Postgraduate Course: Key Debates in Global and International Sociology (SCIL11021)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Sociology |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | This core course for the Global and International Sociology programme provides an introduction to what is at stake in taking a global and international perspective in sociology, elaborating this by exploring some key topical debates in global and international issues. The course provides conceptual insights and empirical illustrations to explain relationships the $ùlocal&© and the $ùglobal, between the $ùnational&©, the $ùinternational&© and the $ùtransnational&©. An emphasis is placed on opposing viewpoints and debates around key issues as a way of comprehending a complex subject. Thus the course presents contemporary modes and challenges of doing sociology in an increasingly complex and interdependent world. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | No |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2011/12 Semester 1, 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 |
First class information not currently available |
| No Exam Information |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the programme, all students are expected to have an advanced knowledge and critical understanding of key sociological concepts and theoretical approaches to global and international issues. In particular, graduates will be able to:
- Construct a sociologically informed argument, using appropriate evidence about contemporary global complexities
- Develop a clear conceptual understanding of key local and global issues
- Demonstrate sociological understanding of the relationship between individuals, groups and social institutions cross culturally and the importance of cultural and social context, social processes, social diversity and inequality around the globe
- Show appreciation of the value of comparative and transnational analysis
- Discuss social processes underpinning social change and social stability
- Understand the appropriate use of a range of research strategies and methods in gaining sociological knowledge.
Students will also be able to:
- Set their own sociological research agenda in relation to global and international issues
- Prepare and present scholarly work for seminars and publications
- Actively participate in group discussions
- Access library and IT resources
|
Assessment Information
| Assessment will be by a final essay of 3500-4000 words, on a topic to be agreed between the student and the course convenor. |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
This is a core course designed for the taught MSc in Global and International Sociology to provide students with a foundation in sociological thinking about global and international processes. |
| Syllabus |
The lecture topics will vary from year to year. Current list of lectures are as folows:
Introduction. Defining Terms: $ùglobal&©, $ùinternational&© and $ùsociety&©
Globalisation: Old or New?
Globalisation: Domination or Liberation?
Making International Comparisons$ûhealth, $ùhappiness&©, and inequality
Tracing Transnational Processes--the global financial/economic crisis
Key Debate: Globalisation and Social Movements
Key Debate: The Global City: Space, Place and Flow
Key Debate: Winds of Change: Global Politics of Environmental Change
Key Debate: The Fate of the Nation-State
Conclusion and Review
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| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
This list is indicative, not necessarily the readings that will be assigned on the course.
Cardoso, F. H. (1986) $ùForeword&©, International Sociology 1: 1-2.
Gills, B. K. (2004): $ùThe turning of the tide&© (editorial), Globalizations, 1(1): 1-6.
Schäfer, W. (2006) &«From the End of European History to the Globality of World Regions: A Research Perspective&ª Globality Studies Journal, (an open access journal) Article, 5.
Smith, J (2002). $ùBridging Global Divides? Strategic Framing & Solidarity in Transnational SMOs&©, International Sociology 17(4): 505-528
Thorn, H. (2007). Social Movements, the Media and the Emergence of a Global Public Sphere&©, Current Sociology 55(6): 896-918
Wood, L. (2005). $ùBridging the Chasms: The Case of People&©s Global Action&©, in Bandy, J & Smith, J. (eds) 2005. Coalitions Across Borders.
Castells, M (1989) The Informational City, Blackwell. Introduction.
Davis, M (2001) &«Transnational Suburbs&ª, chapter 10 of Magical Urbanism: Latinos Reinvent the U.S. City, Verso.
Harvey, D (1989) The Condition of Postmodernity, Blackwell (particularly parts II and IV.)
Marc, A (1995) Non-places: Introduction to an Anthropology of Supermodernity, Verso, chapter 4, &«From Places to Non-Places&ª.
Sassen, S (1991) The Global City, Princeton University Press, 1991.
Zukin, S (1996) &«Space and Symbols in an Age of Decline&ª, in Anthony King (ed.), Re-presenting the City, Macmillian.
Bell, D., Gray, T., and Haggett, C. (2005) $ùPolicy, participation and the social gap in wind farm siting decisions&©, Environmental Politics, vol 14, no 4, pp460-477.
Haggett, C. (2009) $ùPublic engagement in planning for renewable energy&©, in S. Davoudi and J. Crawford (eds.) Planning for Climate Change: Strategies for mitigation and adaptation for spatial planners, London: Earthscan.
Pasqualetti, M. J. (2001) $ùWind energy landscapes: society and technology in the California desert&©, Society and Natural Resources, vol 14, pp689-699
Van der Horst, 2007 D. Van der Horst, NIMBY or not? Exploring the relevance of location and the politics of voiced opinions in renewable energy siting controversies, Energy Policy 35 (5) (2007), pp. 2705$ú2714.
Yearley, S., Cinderby, S., Forrester, J., Bailey, P. and Rosen, P. (2003) $ùParticipatory modelling and the local governance of the politics of UK air pollution: a three-city case study&©, Environmental Values, vol 12, pp247-262
Hearn, Jonathan (2009) 'The Origins of Modern Nationalism in the North Atlantic Interaction Sphere', Sociological Research Online 14:5.
Held, David (2000) $ùRegulating Globalization? The Reinvention of Politics&©, International Sociology 15(2): 394-408.
Mann, Michael (1997) $ùIs Globalization Threatening the Rise of the Nation-State?&©, Review of International Political Economy 4(3): 472-49
Walby, Sylvia (2003) $ùThe Myth of the Nation-State: Theorizing Society and Polities in a Global Era&©, Sociology 37(3): 529-546.
Rose, Nikolas (1996) $ùThe Death of the Social? Re-figuring the Territory of Government&©, Economy and Society 25(3): 327-356.
Therborn, Göran (2001) $ùInto the 21st Century: The New Parameters of Global Politics&©, New Left Review (Jul-Aug 2001) 10: 87-110. |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | sociology global international |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Jonathan Hearn
Tel: (0131 6)50 4242
Email: J.Hearn@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Cristyn King
Tel: (0131 6)51 3865
Email: cristyn.king@ed.ac.uk |
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