Graduate School for Social Research Theories of Social Differentiation and Social Change Syllabus*

Transcription

1 Graduate School for Research Theories of Change Syllabus* Instructors: Prof. Dr. hab. Kazimierz M. Slomczynski, Dr. Joshua K. Dubrow, and Dr. Irina Tomescu-Dubrow Place: Graduate School for Research, Palac Staszica, Nowy Swiat 72, Warsaw, Room 242 Time: Wednesdays, 13:00 14:30 Course Website: Office Hours: Course Description: Wednesdays, Room 211 Palac Staszica, 14:30-15:30, and by appointment This course is designed to cover the major theoretical traditions that studies of social differentiation, and of social, economic and political change. We take an interdisciplinary approach focusing on sociology, political science, economy, and philosophy, among others, to identify the dominant paradigms, examine various sub-theories of each, and contrast perspectives with one another. To guide students understanding and use of theory, we will examine historical and contemporary issues in social differentiation and macro-social change. Through its focus on comparison and synthesis, this course should heighten students ability to critically evaluate contemporary theories of social change, and to build them into their own research. Basic outline of the course: 1. The Epistemology of Science 2. Basic Issues in Theories of Change 3. Directions of Change: Lines, Cycles, Stages and Branches 4. Mobility, Industrialization and Convergence 5. (a) Positivist and Idealist Theories (b) Functionalist vs. Conflict Theories (c) Movements (d) Psychological Modernization (e) World Systems Theory (f) Diffusion (g) Revolutions 6. Historicism and Counterfactuals 7. Dependency, Modernization and Globalization * We thank Edward Crenshaw, Professor of Sociology, The Ohio State University, for his valuable insights in setting up the structure of this course. 1

2 Course Requirements and Evaluation: Three critical assessment papers (15% each): These are relatively short papers (5-6 pages, double spaced) with preset questions based on the readings. The purpose is to intellectually engage the student in summarizing and critically evaluating the readings. Term paper (35%): This final paper (7-12 pages, double spaced) can take one of three forms: (1) A book review of a theoretically driven work on social differentiation and social change; (2) a review of three or more articles on a substantively similar theoretical problem in social differentiation and social change from high quality peer-reviewed academic journals; or (3) an original work of the student that uses theories of social differentiation and social change in preparation of dissertation or journal publication. Class participation (20%): Students are expected to discuss all of the assigned readings on the due date and to participate in in-class discussions and projects. Each week, two students will be designated as discussion leaders, whose job is to provide a short summary of the required readings and at least one debatable issue stemming from these readings. These are not written assignments (i.e., they do not have to be submitted in written form) but the oral presentation must reflect the discussion leaders scrupulous preparation based on the readings. Policies on Attendance, Late Materials, and Make-Ups: We expect everyone to show up to class on time. During class, cell phones and other electronic devices with noise-capacity must be turned off. We will make exceptions to this rule if you explain why you need them turned on during class. You must inform us of this reason before class begins. Please remember to be courteous and polite to one another during heated discussions. We will be with each other for four months and we all need a healthy and comfortable classroom environment to learn and discuss issues. Assignments are to be turned in electronically, via (tomescu.1@sociology.osu.edu; jdubrow2000@yahoo.com) by the specified deadline. We accept late materials only if we are notified 24 hours prior to the deadline. Late writing assignments will be assessed a penalty of 10% off per day. For ed assignments: it is the responsibility of the student to be sure that the instructor receives it. 2

3 Detailed Course Outline and Course Readings Course readings are available at the library of the Graduate School for Research. Readings marked with an R are REQUIRED, or mandatory readings. Those with OP are optional or non-mandatory readings. Students are expected to have read at least the REQUIRED readings on the date they are assigned. Week Topic Readings The Epistemology of Science 1 October 6 OP -- Merton, Robert K Theory and Structure. Glencoe, IL: Free Press, pp OP -- Fritz Machlup Are the Sciences Really Inferior? Pp in Readings in the Philosophy of Science, edited by Michael Martin and Lee C. McIntyre. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. 2 October 13 3 October 20 4 October 27 5 November 3 Overview: Basic Issues in Theories of Change Directions of Change: Lines, Cycles, Stages and Branches Part I: Preindustrial to Industrial Society Directions of Change: Lines, Cycles, Stages and Branches Part II: The Role of Elites Mobility, Industrialization and Convergence R -- Sztompka, Piotr The Sociology of Change. Oxford: Blackwell (Chapters 1 and 2). R Luhmann, Niklas The Paradox of System the Evolution of Society. Pp in Differentiation Theory and Comparative and Historical Perspectives, edited by Jeffrey C. Alexander and Paul Colomy, New York: Columbia University. OP Eisenstadt, Shmuel Change, Differentiation, and Evolution. American Sociological Review 29 (3): R Lenski, Gerhard Power and Privilege: A Theory of Stratification. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. Chapters 1 and 3. R -- Diamond, Jared A Natural Experiment of History, pp in Guns, Germs and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies. New York: W. W. Norton & Co. OP -- Sanderson, Stephen K. and Arthur S. Alderson Chapters 3 4, pp in World Societies: The Evolution of Human Life. R Higley, John Elite Theory in Political Sociology. Paper presented at International Political Science Association annual meeting, Montreal, Canada. R Szelenyi, Ivan and Szonja Szelenyi Circulation or Reproduction of Elites during the Postcommunist Transformation of Eastern Europe. Theory and Society 24(5). OP -- Eyal et al Making Capitalism without Capitalists in Stratification: Class, Race, and Gender in Sociological Perspective, edited by David B. Grusky. CO: Westview Press. R Treiman, Donald J Industrialization and Stratification. Sociological Inquiry 40 (2): R Gagliani, Giorgio Long-term changes in the occupational structure European Sociological Review 1(3): R Domanski, Henryk On the Verge of Convergence: Stratification in Eastern Europe. Budapest: Central European University Press. Selected chapters. 3

