00905 - Sociology

Academic Year 2008/2009

  • Docente: Sebastiano Porcu
  • Credits: 10
  • SSD: SPS/07
  • Language: Italian
  • Moduli: Sebastiano Porcu (Modulo 1) Paola Parmiggiani (Modulo 2)
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures (Modulo 1) Traditional lectures (Modulo 2)
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND COOPERATION (cod. 8043)

Learning outcomes

The student should be able to apply the main sociology's theoretical-methodological instruments to the analysis of contemporary society's principal processes and structures and to the analisys of the globalization, as one of the main aspects of contemporary society





Course contents

The first module (Prof. Sebastiano Porcu): a) basic discipline's knowledge and fundamental concepts through a general presentation of basic themes, language, main problems this discipline traditionally deals with, along with the main sociological currents which confront themselves about the problem of the social reality reconstruction method (in construction as well as social order changing and evolving processes); the second module (Prof. Sebastiano Porcu): the application of sociology's theoretical-methodological instruments to the analysis of society's principal processes and structures (in particular: organized groups, socialization processes, normative processes and deviation, religious phenomenon, scientific and technological progress, family and relatives structures, social stratification systems and social mobility dynamics, economy's and politics' social systems, social movements); the third module (Prof. Paola Parmiggiani): the analysis of a one main aspect of contemporary society, globalization, that it is increasingly occupying the centre of sociological debates. The study of following topics: social interaction; gender and sexuality; work; mass media and communications; education.

Readings/Bibliography

1. Wallace R.A.- Wolf A., La teoria sociologica contemporanea, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2008 (capp.1-6.);

2. Giddens A., Fondamenti di sociologia, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2006;

3. one of the following texts:

-       Bauman Z., Dentro la globalizzazione: le conseguenze sulle persone, Laterza, Roma-Bari, 2001.

-       Beck U., Che cos'è la globalizzazione: rischi e prospettive della società planetaria, Carocci, Roma, 1999.

-       Sen A., Globalizzazione e libertà, Mondadori, Milano, 2002.

-       Singer P., One world. L'etica della globalizzazione, Einaudi, Torino, 2003.

-       Stiglitz J., La globalizzazione e i suoi oppositori, Einaudi, Torino, 2003.

Teaching methods

Lessons of the teachers, seminaries, discussions and comparisons with the students.

Assessment methods

An oral exam or an written test (multiple choice).

Teaching tools

Photocopies, Video-projector, PC, white board.

Office hours

See the website of Sebastiano Porcu

See the website of Paola Parmiggiani