ASOK05241U Norbert Elias and Pierre Bourdieu – relational sociology for the 21st century

Volume 2013/2014
Education
MA Theory course
BA-undergraduates from foreign countries can sign up for this course
Content
This innovative course focuses on two of the most prominent relational thinkers in the 20th century, Norbert Elias and Pierre Bourdieu. First we compare the key concepts in their two different but similar perceptions of relational sociology. Second we look at two of their most famous empirical studies – On The Process of Civilisation and Distinction – to detect differences and similarities. Third we explain how establisher-outsider relationships (relations between education, class, gender and ethnicity) are related to state formation processes. Fourth we discuss how these two sociologists can explain long-term, structural change in complex societies. Finally, we propose an important synthesis by discussing some of the main strengths and weaknesses in each of their approaches.
Learning Outcome
Students will be able to explain the key concepts in Elias’s and Bourdieu’s relational sociologies, applying them to problems or contemporary issues in modern societies.
Literature

Main  introductory readings:

1)      Norbert Elias (2012), What is Sociology? Dublin: UCD Press, Collected Works, volume 4

2)      Pierre Boudieu (1990) In Other Words: Essays Toward a Reflexive Sociology, Stanford: Stanford University.

3)      Stephen Mennell (1998) Norbert Elias: An Introduction Dublin: UCD Press.

4)      Richard Jenkins (2002) Bourdieu, Revised edition, London: Routledge.

5)      Bowen Paulle, Bart van Heerikhuizen and Mustafa Emirbayer (2012), Elias and Bourdieu, Journal of Classical Sociology, vol. 12 no. 1, pp. 69-93

Loic Wacquant (2004) ’Decivilizing and demonizing: the remaking of the Amercan black ghetto’, in Steven Loyal and Stepehen Quilley (eds), The Sociology of Norbert Elias, Cambridge: Cambridge Iniversity Press.
A combination of interactive lectures and student-led discussions. My aim is to inspire students so that they begin to ask challenging questions about the content of the course. I strongly encourage students to think about and share their experiences with one another,
illustrating through concrete examples the application of theoretical concepts and their relevance to different societies.
Biography

Inspired by the work of Norbert Elias, I am developing a distinctive, multi-disciplinary approach to political sociology and early childhood, one that is relational, comparative and historical. I am currently writing a book on the Sociology of Early Childhood, to be published by Sage in 2014 and have co-edited a multi-disciplinary, social science Monograph with Professor Stephen Mennell (2011), Norbert Elias and Figurational Research: Processual Thinking in Sociology, Oxford: Blackwell.

Kurset fungerer også som liniefag for specialiseringsretningen: Politisk sociologi

SAMF IT has created a page for installing Software on personal computers: http:/​/​samf-it.ku.dk/​english/​stud/​software/​
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 61,25
  • Lectures
  • 15
  • Preparation
  • 61,25
  • Total
  • 137,50
Credit
5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Size: A Free written take-home essay of maximum 7 ½ pages of 2400 characters each page (incl. spaces). If written by a group, the essay may be 50 % of 2400 characters each page longer per additional student.
Attention: When handing in as a group, the contribution of each student must be pointed out.
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Exam period
Handing in of papers: 12.00 o’clock in the secretariat (16.1.34) Submission dates will be available on Absalon.
Criteria for exam assesment
Please see the course aims.