00905 - Sociology (F-N)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student should acquire: -  a basic knowledge about Sociology: its origins, its main paradigms and theories, its methods of analysis, its topics; -  the theoretical tools and empirical capabilities necessary to understand social phenomena in the contemporary global society.

Course contents

• The origins of the Sociology in relation to the uprising of modern society; with particolar attention to the authors, today estimated as classical ones, who mainly studied the transformations connected to the development of modernity; the main sociological paradigms and theories.
  
• Analysis of some basic concepts of sociology (culture, socialization, identity, role, social action, social interaction, structure and social system) and of the fundamental social institutions of contemporary society.
• Analysis and discussion about a one main aspect of contemporary society, globalization processes, that it is increasingly occupying the centre of sociological debates.

Readings/Bibliography

1. Jedlowski Paolo, Il mondo in questione, Carocci, Roma, 2009, Cap. 1-7, 10-14.
2. Giddens Anthony, Fondamenti di sociologia , il Mulino, Bologna, Nuova edizione a cura di Barbagli M., Baldini M., 2006, Cap. I-VIII, X e XII (nell'edizione precedente: Nuova edizione 2000: Cap. I-IX, XI e XIII). 
3. One of the following books:

• Bauman Z., Dentro la globalizzazione: le conseguenze sulle persone, Laterza, Roma-Bari, 2001.
• Beck U., Che cos'è la globalizzazione: rischi e prospettive della società planetaria, Carocci, Roma, 1999.
• Sen A., Globalizzazione e libertà, Mondadori, Milano, 2002.
• Singer P., One world. L'etica della globalizzazione , Einaudi, Torino, 2003.
• Stiglitz J., Globalizzazione, Donzelli, Firenze, 2011.

Teaching methods

Lectures including moments of discussion and comparison with students.

Assessment methods

The final assessment is an oral exam that consists in a conversation about the suggested reading list.

Teaching tools

Photocopies, Video-projector, PC, white board.

Office hours

See the website of Paola Parmiggiani