Objectives and competences
Educate students and provide them with knowledge for understanding of the sociological theories, social processes, which will allow them to understand the fundamental social phenomena, processes and give them insight into the social (sub)systems. Students gain knowledge to develop their own critical evaluation of world around them.
Content (Syllabus outline)
- Sociological issues and research
- Key sociological theories (conflict theory (Marxism and neomarxisem), functionalism, interactionism); modernity, postmodernity
- World-systems theory (Wallerstein)
- The social construction of reality (Berger, Luckman)
- Mass media, democracy, politics, public
- State, nationalism, power, coercion
- Ethnicity, nation, nation, race and migration
- Social stratification and inequality
- Poverty, social exclusion, welfare state and neo-liberalism
- Ideological and repressive apparatuses of the state (Althusser)
- Control and discipline (Foucault)
- total institutions (Goffman)
- The various forms of capital (Borudieu)
- Risk Society (Beck)
Learning and teaching methods
The course will consist of lectures, tutorials, discussions, case studies, individual and group projects, as well as individual consultations with the lecturer.
Intended learning outcomes - knowledge and understanding
Students receive knowledge about the development of the society and key social processes and systems. They get insight into the key social organizations, institutions, their relationship to society and the individual, and at the same time understand fundamental processes in these institutions. They are able to make sense of their position in the global society.
Intended learning outcomes - transferable/key skills and other attributes
Students develop the skills for understanding of social processes, they understand why certain processes take place and how are conducted. Beside of identification of the mechanisms and factors they are capable to understand the reasons for their existence and implementation. Received knowledge and skills help them to develop critical evaluation of social events and processes which exceed the analyzed cases.
Readings
- Bučar Ručman, A. (2023). Sociološke teorije v varstvoslovju: Učno gradivo. UM FVV.
- Althusser, L. (2000). Ideologija in ideološki aparati države. V Izbrani spisi. Založba /*cf.
- Bourdieu, P. (2004). Oblike kapitala. V F. Adam (ur.), Kompendij socioloških teorij. Študentska založba.
- Bučar Ručman, A. (2011). Potrošniška demokracija: analiza politično-medijskega diskurza sodobnih družb. Fakulteta za varnostne vede.
- Bučar Ručman, A. (2014). Migracije in kriminaliteta: Pogled čez meje stereotipov in predsodkov. ZRC SAZU.
- Bučar Ručman, A. (2021). Sociološki vidiki življenja in občutkov ogroženosti v ruralnih in urbanih skupnostih v Sloveniji. V G. Meško (ur.), Varnost v lokalnih skupnostih – med ruralnimi in urbanimi perspektivami (1. izd.) (str. 27–52). Univerza v Mariboru, Univerzitetna založba.
- Bučar Ručman, A. (2020). Questioning social solidarity through the perspective of parking violations in spaces reserved for disabled people. Current sociology, 68(7), 990–1006.
- Foucault, M. (2004). Disciplina. V M. Foucault, Nadzorovanje in kaznovanje: nastanek zapora. Krtina.
- Giddens, A. (2006). Sociology. Polity Press.
- Goffman, E. (2019). Azili: eseji o socialni situaciji duševnih bolnikov in drugih zaprtih varovancev. Založba /*cf.
- Wallerstein, I. (2006). Uvod v analizo svetovnih sistemov. Založba /*cf.
Additional information on implementation and assessment /