Prof Suki Ali

This course is compulsory on the BSc in Language, Culture and Society and BSc in Sociology. This course is available on the BA in Geography, BA in Social Anthropology, BSc in Politics, BSc in Politics and International Relations and BSc in Social Anthropology. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit and to General Course students.

This course has a limited number of places (it is capped). Students who have this course as a compulsory course are guaranteed a place. Places for all other students are allocated on a first come first served basis.

The course provides an introduction to key areas of theory and analysis in contemporary sociology. Students will gain an understanding of critical research and debates within the discipline, and of how sociology engages with topical real-world issues. The course centres on the ways in which power relations, social and economic inequalities, forms of identity and difference are shaped in contemporary societies – focusing on both formal political and socio-economic structures and everyday experiences and identities. These issues include: class, capitals and social mobility; race, ethnicity and multi-culturalism; gender and sexual identities; politics, social movements and the nation-state.

This course is delivered through a combination of lectures, online materials and classes totalling a minimum of 40 hours across AT and WT, with revision sessions in ST.

Reading Weeks: Students on this course will have a reading week in AT Week 6 and WT Week 6, in line with departmental policy.

Two formative essays in AT, one formative essay in WT. 

M. Savage (2015) Social Class in the 21st Century; B. Skeggs (1997) Formations of Class and Gender; L Back and J Solomos (Eds) (2000) Theories of Race and Racism: A Reader; A Gutmann (Ed) (1994) Multiculturalism: Examining the Politics of Recognition; K Woodward (Ed) (2004) Questioning Identity: Gender, Class and Ethnicity; Hill-Collins, P (1986), ‘Learning from the Outsider Within: The Sociological Significance of Black Feminist Thought’ in S Jackson & S Scott (Eds) (2002) Gender: A Sociological Reader; G Bhattacharyya (2002) Sexuality and Society; West, Candace, and Don H. Zimmerman (1987) ‘Doing Gender’ Gender & Society 1 (2): 125-51; B Anderson (1983) Imagined Communities; E Gellner (1983) Nations and Nationalism; M. Flinders (2012) Defending Politics: Why Democracy Matters in the Twenty-First Century.

Exam (70%, duration: 3 hours) in the spring exam period.
Essay (30%, 3000 words) in the ST.

Attendance at all classes is required and submission of all set coursework is compulsory.