SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES (4 STP)
SUMMARY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 CLASS 1: INTRODUCTION/HISTORY OF SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES ......................................... 1
1.1 SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY: A HISTORICAL SKETCH .............................................................................. 2
1.1.1 Archipelago of Sociological Theories ................................................................................ 2
1.1.2 The story of the birth of sociology ...................................................................................... 4
1.1.3 Social forces at base of development ............................................................................... 5
1.1.4 The ‘story’ of the birth of sociology .................................................................................... 5
1.1.5 What is “classical” sociological theory? ........................................................................... 6
1.1.6 Critical analysis of this ‘story’ ........................................................................................... 6
1.1.7 The crises of sociology: war and progress ......................................................................... 7
1.1.8 The crises of sociology: epistemological break .................................................................. 8
1.1.9 Making the canon ............................................................................................................ 8
1.1.10 Reflection ................................................................................................................... 9
1.1.11 Non-canonical sociology: an example .......................................................................... 9
2 CLASS 2: THE “BIG FOUR” ................................................................................................... 11
2.1 DURKHEIM .......................................................................................................................... 12
2.1.1 The division of labor in society ........................................................................................ 13
2.1.2 Durkheim’s Theory of Social Facts .................................................................................. 14
2.1.3 Durkheim’s concept of anomie and suicide .................................................................... 14
2.2 KARL MARX ......................................................................................................................... 16
2.2.1 Capitalism and Class Conflict ........................................................................................ 17
2.3 MAX WEBER ........................................................................................................................ 18
2.3.1 The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism ............................................................. 18
2.3.2 Weber on Rationalization and bureaucracy ..................................................................... 19
2.3.3 Weber’s three types of authority ..................................................................................... 19
1
, 2.3.4 Weber’s legacy (v. Marx) ................................................................................................ 20
2.4 GEORG SIMMEL .................................................................................................................... 21
2.4.1 Forms and types of interaction ....................................................................................... 21
2.4.2 Individual and Society .................................................................................................... 22
2.4.3 Overview....................................................................................................................... 22
2.5 RELIGION: COMMON THEME, DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ................................................................... 23
2.6 CONCLUSION ...................................................................................................................... 23
3 CLASS 3: THE MODERN ERA ................................................................................................ 25
3.1 FOUNDATIONS OF STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM ........................................................................... 26
3.1.1 Talcott Parsons: The Grand Theorist ............................................................................... 27
3.1.2 Robert Merton: Functionalism revisited .......................................................................... 31
3.2 CONFLICT THEORY ................................................................................................................ 36
3.2.1 Ralf Dahrendorf: Toward a theory of social conflict (1958) ................................................ 37
3.2.2 C. Wright Mills and the sociological imagination .............................................................. 38
3.3 NEO-MARXISM AND THE EXPANSION OF CONFLICT THEORY .............................................................. 39
3.3.1 The Frankfurt School and cultural hegemony .................................................................. 40
3.3.2 Georg Lukács and Class Consciousness ........................................................................ 41
3.4 CONCLUSION ...................................................................................................................... 42
4 CLASS 4: MACRO THEORIES ................................................................................................ 43
4.1 THE LINGUISTIC TURN IN SOCIOLOGY .......................................................................................... 44
4.1.1 Claude Lévi-Strauss and structural anthropology ............................................................ 45
4.1.2 Roland Barthes: semiotics as sociology .......................................................................... 46
4.2 ANTHONY GIDDENS: STRUCTURATION THEORY.............................................................................. 47
4.2.1 Giddens and the ‘duality of structures’............................................................................ 48
4.3 PIERRE BOURDIEU ................................................................................................................. 48
4.3.1 Bourdieu’s sociology: Field theory .................................................................................. 49
4.4 GLOBALIZATION THEORIES IN SOCIOLOGY .................................................................................... 53
4.4.1 Political & institutional ................................................................................................... 54
4.4.2 Ulrich Beck ................................................................................................................... 55
4.4.3 Cultural theories of globalization .................................................................................... 56
4.4.4 Saskia Sassen ............................................................................................................... 59
5 CLASS 5: THE BIG MICROS .................................................................................................. 62
5.1 CONTEXT: THE MICRO-MACRO PROBLEM IN SOCIOLOGY .................................................................. 62
2
, 5.1.1 Foundations of microsociology ...................................................................................... 63
5.1.2 Macro-micro link ........................................................................................................... 63
5.2 SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM ..................................................................................................... 64
5.2.1 Core principles.............................................................................................................. 64
5.2.2 Thinking and interaction ................................................................................................. 65
