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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2011/2012
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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Social and Political Science : Sociology

Undergraduate Course: Theories of Power (SCIL10046)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Social and Political Science CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Course typeStandard AvailabilityAvailable to all students
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) Credits20
Home subject areaSociology Other subject areaNone
Course website None Taught in Gaelic?No
Course descriptionPower is a central concept for social and political analysis. This course introduces you to some major approaches to theories of power, and their application to substantive areas of research. We begin by considering key issues in the conceptualisation of power, and its relation to cognate concepts such as authority, legitimacy and domination. Then we explore the development of theories of power, identifying major debates, and approaches, and engaging with the ideas of key figures such as Machiavelli, Max Weber, Robert Michels, Steven Lukes, Michael Mann, Dennis Wrong, Michel Foucault, and Pierre Bourdieu.. We also consider how certain dimensions of society (e.g. economy, politics, religion and morality, gender, social identity) pose particular questions and highlight particular issues for the investigation of social power. Within this broad frame, exact focus and content varies from year to year.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus?Yes
Course Delivery Information
Delivery period: 2011/12 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1) WebCT enabled:  Yes Quota:  None
Location Activity Description Weeks Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
No Classes have been defined for this Course
First Class Week 18, Tuesday, 11:10 - 13:00, Zone: Central. Faculty Room North, David Hume Tower
No Exam Information
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course students should be able to: identify and critically assess major themes in the theorisation of power; formulate a position on the value and importance of contending conceptions of power; analyse the ways substantive fields of research inform conceptions of power, and how specific conceptions of power may shape empirical research.
Assessment Information
25% short essay and 75% long essay
Special Arrangements
None
Additional Information
Academic description Not entered
Syllabus Not entered
Transferable skills Not entered
Reading list Not entered
Study Abroad Not entered
Study Pattern Not entered
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserDr Jonathan Hearn
Tel: (0131 6)50 4242
Email: J.Hearn@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Sue Renton
Tel: (0131 6)50 6958
Email: Sue.Renton@ed.ac.uk
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© Copyright 2011 The University of Edinburgh - 16 January 2012 6:47 am