GENERAL SOCIOLOGY

In an interdisciplinary perspective, the course includes a presentation of the main institutional issues of Sociology, in order to allow students to acquire theoretical and methodological skills that enable them to analyze and interpret social processes characterizing contemporary society. In this respect, the course offers students the theoretical coordinates for an analytical sociological study of the constitutive characters of social system, and, in particular, the theoretical coordinates in order to interpret: 1) the processes of differentiation and social inequality (gender, racial, and ethnic differentiation), according to the main sociological theories explaining these processes and their configuration in contemporary society, and

2) the processes of social inclusion and integration of cultural differences in our modern globalized society.

The acquired knowledge will enable the student to carry out a theoretical-critical analysis and empirical research on the addressed social issues.

1 The course includes two parts:

1) The first part reflects on the following institutional topics: object and origin of Sociology; the main dilemmas of sociological analysis: order, change, conflict, action and structure; micro and macro sociology; modern society and culture of modernity; the elementary forms of interaction; social action, social relationship and interaction; systems of interaction and interdependence; status and roles; social groups and their properties; networks and social capital; the power and authority concept; bureaucratic organizations and their disfunctions; elements of culture and their implications for social action; values, norms and institutions; identity and socialization; communication; religion and society; gender differentiation and inequality; racial and ethnic differentiation and inequality; social change and the process of globalization.

2) the second part regards Social Inclusion and Social Integration issues in our multi-ethnic modern society. It reflects on the main patterns of relationships with cultural minorities: enslavement, genocide, transfer, assimilation, pluralism, multiculturalism (in communitarian and plural version) and interculturalism. In particular, we will examine the different conceptions of the foundations of social solidarity underlying the current social inclusion models and their respective implications in reference to social integration processes, in the face of migratory flows constantly increasing and especially in the face of Muslim migration. In this respect, the course reflects on the relationship between Western cultural identity principles (pluralism, individual rights, democracy, secularism) and the Islamic cultural identity (absence of secularism, collective rights, holistic individualism) with its fundamentalist drift. Finally, it compares the multiculturalist social integration perspective of Islamic neo-traditionalism with the pluralist vision of Liberal Islam, emphasizing their implications on social integration processes.

1st part

Bagnasco A., Barbagli M., Cavalli A., Corso di Sociologia, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2012: Introduzione (pp.15-32), Cap. II (pp.70-79), III (pp.83-104), IV (105-120), V (pp.123-142), VI (143-158), X (232-252), XIII (pp-307-332), XV (pp.357-377), XXIV (pp. 609-614, 628-635).

 

For communication issues:

Livolsi M., Manuale di Sociologia della Comunicazione, Laterza, Roma, 2004, from Introduzione to p. 47.

Additional teaching materials will be distributed during the lessons. These materials can be available on STUDIUM or can be provided directly by the teacher during lessons.

 

Suggested readings

Connell R., Questioni di genere, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2009 (Pages: 250 p.)

Mancini P., Manuale della comunicazione pubblica, Laterza, Roma, 2002 (Pages: 239 p.)

Pace E., Guolo R., I Fondamentalismi, Laterza, Roma, 2002 (Pages: 165 p.)

2st part

Sartori G., Pluralismo, multiculturalismo ed estranei, Bur, Milano, 2010 (Pages: 182 p.).

Donati P , Oltre il multiculturalismo, Laterza, Roma, 2008, pp.3-19, pp. 27-32.

Cesareo V., Società multietniche e multiculturalismi, Vita e pensiero, Milano, 2007, Cap. II.

Guolo R., L’islam è compatibile con la democrazia?, Laterza, Roma, 2007, pp.77-137.

 

Suggested readings

Souad Sbai, L’inganno. Vittime del multiculturalismo, Cantagalli, Siena, 2010 (Pages: 248 p.).

Bassam Tibi , Euro-Islam. L’integrazione mancata, Marsilio, 2003 (Pages: 188 p.).

Salem E.M., Berti F., Lezioni di cultura islamica, Cantagalli, Siena, 2003 (Pages: 152 p.).

Samir Khalil, Islam, Cantagalli, Siena, 2008 (Pages: 223 p.).

 

Please remember that in compliance with art 171 L22.04.1941, n. 633 and its amendments, it is illegal to copy entire books or journals, only 15% of their content can be copied.

For further information on sanctions and regulations concerning photocopying please refer to the regulations on copyright (Linee Guida sulla Gestione dei Diritti d’Autore) provided by AIDRO - Associazione Italiana per i Diritti di Riproduzione delle opere dell’ingegno (the Italian Association on Copyright).

All the books listed in the programs can be consulted in the Library.