Home
Courses
Sociology
Contemporary Sociological Theories

Contemporary Sociological Theories

Code	13124
Year	2
Semester	S1
ECTS Credits	6
Workload	TP(60H)
Scientific area	Sociology
Entry requirements	Not applicable.
Mode of delivery	Face to face
Learning outcomes	To learn the major contemporary sociological theories and their critiques. To stimulate the critical thinking and to develop a sociological perspective of social phenomena; to develop critical skills to assess different sociological theories and their relation with processes of social change; to develop an ethical attitude.
Syllabus	1. Action-structure articulation in contemporary sociological theories 1.1. Bourdieu's theoretical perspective. . 1.2. Starting from the Structuring Theory (Giddens), the Theory of Social Rule Systems (Burns). 3. Perspectives on changes in contemporary societies? (Choice of three by students). 3.1. Late modernity: Giddens 3.2 The risk society: Beck 3.3 Liquid modernity: Bauman 3.4.The network society: Castells 3.5. Postmodernity 4. Feminist Theories and Queer Theory. 5. Rational choice and new institutionalism
Main Bibliography	BAUMAN, Zygmunt (2001), Modernidade Líquida, Rio de Janeiro: Zahar. BECK, Ulrich (1998), Sociedade de Risco Mundial - Em Busca da Segurança Perdida, Lisboa: Edições 70. BROWNING, Gary, HALCLI, Abigail e WEBSTER, Frank (2000), Understanding Contemporary Society – Theories of the Present. Londres: Sage Pub. BURNS, Tom e Helena Flam (2000), Sistemas de Regras Sociais. Teorias e aplicações, Oeiras: Celta. CALHOUN, Craig, GERTEIS, Joseph, MOODY, James, PFAFF, Steven e VIRK, Idermohan (ed.) (2012), Contemporary Sociological Theory. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell. CORCUFF, Philippe (1998), Las Nuevas Sociologías: Construcciones de la Realidad Social. Madrid: Alianza Editorial. GiIDDENS, Anthony (1992), As Consequências da Modernidade, Oeiras: Celta. TURNER, Jonathan (2013), Contemporary Sociological Theory. Londres: Sage Pub.
Teaching Methodologies and Assessment Criteria	1 - Continuous assessment: 1st written test (45%), 2nd written test (45%) and participation in classes (10%). Continuous assessment also implies attendance at 80% of classes. 2 - Final evaluation: the minimum grade for admission to examination is 6 values (average of two tests) for all students.
Language	Portuguese. Tutorial support is available in English.