SOCIOLOGY
Bachelor	TR-NQF-HE: Level 6	QF-EHEA: First Cycle	EQF-LLL: Level 6

Course Introduction and Application Information

Course Code	Course Name	Semester	Theoretical	Practical	Credit	ECTS
SOC2002	Rural Sociology	Spring	3	0	3	6

This catalog is for information purposes. Course status is determined by the relevant department at the beginning of semester.

Basic information

Language of instruction:	English
Type of course:	Departmental Elective
Course Level:	Bachelor’s Degree (First Cycle)
Mode of Delivery:	Face to face
Course Coordinator :	Instructor İLHAN ZEYNEP KARAKILIÇ
Recommended Optional Program Components:	"."
Course Objectives:	This course is an introduction to Rural Sociology, and is particularly aimed at giving students the tools necessary for understanding different mechanisms at work in rural areas especially in Turkey. Rural Sociology focuses on the specific characteristics of rural areas, capitalist expansion into rural areas, petty commodity production, rural development. It tries to understand how sociological processes and factors operate in rural areas and transform social relations. The course first introduces students the concept of sociological imagination and rural sociology. Then, it focuses on the expansion of capitalist relations into Anatolian rural areas and its transformation through history of the Turkish Republic until now. Lastly, in order to understand contemporary developments about rural life in general, it highlights the importance of food systems and urban agriculture. At the end of the course students will able to relate basic sociological concepts with rural lives and their transformations in Turkey and conceptualize rural issues with the help of sociological perspectives.

Learning Outcomes

The students who have succeeded in this course;
During the class, the students will learn about:
-scope and definition of rural sociology
- emergence of capitalist agriculture and its expansion into Turkey
- agricultural policies and their implications in Turkey through the Turkish Republic
- transformation of agricultural policies and the implications of this transformation
- working of food systems
- the concept of urban agriculture
- current developments related agriculture and technology

Course Content

This course aims to understand the basic concepts of rural sociology and the historical, social and economic transformations of this field. Students have the opportunity to examine how rural areas have been affected by the emergence and development of capitalist agriculture and how the agricultural structure has transformed in the case of Turkey. The course addresses the effects of neoliberal policies on rural poverty and the repercussions of globalization on agricultural production and food systems. Covering both classical and contemporary literature, the course content focuses on assessing agriculture and food systems in terms of sustainability, security and equity. Through activities such as film screenings and report presentations, students are expected to develop critical thinking and analysis skills. Overall, the course provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the changing dynamics of rural communities from a sociological perspective.
The teaching methods of this course are cooperative learning, lecture, reading, discussion and other methods.

Weekly Detailed Course Contents

Week	Subject	Related Preparation
1)	Meeting with the class, introduction of the course syllabus and course material.	Discussing our ideas / stereotypes about "the rural"
2)	What is rurality?
3)	Birth of the capitalist agriculture and its expansion into Anatolia
4)	Transformation of agriculture in Turkey 1
5)	Transformation of agriculture in Turkey 2
6)	Transformation in agriculture in Turkey 3
7)	Midterm
8)	Gender in rural Turkey
9)	Aging in rural Turkey
10)	Seasonal Agricultural Workers in Turkey
11)	Food Systems
12)	Urban Agriculture
13)	Agriculture 4.0
14)	Wrap up and term paper submission

Sources

Course Notes / Textbooks:

Mills, C.W. (1959). “Appendix: On Intellectual Craftsmanship” in the Sociological Imagination. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Pp. 195-227.

Bourdieu, P. (1999). “Understanding” in Bourdieu P. et al ed. the Weight of the World: Suffering in Contemporary Society. Stanford: Stanford University Press. Pp.607-629.

*Hillyard, S. (2007). “A Problem in Search of Discipline” in S. Hillyard (eds), the Sociology of Rural Life, Oxford and New York, Berg, 2007. Pp 6-26.

Lobao,L. (2007). “Rural Sociology” in C.D. Bryant and D.L. Peck (eds) 21st Century Sociology: A Reference Handbook, Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publication, 2007. Pp 265-275.

Borras Jr., S.M. (2009). “Agrarian Change and Peasant Studies: Changes, Continuities, and Challenges- an Introduction”, the Journal of Peasant Studies, 36(1): 5-31.

*Bernstein, H. (2010). “Introduction: the Political Economy of Agrarian Change”, “Production and Productivity” “Origins and Early Development of Capitalism” in Class Dynamics of Agrarian Change. Halifax, Winnipeg, Sterling: Fernwood Publishing, Kumarian Press. Pp. 1-37.

Keyder, Ç. (1987). “Before Capitalist Incorporation” in State and Class in Turkey, A Study in Capitalist Development, London and New York: Verso. Pp 7-25.

*Keyder, Ç. (1993). “Petty Commodity Production in Agriculture” in P. Stirling (eds) Culture and Economy: Changes in Turkish Village. Cambridgeshire: the Eothen Press. Pp 171-187.

Köymen, O. (1999) “Cumhuriyet Döneminde Tarımsal Yapı ve Tarım Politikaları” in Oya Baydar (eds) 75. Yılda Köylerden Şehirlere, Türkiye Ekonomik ve Toplumsal Tarih Vakfı Yayınları: İstanbul. Pp 1-30.

*Keyder, Ç. (1983). “Paths of Rural Transformation in Turkey,”, Journal of Peasant Studies, 11(1): 34-49

Boran, B. (1999) “Toplumsal Yapı Araştırmaları: İki Köy Çeşidinin Mukayeseli Tetkiki” in Oya Baydar (eds) 75. Yılda Köylerden Şehirlere, Türkiye Ekonomik ve Toplumsal Tarih Vakfı Yayınları: İstanbul. Pp 141-150.

