SOC 314 - Power and Society

Political sociology is centrally concerned with political relations, policies, and practices as well as larger questions of conflict, cooperation, power, influence and authority. Its basic task is to explore the myriad of ways that different groups compete for resources and influence. This course examines the relationship between society and politics, the interactions between individuals and governments. With an awareness of agency and structure, processes of nationalism, globalization and civil society are investigated. We will consider ideology and attempt to understand political identity. We will examine power, social movements, and cultural politics. This course primarily will focus on the relationships between the U.S. and democracy both at home and abroad. Through our sociological study of politics students will gain a better understanding of the interactions amongst class, race, and gender, dictatorship and democracy, culture and mass communication, production, consumption, distribution, centralization and decentralization, competition and coalitions, power and resistance, rights and responsibilities in addition to cultural, philosophical and social concerns. This course will also examine the processes of globalization and polarization and connect these processes to meanings of citizenship and civil society.

Credits: 2
Terms Offered: Spring
Attributes: Social Science 2 (SS2)