Course Syllabus
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Faculty Webpage: Professor Danilo Mandić
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Course Information |
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SOCI S-11 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY: Perspectives on Society and the Individual |
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Harvard Summer School Summer 2021 |
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Professor: Dr. Danilo Mandic Email: mandic@fas.harvard.edu Office Hours: Monday 1:00-2:00 pm Syllabus: [right here] Teaching Fellow: Ignat Kalinov Email: kalinov@g.harvard.edu Office Hours: by appointment
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Course Description: What is society? How can we understand it? What is the role of the individual in society, and how does society affect individual lives? This course introduces students to the field of sociology. By surveying social theory as well as empirical studies, students acquire what C. Wright Mills calls the "sociological imagination": the ability to think beyond our personal lives and to connect the experiences of individuals with large social structures. The course introduces students to classical theoretical traditions of Marx, Durkheim, Weber, and Simmel, as well as their contemporary heirs. Readings include prominent empirical investigations into family dynamics, class inequalities, organizations, the nation-state, capitalism, democracy, and globalization. We examine common-sense assumptions about culture, politics, history, and psychology, and empower students to replace them with evidence-based reasoning. By emphasizing reading, writing, and critical thinking skills, this course helps students build the foundation for a deeper understanding of theory and methods in the social sciences. No previous knowledge or training required. All are welcome! Lecture slides will be uploaded weekly under "Files" in the readings' folders.
PART I. FOUNDATIONS OF SOCIOLOGY Class 2: Theoretical Inspirations Class 3: Conceptualizing Power, Culture & Society PART II. THE NATION-STATE AND ITS CHALLENGERS Class 4: The State and Social Cohesion Class 5: Nationalism, Race and Ethnic Identity PART III. CAPITALISM Class 7: Ideology, Network and Embeddedness Class 8: Welfare States & Migration PART IV. DEMOCRACY Class 9: Inequality and Stratification Class 10: Discrimination and Exclusion PART V. THE BIG PICTURE: GLOBAL PROCESSES Class 11: World System and World Society Class 12: Globalization and its Discontents PART VI. CONCLUSIONS |
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Course Summary:
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