Kıray, M. (1999) “Sosyo-Ekonomik Hayatın Değişen Düzeni: Dört Köyün Monografik Karşılaştırılması” Oya Baydar (eds) 75. Yılda Köylerden Şehirlere, Türkiye Ekonomik ve Toplumsal Tarih Vakfı Yayınları: İstanbul. Pp 151-162.

*Aydın, Z. (2010) “Neo-Liberal Transformation of Turkish Agriculture,” Journal of Agrarian Change, 10:2, 149-187.

Keyder, Ç. and Z. Yenal, (2011) “Agrarian Change under Globalization: Markets and Insecurity in Turkish Agriculture,” Journal of Agrarian Change, 11(1): 60–86.
Karakılıç, İ.Z. (2021). “Social Memory of the Greek-Turkish Population Exchange in Daily Life: A Case Study of a Tobacco-Producing Village in Turkey”, Sociologia Ruralis, 61(4):96-115.

*Gülçubuk, B. and N. Aluftekin (2006), “Impact of International Agricultural Policies on Rural Poverty in Turkey”, International Business and Economics Research Journal, 5(1): 9-18.

Öztürk, M. (2012). “Turkey’s Experience”, “Conclusion on Agriculture, Rural Life and Poverty in Turkey During the Age of Neo-Liberalism” in M. Öztürk, Agriculture, Peasantry and Poverty in Turkey in the Neo-Liberal Age, Wageningen: Wageningen Academic Publishers. Pp 179-205.

*Yenal D. and Z. Yenal. (1993). “The Changing World Food Order: The Case of Turkey,” New Perspectives on Turkey, 9: 20-46.

Koç, M., MacRea R., Mougeot, L.J.A. and J. Welsh (1999). “Introduction: Food Security is a Global Concern” in Koç, M., MacRea R., Mougeot, L.J.A. and J. Welsh ed. For Hunger-Proof Cities, Ottowa: International Development Research Center. 1-11.

Blay-Palmer, A. and B. Donald (2008). “Food Fear: Making Connections” in A. Blay-Palmer ed. Food Fears: From Industrial to Sustainable Food Systems. Hampshire: Ashgate. Pp:1-11.

*FAO (2018). Sustainable Food Systems, Concept and Frameworks. FAO. Pp 1-8.

Blay-Palmer, A. and B. Donald (2008). “Growing Distance: the Separation of Farmers, Ecologies and Eaters” and “Creating Mutual Food Systems” in A. Blay-Palmer ed. Food Fears: From Industrial to Sustainable Food Systems. Hampshire: Ashgate. Pp:61-87 and 133-155.

*Mougeot, L.J.A. (2005). “Introduction” in Mougeot, L.J.A. ed. Agropolis. Ottowa: International Development Research Center. Pp.1-31.

Davidson, D.J. (2017). “Is Urban Agriculture a Game Changer or Window Dressing? A Critical Analysis of Its Potential to Disrupt Conventional Agri-Food Systems”, International Journal of Sociology of Agriculture and Food, 23(3):67-76.

References:

Additional readings will be announced.

Evaluation System

Semester Requirements	Number of Activities	Level of Contribution
Homework Assignments	5	% 25
Midterms	1	% 35
Final	1	% 40
Total		% 100
PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK		% 60
PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK		% 40
Total		% 100

ECTS / Workload Table

Activities	Number of Activities	Duration (Hours)	Workload
Course Hours	14	3	42
Study Hours Out of Class	14	3	42
Quizzes	5	1	5
Midterms	1	20	20
Final	1	41	41
Total Workload			150

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

No Effect	1 Lowest	2 Low	3 Average	4 High	5 Highest

	Program Outcomes	Level of Contribution
1)	To learn and compare major sociology perspectives, both classical and contemporary, and apply all of them to analysis of social conditions.	3
2)	To be able to identify the basic methodological approaches in building sociological and anthropological knowledge at local and global levels	2
3)	To be able to use theoretical and applied knowledge acquired in the fields of statistics in social sciences.	1
4)	To have a basic knowledge of other disciplines (including psychology, history, political science, communication studies and literature) that can contribute to sociology and to be able to make use of this knowledge in analyzing sociological processes	3
5)	To have a knowledge and practice of scientific and ethical principles in collecting, interpreting and publishing sociological data also develop ability how to share this data with experts and lay people, using effective communication skills	3
6)	To develop competence in analyzing and publishing sociological knowledge by using computer software for quantitative and qualitative analysis; and develop an attitute for learning new techniques in these fields.	2
7)	To identify and to have a knowledge of the theories related to urban and rural sociology and demography, and political sociology, sociology of gender, sociology of body, visual sociology, sociology of work, sociology of religion, sociology of knowledge and sociology of crime.	4
8)	To have knowledge of how sociology is positioned as a scientific discipline from a philosophical and historical perspective	1
9)	To have the awareness of social issues in Turkish society, to develop critical perspective in analysing these issues and to have a knowledge of the works of Turkish sociologists and to be able to transfer this knowledge	3
10)	To have the awareness of social issues and global societal processes and to apply sociological analysis to development and social responsibility projects	3
11)	To have the ability to define a research question, design a research project and complete a written report for various fields of sociology, either as an individual or as a team member.	2
12)	To be able to transfer the knowledge gained in the areas of sociology to the level of secondary school.	1