4 6 November 10 7 November 17 8 November 24 9 December 8 Idealist and Positivist Theories; Functionalist vs. Conflict Theories Movements Psychological Modernization Idealist Theories OP -- Kazimierz M. Slomczynski, Krystyna Janicka, Goldie Shabad, and Irina Tomescu-Dubrow Changes in Class Structure in Poland, : Crystallization of the Winners Losers Divide Polish Sociological Review 1(157): OP Firebaugh, Glenn The Trend in Between-Nation Income Inequality. Annual Review of Sociology 26: R -- Davis, Kingsley and Wilbert Moore Some Principles of Stratification. American Sociological Review 10(2): R Tumin, Melvin Some Principles of Stratification: A Critical Analysis. American Sociological Review 18(4): R Davis, Kinglsey Reply: Some Principles of Stratification: A Critical Analysis. American Sociological Review 18(4): R Moore, Wilbert Comment: Some Principles of Stratification: A Critical Analysis. American Sociological Review 18(4): 397. (yes, it is only two paragraphs long) OP Hauhart, Robert C The Davis-Moore Theory of Stratification: The Life Course of a ly Constructed Classic. The American Sociologist 34(4): R -- Piven, Frances Fox and Richard A. Cloward Rule Making, Rule Breaking, and Power. Pp in The Handbook of Political Sociology: States, Civil Societies, and Globalization edited by Thomas Janoski, Robert Alford, Alexander Hicks, and Mildred A. Schwartz. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. R Jenkins, J. Craig and William Form Movements and Change, pp in The Handbook of Political Sociology: States, Civil Societies and Globalization, edited by Thomas Janoski, Robert Alford, Alexander Hicks and Mildred A. Schwartz. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. R -- Sztompka, Piotr The Sociology of Change. Oxford: Blackwell (Chapter 5 and 16). R Coleman, James, S Foundation of Theory. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press (Chapter 1: Metatheory: Explanation in Science, pp OP -- Boudon, Raymond Theories of A Critical R Inglehart, Ronald. Modernization and Postmodernization. Princeton: Princeton Univerity Press (Chapters 1 and 2). R -- Huntington, Samuel A Clash of Civilizations? Foreign Affairs 72: OP -- Boudon, Raymond Theories of A Critical 10 Historicism and R -- Sztompka, Piotr The Sociology of Change. Oxford: 4

5 December 15 Counterfactuals Blackwell (Chapters 12-15, 18). R Goldthorpe, John H On Sociology. Volume One. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press (Chapter 2). OP -- Boudon, Raymond Theories of A Critical 11 January 5 12 January January January January 28 World Systems Theory Diffusion Revolutions Globalization and Transnationalism Conclusion of the Course R Chase-Dunn, Christopher and Peter Grimes World Systems Analysis. Annual Review of Sociology 21: R Sanderson, Stephen K World Systems Analysis after Thirty Years: Should It Rest in Peace? International Journal of Comparative Sociology 46(3): R -- Rogers, Everett M. Diffusion of Innovations, 5th Edition. New York: Free Press. (Chapter 1). R Wejnert, Barbara Diffusion, Development and Democracy, American Sociological Review 1(70): R -- Sztompka, Piotr The Sociology of Change. Oxford: Blackwell (Chapter 20). R Skocpol, Theda States and Revolutions: A Comparative Analysis of France, Russia and China. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Chapter 1. OP -- Kriesberg, Louis Constructive Conflicts: From Escalation to Resolution, 2nd Edition. New York: Rowman and Littlefield (selected chapters). OP -- Tilly, Charles. From Mobilization to Revolution, Reading, MA: Addison'Wesley, 1986 (selected chapters). R- IMF Staff Globalization: A Brief Overview R Goldhorpe, John H On Sociology. Volume One. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press (Chapter 5). R - Meyer, John W, John Boli, Gorge M. Thomas, and Francisco O. Ramirez World Society and the Nation-State. Pp in Transnational Studies: Reader, edited by Sanjeev Khagram and Peggy Levitt. New York: Routledge. R - Portes, Alejandro, Luis Eduardo Guarnizo, and Patricia Landolt The Study of Transnationalism: Pitfalls and Promise of an Emergent Research Field. Pp in Transnational Studies: Reader, edited by Sanjeev Khagram and Peggy Levitt. New York: Routledge. None 5