Saint-Louis University - Bruxelles
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SPOL1210 - Political sociology



Credits : 5

Lecturer :
Mode of delivery :
Face-to-face , second term, 30 hours of theory.

Timetable :
Second term
Monday from 17:15 to 19:15

Language of instruction :
French.

Learning outcomes :
This introductory course aims at providing the students with a good overview of contemporary political sociology, of its main issues and currents of thought. The great authors and paradigms of this sub-discipline of sociology, which is closely connected to political science, will be dealt with. For each sub-field of political sociology, classic works and contemporary studies will be presented and analysed in some detail.

Prerequisites :
For the Bachelor in Law :

For the Bachelor in Information and Communication :
  or the courses :
  ESPO1160 - Sociology

For the Bachelor in Philosophy :
  or the courses :
  ESPO1160 - Sociology

For the Bachelor in Political Sciences: General :
  or the courses :
  ESPO1160 - Sociology

For the Bachelor in Political Sciences: General (Evening Programme) :

For the Bachelor in Sociology and Anthropology :
  or the courses :
  ESPO1160 - Sociology


Co-requisites :
None

Course contents :
After a general introduction on what makes political sociology a hybrid discipline, which uses the sociological method to study political phenomena, the course is divided into three main parts, in order to give a good overview of classic and contemporary works. Among the issues to be dealt with in class are: the state and the market, the determinants of voting behaviour, elite theory, political socialization, deliberative democracy...

Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
Lecture with Powerpoint presentation. The active participation of students is most welcome. A course syllabus is made available at the start of the second term. While it contains an outline and brief summaries of the topics covered, much of the theoretical discussion and case study examples will not be included. Class attendance course is therefore strongly recommended.

Furthermore, students are required to read a book (or several articles) in political sociology. Each year, a new list of readings (or book) is selected by the lecturer, and is part of the material to be studied for the exam.


Assessment methods and criteria :
If possible with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic, the exam will take the form of a written examination (closed book) that will take place in Saint-Louis classrooms (i.e. NOT online). It will include two types of questions:
1) one question on the required readings (book or articles)
2) several questions on the course material itself (theories, authors, historical facts, etc.).

If and only if a written examination in Saint-Louis proves impossible due to the COVID-19 pandemic the exam will take the form of an online test on Moodle. It will include two types of questions:
1) at least one question on the required readings (book or articles)
2) at least one question of reflection on the course material itself (theories, authors, historical facts, etc.).





Recommended or required reading :
Students are required to read a book (or several articles) in political sociology. Each year, a new list of readings (or book) is selected by the lecturer, and is part of the material to be studied for the exam. References for further reading are included in the syllabus, for information only.