Political Sociology
| Module title | Political Sociology |
|---|---|
| Module code | POC2111 |
| Academic year | 2021/2 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Lamprini Rori (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 25 |
|---|
Module description
The module will introduce you to the study of politicization of social cleavages (divisions) such as class, race and ethnicity, gender, religion, and nationality; changing social values and attitudes, the impact of the media; political engagement and participation (such as turnout and protest politics). The course builds on some of the concepts, theories and knowledge introduced in Comparative Politics, and goes beyond notably to the study of representation, electorates, parties, civil society, who rules in a democracy, public policy and the politics of instability. The module is empirical, but includes some positive theory, i.e. theories that aim to explain why people behave as they do. The aim of each topic is to assess the evidence for competing explanations of particular features of social and political life. The module largely deals with contemporary societies and recent developments, but appreciation of historical developments is often useful to understand these. The module is also comparative, with the readings drawn from research on countries of Western Europe and North America.
No prior knowledge skills or experience are required to take this module and it is suitable for specialist and non-specialist students. The module is only suitable for students studying Politics.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module provides you with the opportunity to learn about and appraise theories used in political sociology. This will help you to learn about and reflect on the drivers of the social basis of political competition, social and political attitudes, processes of political engagement and competition.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Acquire a good understanding of recent political sociology explanations of political competition, social and political attitudes, processes of political engagement, the social basis for the formation, change and maintenance of political institutions.
- 2. Relate this theoretical understanding of political sociology to empirical data and analyses for more than two major industrial countries.
- 3. Demonstrate a good understanding of the competing approaches in political sociology.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Understand the main methods of data collection and analysis in political science and sociology.
- 5. Demonstrate familiarity with key features of contemporary developed societies that are relevant to political science.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. Write analytical essays.
- 7. Present coherent arguments.
- 8. Communicate effectively in your written and oral work.
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
1. Methodology
2. Political culture and social capital
3. Class
4. Religion
5. Gender
6. Ethnicity and race
7. Political elites
8. Turnout
9. Social movements
10. Media
11. Citizen participation
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 128 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and teaching activity | 22 | 11 x 2 hour seminars |
| Guided Independent study | 44 | Preparing for seminars: reading and thinking through answers to discussion questions |
| Guided Independent study | 84 | Preparing for examination and essay |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual presentation | 10 minutes, with questions | 1,5,7,8 | Written |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Examination | 50 | 1.5 hours | 1-8 | Written |
| Essay | 50 | 1,500 words | 1-8 | Written |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examination | Examination (1.5 hours) | 1-8 | August/September re-assessment period |
| Essay | Essay (1,500 words) | 1-8 | August/September re-assessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Basic reading:
Clark, William Roberts, Matt Golder, and Sona N Golder. 2017. Principles of Comparative Politics. Sage.
Crouch, Colin (1999). Social Change in Western Europe. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Dalton, Russell (2014). Citizen Politics: Public Opinion and Political Parties in Advanced Industrial Democracies (6th edition). Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly Press.
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 5 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 02/02/2018 |
| Last revision date | 24/06/2021 |
