Political sociology | Université Catholique de Lille

Establishment

ESPOL European School of Political and Social Sciences

Language of instruction

French, English

This course occurs in the following program(s)

European undergraduate degree in political science - Crédits ECTS:

Period

Presentation
Terms
Resources

Présentation

Goal

The main objective of this course is to provide students with a sound understanding of the links between societal and political factors, preparing them to conduct an independent analysis of political phenomena.

Learning outcomes

Upon finishing this course, students will be expected to:

Demonstrate knowledge of the most important theoretical approaches in Political Sociology (including relevant concepts covered during the lectures)

Use the acquired theoretical knowledge, in combination with empirical data, in the analysis of contemporary political events

Be able to explain the concept of power, its origins, types, and dynamics using concrete examples

Demonstrate an understanding of different forms of social capital and its relevance for political life

Explain how the phenomena on the individual level (such as identity) can have political relevance

Understand different modes of social stratification and explain how they influence political behavior

Identify, using concrete examples, different ways in which individuals and groups can voice their political concerns and channel them into political actions

Explain different forms of political violence, linking it to the global changes in political recruitment and organization

Modalités

Forms of instruction

The course will be taught in two complementary ways: through lectures and seminars. Both lectures and seminars will be held in English. During lectures, students will be familiarized with the general outlines of a topic and gain the indispensable knowledge for informed discussion and analysis of political phenomena. Lectures will start with concrete problems which will be discussed and contextualized within the framework of sociological theories. Students will be expected to actively engage in classes and recognize the similarities and difference between competing explanations. They will also be invited to assess as to what degree presented theories explain the discussed phenomena, and which areas remain open for further elaboration. Altogether, there will be eight lectures (3 hours each). Those insights will be elaborated further during seminars.

Seminars will be organized in small groups of 15-20 people. The seminar instructors are Mr. François Briatte (François.briatte@univ-catholille.fr) and Ms. Alexia Venouil (alexia.venouil@cesdip.fr). Altogether there are 8 seminars (2h each), starting in the first week of February. Students will be required to read the essential literature in preparation for the seminars and follow the news. Seminars are designed to help students clarify and build on the lectures with the support of the seminar teacher. Informed discussion plays a vital role in seminars. It is therefore essential to process the relevant essential reading in preparation for each session. The seminars will offer a good opportunity for students to develop their ability to contribute to discussions and debates, hold informed conversations about the issues discussed and generally improve their presentation skills. All participants will be involved in the discussions at the seminar. The students will be required to write a short “memo” for each course, and sessions will be divided into three parts:

A brief presentation by the instructor on the topic of the seminar session
Plenary discussion of assigned readings and coursework
Plenary discussions of the “memos.

Practical infromation:

Students are expected to arrive on time to both lectures and seminars.
All mobile phones must be switched off before entering lectures and seminars.
The use of tablets and PCs is allowed during class.
Students are required to attend class and take notes.

Course assessment

The course is based both on the continuous assessment (based on participation in lectures and seminars) and specific assignments, as follows:

Mid-term exam (quiz) based on the content of lectures and seminar readings – 15%
Final, 3-hours written exam with four open-ended questions (the exam will cover materials presented in lectures) – 40%
Seminar memos – 30%
Seminar readings – 15%

Feedback

Students can receive feedback on their academic progress and discuss other course-related issues during office hours of the course lecturer and the seminar teachers or by appointment. Additionally, it is possible to contact them via e-mail.

