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Sociology
612: Contemporary
Sociology Theory
THE SYLLABUS
Required Books:
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Craig Calhoun, et al (eds.)
Contemporary Sociological Theory (Oxford: Basil
Blackwell, 2002. (Available on Amazon and at UHM bookstore.) |
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C. Wright Mills, The Sociological
Imagination (Oxford University Press, 2000). |
There will be a variety of internet materials, as indicated in
the syllabus.
January 15 Introduction
The goals of the course; what is expected of me;
what is expected of you. (Some of you may find the
Glossary helpful for this course.)
January 22 After
Parsons
Read: Talcott Parsons, "Toward a
General Theory of Action" (handout); this site: "Parson's
Glossary," "Structural
Functionalism," "Conflict
Theories," "Power
and Authority," C.W. Mills, The Sociological Imagination.
Excerpts from The Power Elite http:/www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Book_Excerpts/PowerElite.html
January 29
Institutional Analysis
Read Calhoun, Part III. Optional: this cite "Historical
Sociology"
February 5, 12
Micro-Sociology
Read: Calhoun, Part I; Garfinkel
(1996)
My Web: "Agent-Centered
Theory," Schutz
and Schutz handout
"Garfinkel
Glossary," Optional: "Mead
Glossary,"
`
Mead:
Social Behaviorism, Denzin,
"A
Proposed Synthesis," Maynard and Clayman "The Diversity of
Ethnomethodology." Mehan
and Wood (Handout).
February 19
Exchange and Rational Choice Theory
Read: Calhoun, Part II, RCT:
Review
February 26
Neo-Marxism/Post-Marxism
Read: Manicas, This site, "Varieties
of Marxism," "Structure
and Culture" A Critique of Stuart Hall." Calhoun, Part VIII
(Habermas);. Marx site: Sayer, Nicholson, Marcuse, Jameson, Adorno, Althusser.
March 4
Bourdieu
Read: Calhoun,
Part VI
March 11, 18 Giddens
Read: Calhoun, Part V; . This
site, Manicas: "Giddens's Integration."
"Empirical
Research and Structuration Theory."
April 1
Foucault and Post-Modernism
Read: Manicas, "Postmodernity:
Preliminaries,"
"Postmodern
Theory." Calhoun, Part IV; Bauman, pp. 429-440;
Manicas, "The Social Sciences: Who Needs
'Em?" Hacking,
"Michel
Foucault's Immature Science.
April 8, 15
Social Construction: Race, Gender and Difference
Read: Calhoun, Part VII; Cerulo,
"Identity Construction." "The Cyborg Culture and Fractured Identities"
(handout); Judith Butler, "Imitation and Gender
Insubordination" (handout);
April 22, 29
Explanation and Quantitative Methods
Read: Margaret
Somers, "We're no Angels;"
Manicas, "Explanation and Quantification,"
and "Understanding and Typical
Action;" "Agents and Generative Mechanisms."
Reference:
Not Required. In addition to additional primary reading of key
authors, two recent and very useful anthologies may be mentioned:
- Bryan S. Turner (ed.), The
Blackwell Companion to Social Theory, 2nd Edition (Oxford:
Basil Blackwell, 2000).
- Anthony Elliot (ed.), The
Blackwell Reader in Contemporary Social Theory (Oxford: Basil
Blackwell, 1999).
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