| EUROPEAN UNION RELATIONS | |||||
| Bachelor | TR-NQF-HE: Level 6 | QF-EHEA: First Cycle | EQF-LLL: Level 6 | ||
| Course Code | Course Name | Semester | Theoretical | Practical | Credit | ECTS |
| SOC4007 | Contemporary Sociological Theories | Fall | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| This catalog is for information purposes. Course status is determined by the relevant department at the beginning of semester. |
| Language of instruction: | English |
| Type of course: | Non-Departmental Elective |
| Course Level: | Bachelor’s Degree (First Cycle) |
| Mode of Delivery: | Hybrid |
| Course Coordinator : | Assoc. Prof. ULAŞ SUNATA ÖZDEMİR |
| Course Lecturer(s): |
Dr. Öğr. Üyesi KAYA AKYILDIZ Assoc. Prof. ULAŞ SUNATA ÖZDEMİR Dr. Öğr. Üyesi AYŞEGÜL AKDEMİR Prof. Dr. AYŞE NİLÜFER NARLI Prof. Dr. İPEK ALTINBAŞAK FARİNA |
| Recommended Optional Program Components: | "." |
| Course Objectives: | The course is designed to make students familiar with recent theories, issues, and debates in the field of contemporary social and critical theory. It presents a critical review of contemporary sociological theoretical positions by way of examining major themes. |
|
The students who have succeeded in this course; 1) Recall Freud, Nietzche, and Marx 2) Recognize difference of postmodern social theory from classical sociological theory 3) Discuss semiotics and structuralism 4) Discuss Frankfurt School in the context of the authoritarian ideology and family 5) Discuss psychoanalysis and Lacan 6) Discuss the postmodern condition 7) Discuss deconstruction by Derrida 8) Discuss anti-oedipus by Deleuze and Guattari 9) Discuss panopticism, discipline surveillance, discourse, body and population by Foucault 10) Discuss post-feminist theory and critical theory 11) Discuss orientalism and post-colonial theory 12) Discuss globalization and post-nationalist theory |
| Special attention will be paid to some fundamental readings in the so-called “postmodern theories” concerning modernity, semiotics, unconsciousness, feminism, re-reading Nietzsche and Marx, deconstruction, orientalism, and postcolonialism. |
| Week | Subject | Related Preparation |
| 1) | Introduction to the Course: Going over the Syllabus | |
| 2) | Classical Sociological Theory | D. P. Johnson (2008) “Classical Stage European Sources of Sociological Theory”, ch 1, in D. P. Johnson Contemporary Sociological Theory: An Integrated Multi-level Approach New York: Springer. (23-51) |
| 3) | An Introduction to Postmodern Social Theory | G. Ritzer (1997) “Postmodern Social Theory, Sociology and Sociological Theory”, ch 1, in G. Ritzer Postmodern Social Theory Toronto: McGraw-Hill. (1-17) G. Ritzer (1997) “The Development of Postmodern Sociology”, ch 2, in G. Ritzer Postmodern Social Theory Toronto: McGraw-Hill. (18-36) |
| 4) | Ferdinand Saussure: Semiotics and Structuralism | Ferdinand Saussure, Selection from Course in General Linguistics (8-17, 65-9, 110-9) John E. Joseph “The Linguistic Sign”, Cambridge Companions Online, Cambridge University Press. (59-75) |
| 5) | Frankfurt School | Erich Fromm “The Method and Function of an Analytic Social Psychology”, in A. Arato and E. Gebhardt, eds., The Essential Frankfurt School Reader. (477-96) Wilhelm Reich “The Authoritarian Ideology and the Family in the Mass Psychology of Fascism”, The Mass Psychology of Fascism. (34-74) Max Horkheimer “Authoritarianism and the Family”, in R. N. Anshen, ed., The Family: Its Function and Destiny (359-74) |
| 6) | Psychoanalysis and Jaques Lacan | Kaja Silverman “The Subject”, The Subject of Semiotics. (127-193) |
| 7) | The Postmodern Condition | Thedor W. Adorno (1968) “Late Capitalism or Industrial Society?” (1-11) Fredric Jameson (1991) “Postmodernism or, The Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism” in F. Jameson Postmodernism or, The Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism Verso. (1-14) Jean-Francois Lyotard (1979) “The Postmodern Condition: A Report on Knowledge” in J.F. Lyotard The Postmodern Condition: A report on Knowledge, Manchester: Manchester University Press. (1-14) Bary Smart “The Postmodern Paradox”, Modern Conditions and Postmodern Controversies. (141-82) |