Course outline

Lecture 1: Introduction: Political Sociology toolbox (18/01/2019)
Lecture 2: States, nation-states

Evaluation

Ressources

Bibliography

|| Nash, Kate and Scott, Alan (2012). The Blackwell Companion to Political Sociology. Wiley-Blackwell.|||| Baer, Douglas (2002). Political Sociology, Oxford University Press.|| Brincker, Benedikte (2013). Introduction to Political Sociology, Hans Reitzel. Clemens, Elisabeth S. (2016). What is Political Sociology? Polity. <a>Dobratz</a>, Betty, <a>Lisa Waldner</a> and <a>Timothy Buzzell</a> (2011) Power, Politics, and Society: An Introduction to Political Sociology, Pearson Education. Faulks, Keith (1999). Political Sociology: A Critical Introduction. Edinburgh University Press. Fisher, J., Fieldhouse, E., Franklin, M. N., Gibson, R., Cantijoch, M., & Wlezien, C. (Eds.). (2017). The Routledge Handbook of Elections, Voting Behavior and Public Opinion. Routledge.|| Gamson, W.A. 1968. Power and Discontent. Homewood: The Dorsey Press, chapters 1 & 3.|| Janoski, Thomas, Robert R. Alford, Alexander M. Hicks, Mildred A. Schwartz (2005). The Handbook of Political Sociology: States, Civil Societies, and Globalization. Cambridge University Press.|| Nash, Kate (2010). Contemporary Political Sociology.Wiley-Blackwell.|| Orum, Anthony and Dale, John (2008). Political Sociology: Power and Participation in the Modern World. Oxford University Press.|||| In French:|| Jean-Yves Dormagen, Daniel Mouchard (2019). Introduction à la sociologie politique. Bruxelles: De Boeck (5e édition).|| Bacot P. (2016). Guide de Sociologie politique, Paris, Ellipses.|| Philippe Braud (2008). Sociologie politique. Paris: L.G.D.J.|| Roger-Gérard Schwartzenberg (1971). Sociologie politique. Paris: Montchrestien|| Mayer N. (2010), Sociologie des comportements politiques, Paris, A.Colin.|||| Other suggested readings (just a few examples):|| Almond, Gabriel A. and Sydney Verba. 1965. The Civic Culture: Political Attitudes and Democracy in Five Nations. Boston: Little, Brown and Company.|| Crouch, Colin (1999). Social Change in Western Europe. Oxford: Oxford University Press.|| Dalton, Russell (2008). Citizen Politics: Public Opinion and Political Parties in Advanced Industrial Democracies (5th edition). Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly Press.|| Easton, David (1965). A Systems Analysis of Political Life, New York: Wiley.|| Franklin M. (2004), Voter Turnout and the Dynamics of Electoral Competition in Established Democracies Since 1945, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.|| Inglehart R, Norris P. (2003), Rising Tide. Gender Equality and Cultural Change around the World, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.|| Lipset, Seymour Martin (1963). Political Man: The Social Bases of Politics. New York: Anchor.|| McAdam, Douglas. 1982. Political Process and the development of Black Insurgency 1930-1970. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press.|| Morales L., Giugni M. (dir.) (2011) Social Capital, Political Participation and Migration in Europe: Making Multicultural Democracy Work? Basingstoke, Palgrave McMillan.|| Putnam, Robert (2000). Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. Simon & Schuster.|| Skocpol, Theda. (1979). States and Social Revolutions. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.|| Skocpol T., Williamson V. (2012), The Tea Party and the Remaking of Republican Conservatism, Oxford, Oxford University Press.|| Olson, Mancur. (1965). The Logic of Collective Action. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.|| Parsons, Talcott (1969). Politics and Social Structure. New York: Free Press.|| Tarrow, Sidney. (2011). Power in Movement : Social Movements and Contentious Politics. New York: Cambridge University Press.|| Ware, Alan (1996) Political Parties and Party Systems. Oxford: Oxford University Press.|| Weber,

Internet resources

Since the course covers topics relevant to contemporary political events, it is important to follow political developments in both national and international contexts via different media.

Below are recommended newspapers and portals:

Foreign Affairs
Washington Post
The New York Times
Monde Diplomatique
Courrier International
New York Times
Politico
The Economist
The Wall Street Journal

Within the framework of the seminars, students will be required to read, on a regular basis, a series of blogs that deal with topics of Political Sociology. Further details will be provided during the first session of the se