Module overview
This module is concerned with the development of modern societies and the nature of 'modernity'. It will draw on the writings of contemporary sociologists in order to consider what the most important processes of social change taking place are and how these have come about.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Evaluating competing models and explanations of the development of different types of modern society.
- Identifying the distinctive contribution made by the comparative perspective to sociological analysis.
- Employ the comparative method in the analysis of social phenomena.
- Synthesise and summarise information from a variety of sources.
- Reflecting critically on the role of sociologists in predicting and contributing to processes of social change.
- Describing and assessing key concepts and theoretical perspectives used in the analysis of the development of modern societies and the nature of modernity.
- Draw on different types of evidence in the development of an argument.
Syllabus
Theoretical analysis of the patterns of social structure and the nature of power within western capitalist, post-communist and underdeveloped countries will be complemented by historical and international comparisons, and by an examination of the meanings of ‘development’, ‘industrialisation’, ‘democratisation’ and ‘globalisation’. In addition, the practical role of sociologists in applying sociological theory by predicting and contributing to processes of social change will be discussed
Learning and Teaching
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Teaching | 25 |
| Independent Study | 125 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Textbooks
Lange, Matthew (2013). Comparative-Historical Methods. Sage.
Adams, Clemens and Orloff (eds) (2005). Remaking Modernity. Politics, History and Sociology. Duke.
Bhambra, Gurminder (2014). Connected Sociologies. Bloomsbury.
Roberts & Hite (eds) (2000). From Modernizaton to Globalization. Perspectives on Development and Social Change.. Blackwell.
Steinmetz (ed) (2013). Sociology and Empire. The Imperial Entanglement of a Discipline. Duke.
G Crow (2997). Comparative Sociology and Social Theory. Macmillan.
Mahoney & Ruschemeyer (eds) (2003). Compartive Historical Analysis in the Social Sciences. Cambridge.
Assessment
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Assessed written tasks | 30% |
| Analytical essay | 70% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Analytical essay | 70% |
| Assessed written tasks | 30% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External