| 8) | Jacques Derrida and Deconstruction | Elizabeth Gross “Derrida and the Limits of Philosophy” (26-42) Jonathan Culler “Deconstruction”, On Deconstruction: Theory and Criticism After Structuralism. (85-110, 165-91) |
| 9) | Michel Foucault: Panopticism, Discipline, Surveillance, Discourse, Body, Population (1) | G. Ritzer (1997) “Michel Foucault Part1: Archaeology of Knowledge, Genealogy of Power” in G. Ritzer Postmodern Social Theory Toronto: McGraw-Hill. (37-62) |
| 10) | Michel Foucault: Panopticism, Discipline, Surveillance, Discourse, Body, Population (2) | G. Ritzer (1997) “Michel Foucault Part2: Sexuality, Power, and Self” in G. Ritzer Postmodern Social Theory Toronto: McGraw-Hill. (63-75) |
| 11) | Feminist Theory | Elizabeth Gross (1986) “What is Feminist Theory?”, in C. Pateman and E. Gross, eds., Feminist Challenges: Social and Political Theory Boston: Northeastern University Press. (190-204) “Feminist Theory”, in James Farganis, ed., Readings in Social Theory: The Classic Tradition to Post-Modernism (Dorothy Smith: Women’s Experience as a Radical Critique of Sociology). (376-87) Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak “Feminism and Critical Theory” In Other Worlds: Essays in Cultural Politics. (77-92) |
| 12) | Orientalism and Post-Colonial Theory (1) | Leela Gandhi “Edward Said and his Critics” Postcolonial Theory: A Critical Introduction. (64-80) |
| 13) | Orientalism and Post-Colonial Theory (2) | Leela Gandhi “Postcolonalism and Feminism” Postcolonial Theory: A Critical Introduction. (81-101) |
| 14) | Globalization and Post-Nationalism | Leela Gandhi “Imagining Community: The Question of Nationalism” Postcolonial Theory: A Critical Introduction. (102-21) Leela Gandhi “One World: The Vision of Postnationalism” Postcolonial Theory: A Critical Introduction. (122-40) |
| Course Notes / Textbooks: | Course reader will be given weekly |
| References: | D. P. Johnson (2008) “Classical Stage European Sources of Sociological Theory”, ch 1, in D. P. Johnson Contemporary Sociological Theory: An Integrated Multi-level Approach New York: Springer. (23-51) G. Ritzer (1997) “Postmodern Social Theory, Sociology and Sociological Theory”, ch 1, in G. Ritzer Postmodern Social Theory Toronto: McGraw-Hill. (1-17) G. Ritzer (1997) “The Development of Postmodern Sociology”, ch 2, in G. Ritzer Postmodern Social Theory Toronto: McGraw-Hill. (18-36) Ferdinand Saussure, Selection from Course in General Linguistics (8-17, 65-9, 110-9) John E. Joseph “The Linguistic Sign”, Cambridge Companions Online, Cambridge University Press. (59-75) Erich Fromm “The Method and Function of an Analytic Social Psychology”, in A. Arato and E. Gebhardt, eds., The Essential Frankfurt School Reader. (477-96) Wilhelm Reich “The Authoritarian Ideology and the Family in the Mass Psychology of Fascism”, The Mass Psychology of Fascism. (34-74) Max Horkheimer “Authoritarianism and the Family”, in R. N. Anshen, ed., The Family: Its Function and Destiny (359-74) Kaja Silverman “The Subject”, The Subject of Semiotics. (127-193) Thedor W. Adorno (1968) “Late Capitalism or Industrial Society?” (1-11) Fredric Jameson (1991) “Postmodernism or, The Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism” in F. Jameson Postmodernism or, The Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism Verso. (1-14) Jean-Francois Lyotard (1979) “The Postmodern Condition: A Report on Knowledge” in J.F. Lyotard The Postmodern Condition: A report on Knowledge, Manchester: Manchester University Press. (1-14) Bary Smart “The Postmodern Paradox”, Modern Conditions and Postmodern Controversies. (141-82) Elizabeth Gross “Derrida and the Limits of Philosophy” (26-42) Jonathan Culler “Deconstruction”, On Deconstruction: Theory and Criticism After Structuralism. (85-110, 165-91) Ronald Bogue “Anti-Oedipus: Nietzschean Desiring Production and the History of Representation”, Deleuze and Guattari. (83-106) Ronald Bogue “The Grand Proliferation: Regimes of Signs and Abstract Machines in Thousand Plateaus”, Deleuze and Guattari. (124-49) G. Ritzer (1997) “Michel Foucault Part1: Archaeology of Knowledge, Genealogy of Power” in G. Ritzer Postmodern Social Theory