What is the link between individual destiny and wider global patterns? What shapes an individual’s opportunities and expectations? How can we gain insights into these kinds of questions? The aim of the module is to introduce students to basic sociological concepts and theories in search of answers to questions such as these. We will learn about key figures such as Durkheim, Weber, Marx, Du Bois, Gramsci, Foucault, and Edward Said, and explore sociological topics including racism, class, gender, intersectionality, culture, hegemony, orientalism, and postcolonial theory.
Throughout the sessions, we will use the sociological imagination to examine contemporary real-life case studies through these theories. By the end of the module, students will have a solid understanding of the essence, primary perspectives, and themes of sociology and will be able to identify possible directions for further sociological research.
