
4. Understand variations in
organizational structure
5. Analyze the relation of
the media, institutional
environment, parties,
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globalization and the state
8
Organized interest groups
and policy networks
Pages 287-309
1. Define organized
interest groups
2. Understand the
organizational
development of interest
groups
3. Analyze policy networks
4. Explore interest
organization systems –
the European Union and
United States
Midterm exam
9
Corporate control, interfirm
relations, and corporate
Power
Midterm exam
Pages 310-330
1. Define the concepts of
democracy, capitalism and
corporate power
2. Analyze the roots of
business disunity and the
role of corporate control
3. Understand the Berle
and Means Thesis
4. Analyze the social class
model
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5. Define managerial
Marxism
6. Analyze the
contemporary elite theory
9
Social movements and social
change
Pages 331-349
1. Define the concepts and
contributions of various
social movements
2. Define the
movement/society
framework
3. Analyze social
movement theories
4. Explore early symbolic
interactionism,
functionalism, resource
mobilization, etc.
5. Define the tactics,
strategy and outcomes of
social movements
10
Towards a political sociology
of the news media
Pages 350-364
1. Analyze
microinstitutional and
macroinstitutional
approaches to news
2. Understand the role of
journalism in political
sociology
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The state and its
manifestations
Pages 365-383
State formation and state
building in Europe
1. Analyze the state
building theory of Max
Weber and Otto Hinze
2. Explore the renaissance
of state building theory of
the 1960s, 1970s and the
1980s
3. Define the recent trends
in the literature on
European state building
10
Transitions to democracy
Pages 384-403
1. Define the deals,
strategies, paths and end
points of democracy
2. Analyze
macrotransitions
3. Assess conceptual,
theoretical and
methodological issues
11
Revolutions and revolutionary
movements
Pages 404-422
1. Define the concepts of
revolution and
revolutionary movements
2. Analyze various
theoretical approaches on
revolutionary movements
11
Regimes and contention
Pages 423-440
1. Define the concepts of
governmental capacity,
equality, consultation and
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protection
2. Analyze various
hypotheses on polity
membership,
governmental capacity,
etc.
12
Theories and practices of
neocorporatism
Pages 441-460
1. Define the concept of
corporatism
2. Analyze the political
constitution of modern
society
3. Examine democratic
state building and
neocorporatism after 1945
4. Define the structure,
function and economic
effects of corporatism
12
Undemocratic politics in the
twentieth century and beyond
Pages 461-481
1. Define undemocratic
politics from a regime
perspective
2. Explore the totalitarianfascist debate
3. Analyze authoritarian
and Sultanistic regimes
4. Explore democratic and
undemocratic politics
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linked with democracies
13
State bureaucracy – Politics
and Policies
Pages 482-505
1. Define bureaucracy as
an outgrowth of state
policies
2. Understand the social
divison of labor (state,
market, ngo’s, social
solidarity networks)
3. Analyze bureaucracy
productivity
4. Define the concepts of
productivity, environment,
resources, structures,
norms and behavior
13
State policy and innovations
Pages 506-525
Comparative and historical
studies of public policy
and the welfare state
1. Define the welfare state
2. Analyze the political
sociology of the welfare
state
3. Understand the social
stratification of welfare
14
Women, gender and state
policies
Pages 523-545
1. Define the relation of
gender and politics and
gender and employment
2. Analyze women’s
employment and
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economic development
3. Examine
antidiscrimination ,
antinatalist, pronatalist and
equalization policies
The Politics of Racial Policy
Pages 546-565
1. Define the concepts of
enfranchisement and
disfranchisement
2. Analyze social welfare
and housing segregation
3. Explore theories of
public opinion and racial
politics
14
War, militarism, and states
Pages 566-584
The insights and blind spots
of political sociology
1. Analyze the topics
addressed by political
sociology
2. Explore the state of
knowledge concerning war
and politics
15
Globalization and political
sociology
Pages 587-606
1. Define the concepts of
globalization and global
movements
2. Understand the relation
between modernity, rights
and sovereignty
3. Analyze the relation of
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modernity and
development
4. Explore global
countermovement politics
15
State Economic and Social
Policy in Global Capitalism
Pages 607-629
1. Analyze the dimensions
of economic
internationalization
2. Understand economic
and social policies
3. Explore development in
the advanced industrial
countries
4. Examine changes in
economic policies and
globalization
5. Analyze reforms in
economic and social policy
16
The politics of immigration
and national integration
Pages 630-654
1. Analyze power
resources and
constellation theories,
state centric and
institutional theories,
cultural and racialization
theories
2. Understand the politics
of sending countries
toward immigration
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3. Examine the politics of
naturalization, integration
and nationalism
4. Analyze transnational
theories and unifying
receiver and sender theory
16
Counterhegemonic
globalization
transnational social
movements in the
contemporary global
political economy
Pages 655-670
1. Define hegemonic
versus counterhegemonic
globalization
2. Analyze the new
organizational foundations
of counterhegemonic
globalization
3. Examine feminist
movements
4. Understand global and
local environmentalism
Final exam
Final exam
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