5.2.3 George Herbert Mead – the Self and Society .................................................................... 66
5.2.4 Looking-glass self .......................................................................................................... 69
5.2.5 Goffman and the performance of self ............................................................................. 70
5.3 ETHNOMETHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................... 71
5.3.1 Reflexivity and ethnomethodological indifference ........................................................... 73
5.3.2 Ethnomethology as critique to sociology itself ................................................................. 74
6 CLASS 6: SUBJECTIVE/OBJECTIVE EPISTEMOLOGIES ............................................................ 76
6.1 SUBJECTIVE/OBJECTIVE EPISTEMOLOGIES?................................................................................... 76
6.2 FROM STRUCTURALISM TO POSTSTRUCTURALISM ........................................................................... 77
6.3 JACQUES DERRIDA ................................................................................................................ 78
6.4 MICHEL FOUCAULT (1926-1984) ............................................................................................. 79
6.4.1 Foucault and the archeology of knowledge ..................................................................... 81
6.4.2 Foucault and the birth of the prison ................................................................................ 81
6.5 POSTMODERNISM: A CONTROVERSIAL CONCEPT? .......................................................................... 82
6.5.1 Postmodernism and poststructuralism ........................................................................... 84
6.5.2 The Postmodern Condition (1979) .................................................................................. 85
6.6 QUEER THEORY .................................................................................................................... 87
6.6.1 Characteristics of queer theory ...................................................................................... 87
6.6.2 Theoretical contributions in queer theory ........................................................................ 88
3
, 1 CLASS 1: INTRODUCTION/HISTORY OF
SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES
Sociological theory
Concepts:
▪ Abstract tools or labels that represent specific aspects of social reality
▪ E.g. hierarchical arrangement of individuals in society → “social stratification”
“All authors make lexical and semantic choices as they write and thus participate, wittingly or
unwittingly, in an ongoing interpretive battle. This is so because language is the toolkit with
which we conduct our work, as well as the substance upon which we work. Indeed, concept
formation lies at the heart of all social science endeavor. It is impossible to conduct work
without using concepts.” (Gerring, 1999, p. 359)
Theory:
▪ Systematic frameworks that produce knowledge about social facts or realities
▪ E.g. “class conflict,” “power,” “inequality” → conflict theory
“A systematic explanation for the observed facts and laws that relate to a specific aspect of
life” (…) “a complex set of relationships amongst several variables.” (Babbie,1989, p. 46)
Learning goals:
Upon completion of this course, the student has achieved the following objectives:
▪ Students can describe the general principles, guidelines and basic concepts of the
theoretical paradigms and insights that continue to orient sociological thinking and
research;
▪ Students are able to independently process and synthesize secondary texts about
theoretical frameworks;
▪ Students are able to conceptually articulate and substantiate their own social
scientific standpoint towards a specific problem;
▪ Students can compare the discussed theoretical frameworks and concepts and apply
them creatively to current social issues and political themes;
▪ Students are able to clarify and communicate concepts and theoretical insights.
Independent assignments:
▪ Six texts: mandatory readings (available on Toledo after introductory class)
1
SUMMARY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 CLASS 1: INTRODUCTION/HISTORY OF SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES ......................................... 1
1.1 SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY: A HISTORICAL SKETCH .............................................................................. 2
1.1.1 Archipelago of Sociological Theories ................................................................................ 2
1.1.2 The story of the birth of sociology ...................................................................................... 4
1.1.3 Social forces at base of development ............................................................................... 5
1.1.4 The ‘story’ of the birth of sociology .................................................................................... 5
1.1.5 What is “classical” sociological theory? ........................................................................... 6
1.1.6 Critical analysis of this ‘story’ ........................................................................................... 6
1.1.7 The crises of sociology: war and progress ......................................................................... 7
1.1.8 The crises of sociology: epistemological break .................................................................. 8
1.1.9 Making the canon ............................................................................................................ 8
1.1.10 Reflection ................................................................................................................... 9
1.1.11 Non-canonical sociology: an example .......................................................................... 9
2 CLASS 2: THE “BIG FOUR” ................................................................................................... 11
2.1 DURKHEIM .......................................................................................................................... 12
2.1.1 The division of labor in society ........................................................................................ 13
2.1.2 Durkheim’s Theory of Social Facts .................................................................................. 14
2.1.3 Durkheim’s concept of anomie and suicide .................................................................... 14
2.2 KARL MARX ......................................................................................................................... 16
2.2.1 Capitalism and Class Conflict ........................................................................................ 17
2.3 MAX WEBER ........................................................................................................................ 18
2.3.1 The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism ............................................................. 18
2.3.2 Weber on Rationalization and bureaucracy ..................................................................... 19
2.3.3 Weber’s three types of authority ..................................................................................... 19
1
, 2.3.4 Weber’s legacy (v. Marx) ................................................................................................ 20
2.4 GEORG SIMMEL .................................................................................................................... 21
2.4.1 Forms and types of interaction ....................................................................................... 21
2.4.2 Individual and Society .................................................................................................... 22
2.4.3 Overview....................................................................................................................... 22
2.5 RELIGION: COMMON THEME, DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ................................................................... 23
2.6 CONCLUSION ...................................................................................................................... 23