Toronto: McGraw-Hill. (37-62) G. Ritzer (1997) “Michel Foucault Part2: Sexuality, Power, and Self” in G. Ritzer Postmodern Social Theory Toronto: McGraw-Hill. (63-75) Elizabeth Gross (1986) “What is Feminist Theory?”, in C. Pateman and E. Gross, eds., Feminist Challenges: Social and Political Theory Boston: Northeastern University Press. (190-204) “Feminist Theory”, in James Farganis, ed., Readings in Social Theory: The Classic Tradition to Post-Modernism (Dorothy Smith: Women’s Experience as a Radical Critique of Sociology). (376-87) Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak “Feminism and Critical Theory” In Other Worlds: Essays in Cultural Politics. (77-92) Leela Gandhi “Edward Said and his Critics” Postcolonial Theory: A Critical Introduction. (64-80) Leela Gandhi “Postcolonalism and Feminism” Postcolonial Theory: A Critical Introduction. (81-101) Leela Gandhi “Imagining Community: The Question of Nationalism” Postcolonial Theory: A Critical Introduction. (102-21) Leela Gandhi “One World: The Vision of Postnationalism” Postcolonial Theory: A Critical Introduction. (122-40) Badiou. Ethics. Ronald Bogue “Deleuze’s Nietzsche: Thought, will to power, and the eternal return”, Deleuze and Guattari. (15-34) Friedrich Nietzsche: The Will to Power. (104-7) |
| Semester Requirements | Number of Activities | Level of Contribution |
| Attendance | 14 | % 15 |
| Homework Assignments | 10 | % 30 |
| Presentation | 1 | % 15 |
| Final | 1 | % 40 |
| Total | % 100 | |
| PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK | % 60 | |
| PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK | % 40 | |
| Total | % 100 | |
| Activities | Number of Activities | Duration (Hours) | Workload |
| Course Hours | 14 | 3 | 42 |
| Study Hours Out of Class | 14 | 2 | 28 |
| Presentations / Seminar | 1 | 12 | 12 |
| Homework Assignments | 10 | 3 | 30 |
| Paper Submission | 1 | 40 | 40 |
| Total Workload | 152 | ||
| No Effect | 1 Lowest | 2 Low | 3 Average | 4 High | 5 Highest |
| Program Outcomes | Level of Contribution | |
| 1) | To be able to examine, interpret data and assess ideas with the scientific methods in the area of EU studies. | 2 |
| 2) | To be able to inform authorities and institutions in the area of EU studies, to be able to transfer ideas and proposals supported by quantitative and qualitative data about the problems. | 2 |
| 3) | To be introduced to and to get involved in other disciplines that EU studies are strongly related with (political science, international relations, law, economics, sociology, etc.) and to be able to conduct multi-disciplinary research and analysis on European politics. | 3 |
| 4) | To be able to evaluate current news on European Union and Turkey-EU relations and identify, analyze current issues relating to the EU’s politics and policies. | 2 |
| 5) | To be able to use English in written and oral communication in general and in the field of EU studies in particular. | 1 |
| 6) | To have ethical, social and scientific values throughout the processes of collecting, interpreting, disseminating and implementing data related to EU studies. | 1 |
| 7) | To be able to assess the historical development, functioning of the institutions and decision-making system and common policies of the European Union throughout its economic and political integration in a supranational framework. | 2 |
| 8) | To be able to evaluate the current legal, financial and institutional changes that the EU is going through. | 2 |
| 9) | To explain the dynamics of enlargement processes of the EU by identifying the main actors and institutions involved and compare previous enlargement processes and accession process of Turkey. | 2 |
| 10) | To be able to analyze the influence of the EU on political, social and economic system of Turkey. | 2 |
| 11) | To acquire insight in EU project culture and to build up project preparation skills in line with EU format and develop the ability to work in groups and cooperate with peers. | 2 |
| 12) | To be able to recognize theories and concepts used by the discipline of international relations and relate them to the historical development of the EU as a unique post-War political project. | 3 |