ASTK12320U Course: Social theories of power in the globalization

The concept of power is central to any understanding of society, and even more ubiquitous in complex modern societies. Complex modern societies, as a result of its long historical construction, are characterized by a multi-dimensional nature of power. Despite its importance, power is still one of the most difficult concepts within the social sciences. While in everyday speech power tends to be associated with dominance or coercion, in the social sciences there is a high diversity and multiplicity in the conceptualization of power. This course aims to make sense out of these different understandings of power. It will also make the concept applicable and operative, and apply it to the analysis of contemporary phenomena of globalization. That is, how can the different theories, conceptualizations and dimensions of power be applied to current transnational and globalizing dynamics?.

The course is structured in three parts with their sub-units. In part I the main theoretical questions and debates are presented and discussed. In part II the four main dimensions or sources of power in modern society are introduced and discussed, through key authors and their respective perspectives. In part III the different conceptualizations and dimensions of power of Part I and II are applied to analyze current phenomena of globalization. We will follow up and develop Beck’s (2005) attempt to analyze power in the global age, through his theoretical and methodological proposals of Second Modernity and Cosmopolitan Outlook. We will focus on the following four domains: a) economy, capital and business; b) states and inter-national relations; c) societies, civil society and social classes; and d) socio-political sciences and professions. The discussions in this Part III should inform the content of the written assignment, which in broad and flexible terms should try to answer the following question: how can power be conceptualized and understood in the current globalization age?

Structure of the course in 14 weeks:

1. Introduction. Course overview.

Part I. Main questions and debates in the theories of power.

2. Power “over” and power “to”.

3. Elites vs. pluralist polyarchies.

4. Conflictual or/and consensual

5. Related concepts: dominance, hegemony, authority, legitimacy, influence.

Part II. Four main sources or features of power in modern society, and key authors

6. Political or state-related power: Weber, Bachrarch and Baratz, Dahl, Mann, etc.

7. Cultural, cognitive or ideological: Gramsci, Foucault, Lukes, Clegg, etc.

8. Economic-material interests and conflicts: Marx, Poulantzas, etc.

9. Social structure and interaction: Parsons, Giddens, Bourdieu, Barnes, Haugaard, etc.

Part III. Power in the age of globalization. Focus on four domains.

10. Economy: capital, business, trans-national or multi-national corporations.

11. States: nation-states, international relations.

12. Societies: social classes and civil societies.

13. Social Sciences: national social/political sciences, professions.

14. Conclusion and summing-up.