3 CLASS 3: THE MODERN ERA ................................................................................................ 25
3.1 FOUNDATIONS OF STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM ........................................................................... 26
3.1.1 Talcott Parsons: The Grand Theorist ............................................................................... 27
3.1.2 Robert Merton: Functionalism revisited .......................................................................... 31
3.2 CONFLICT THEORY ................................................................................................................ 36
3.2.1 Ralf Dahrendorf: Toward a theory of social conflict (1958) ................................................ 37
3.2.2 C. Wright Mills and the sociological imagination .............................................................. 38
3.3 NEO-MARXISM AND THE EXPANSION OF CONFLICT THEORY .............................................................. 39
3.3.1 The Frankfurt School and cultural hegemony .................................................................. 40
3.3.2 Georg Lukács and Class Consciousness ........................................................................ 41
3.4 CONCLUSION ...................................................................................................................... 42
4 CLASS 4: MACRO THEORIES ................................................................................................ 43
4.1 THE LINGUISTIC TURN IN SOCIOLOGY .......................................................................................... 44
4.1.1 Claude Lévi-Strauss and structural anthropology ............................................................ 45
4.1.2 Roland Barthes: semiotics as sociology .......................................................................... 46
4.2 ANTHONY GIDDENS: STRUCTURATION THEORY.............................................................................. 47
4.2.1 Giddens and the ‘duality of structures’............................................................................ 48
4.3 PIERRE BOURDIEU ................................................................................................................. 48
4.3.1 Bourdieu’s sociology: Field theory .................................................................................. 49
4.4 GLOBALIZATION THEORIES IN SOCIOLOGY .................................................................................... 53
4.4.1 Political & institutional ................................................................................................... 54
4.4.2 Ulrich Beck ................................................................................................................... 55
4.4.3 Cultural theories of globalization .................................................................................... 56
4.4.4 Saskia Sassen ............................................................................................................... 59
5 CLASS 5: THE BIG MICROS .................................................................................................. 62
5.1 CONTEXT: THE MICRO-MACRO PROBLEM IN SOCIOLOGY .................................................................. 62
2
, 5.1.1 Foundations of microsociology ...................................................................................... 63
5.1.2 Macro-micro link ........................................................................................................... 63
5.2 SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM ..................................................................................................... 64
5.2.1 Core principles.............................................................................................................. 64
5.2.2 Thinking and interaction ................................................................................................. 65
5.2.3 George Herbert Mead – the Self and Society .................................................................... 66
5.2.4 Looking-glass self .......................................................................................................... 69
5.2.5 Goffman and the performance of self ............................................................................. 70
5.3 ETHNOMETHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................... 71
5.3.1 Reflexivity and ethnomethodological indifference ........................................................... 73
5.3.2 Ethnomethology as critique to sociology itself ................................................................. 74
6 CLASS 6: SUBJECTIVE/OBJECTIVE EPISTEMOLOGIES ............................................................ 76
6.1 SUBJECTIVE/OBJECTIVE EPISTEMOLOGIES?................................................................................... 76
6.2 FROM STRUCTURALISM TO POSTSTRUCTURALISM ........................................................................... 77
6.3 JACQUES DERRIDA ................................................................................................................ 78
6.4 MICHEL FOUCAULT (1926-1984) ............................................................................................. 79
6.4.1 Foucault and the archeology of knowledge ..................................................................... 81
6.4.2 Foucault and the birth of the prison ................................................................................ 81
6.5 POSTMODERNISM: A CONTROVERSIAL CONCEPT? .......................................................................... 82
6.5.1 Postmodernism and poststructuralism ........................................................................... 84
6.5.2 The Postmodern Condition (1979) .................................................................................. 85
6.6 QUEER THEORY .................................................................................................................... 87
6.6.1 Characteristics of queer theory ...................................................................................... 87
6.6.2 Theoretical contributions in queer theory ........................................................................ 88
3
, 1 CLASS 1: INTRODUCTION/HISTORY OF
SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES
Sociological theory
Concepts:
▪ Abstract tools or labels that represent specific aspects of social reality
▪ E.g. hierarchical arrangement of individuals in society → “social stratification”
“All authors make lexical and semantic choices as they write and thus participate, wittingly or
unwittingly, in an ongoing interpretive battle. This is so because language is the toolkit with
which we conduct our work, as well as the substance upon which we work. Indeed, concept
formation lies at the heart of all social science endeavor. It is impossible to conduct work
without using concepts.” (Gerring, 1999, p. 359)
Theory:
▪ Systematic frameworks that produce knowledge about social facts or realities
▪ E.g. “class conflict,” “power,” “inequality” → conflict theory
“A systematic explanation for the observed facts and laws that relate to a specific aspect of
life” (…) “a complex set of relationships amongst several variables.” (Babbie,1989, p. 46)
Learning goals:
Upon completion of this course, the student has achieved the following objectives:
▪ Students can describe the general principles, guidelines and basic concepts of the
theoretical paradigms and insights that continue to orient sociological thinking and
research;
▪ Students are able to independently process and synthesize secondary texts about
theoretical frameworks;
▪ Students are able to conceptually articulate and substantiate their own social
scientific standpoint towards a specific problem;
▪ Students can compare the discussed theoretical frameworks and concepts and apply
them creatively to current social issues and political themes;
▪ Students are able to clarify and communicate concepts and theoretical insights.
Independent assignments:
▪ Six texts: mandatory readings (available on Toledo after introductory class)
1
