230131 VO M5 Political Sociology (2025W)
Sociological Specialisation (Lecture)
Labels
CIRCLE-U
An/Abmeldung
Hinweis: Ihr Anmeldezeitpunkt innerhalb der Frist hat keine Auswirkungen auf die Platzvergabe (kein "first come, first served").
Details
Sprache: Englisch
Prüfungstermine
Lehrende
Termine (iCal) - nächster Termin ist mit N markiert
- Donnerstag 02.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Inst. f. Soziologie, Seminarraum 3, Rooseveltplatz 2, 1.Stock
- Donnerstag 09.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Inst. f. Soziologie, Seminarraum 3, Rooseveltplatz 2, 1.Stock
- Donnerstag 16.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Inst. f. Soziologie, Seminarraum 3, Rooseveltplatz 2, 1.Stock
- Donnerstag 23.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Inst. f. Soziologie, Seminarraum 3, Rooseveltplatz 2, 1.Stock
- Donnerstag 06.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Inst. f. Soziologie, Seminarraum 3, Rooseveltplatz 2, 1.Stock
- Donnerstag 13.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Inst. f. Soziologie, Seminarraum 3, Rooseveltplatz 2, 1.Stock
- N Donnerstag 20.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Inst. f. Soziologie, Seminarraum 3, Rooseveltplatz 2, 1.Stock
- Donnerstag 27.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Inst. f. Soziologie, Seminarraum 3, Rooseveltplatz 2, 1.Stock
- Donnerstag 04.12. 11:30 - 13:00 Inst. f. Soziologie, Seminarraum 3, Rooseveltplatz 2, 1.Stock
- Donnerstag 11.12. 11:30 - 13:00 Inst. f. Soziologie, Seminarraum 3, Rooseveltplatz 2, 1.Stock
- Donnerstag 18.12. 11:30 - 13:00 Inst. f. Soziologie, Seminarraum 3, Rooseveltplatz 2, 1.Stock
- Donnerstag 08.01. 11:30 - 13:00 Inst. f. Soziologie, Seminarraum 3, Rooseveltplatz 2, 1.Stock
- Donnerstag 15.01. 11:30 - 13:00 Inst. f. Soziologie, Seminarraum 3, Rooseveltplatz 2, 1.Stock
- Donnerstag 22.01. 11:30 - 13:00 Inst. f. Soziologie, Seminarraum 3, Rooseveltplatz 2, 1.Stock
Information
Ziele, Inhalte und Methode der Lehrveranstaltung
Art der Leistungskontrolle und erlaubte Hilfsmittel
Final Open-book Exam (100 points) - Includes materials from readings and Moodle platform.
Structure:
• 2 questions on core concepts
• 2 comparative/theoretical questions
• 1 case study question applying concepts to real events-----
Important Grading Information:
A fraudulent performance (plagiarism, cheating, etc.) is indicated as such on the transcript of records (entry of an X) and counts as an examination attempt.
Depending on the examination method, the plagiarism software (Turnitin in Moodle) may be used in the course of the assessment.
The use of AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT) for the production of texts is only permitted if this is expressly requested by the lecturer.
In order to ensure good scientific practice, the lecturer can provide for a "grading-related discussion" of the written work submitted, which must be completed successfully.
Fourth examination attempt (commissional examination):
If you have already failed a course three times, you have to register for the fourth examination at the Sociology Student Service Center. Further information on registration deadlines and examination modalities can be found at (https://soziologie.univie.ac.at/info/pruefungen/#c56313).
Information on digital examinations: https://soziologie.univie.ac.at/info/digpruef/
Structure:
• 2 questions on core concepts
• 2 comparative/theoretical questions
• 1 case study question applying concepts to real events-----
Important Grading Information:
A fraudulent performance (plagiarism, cheating, etc.) is indicated as such on the transcript of records (entry of an X) and counts as an examination attempt.
Depending on the examination method, the plagiarism software (Turnitin in Moodle) may be used in the course of the assessment.
The use of AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT) for the production of texts is only permitted if this is expressly requested by the lecturer.
In order to ensure good scientific practice, the lecturer can provide for a "grading-related discussion" of the written work submitted, which must be completed successfully.
Fourth examination attempt (commissional examination):
If you have already failed a course three times, you have to register for the fourth examination at the Sociology Student Service Center. Further information on registration deadlines and examination modalities can be found at (https://soziologie.univie.ac.at/info/pruefungen/#c56313).
Information on digital examinations: https://soziologie.univie.ac.at/info/digpruef/
Mindestanforderungen und Beurteilungsmaßstab
Grading Criteria:
• Factual accuracy (20 pts)
• Clarity (20 pts)
• Logical argumentation (20 pts)
• Style (5 pts)Grading Scale:
• Very good (1): 100–90 pts
• Good (2): 89–81 pts
• Satisfactory (3): 80–71 pts
• Sufficient (4): 70–60 pts
• Insufficient (5): 59–0 pts
• Factual accuracy (20 pts)
• Clarity (20 pts)
• Logical argumentation (20 pts)
• Style (5 pts)Grading Scale:
• Very good (1): 100–90 pts
• Good (2): 89–81 pts
• Satisfactory (3): 80–71 pts
• Sufficient (4): 70–60 pts
• Insufficient (5): 59–0 pts
Prüfungsstoff
The texts presented in the syllabus, what was said in the lecture and the discussion stimulated by it form the basis of the course. PPT slides as well as additional short newspaper commentaries, which are used as examples in the course, can all be downloaded from the Moodle platform under "Prüfungsstoff".a. Open Book exam at the end of the lecture (100 points) - Open Book
consists of the texts designated for the course and the "exam material"
on the Moodle platform. The written exam consists of: 2 questions on the concepts discussed in the lecture; 2 questions on a comparison of the concepts/approaches, as well as 1 question on the discussion of a concrete empirical example that is to be analyzed on the basis of what was presented/read in the exam. The answer to this question should show that the students are able to explain the discussed concepts and approaches by means of a concrete example. (Some such examples will be given in the lecture in order to prepare the students for such a task).
b. For the students taking part in the lecture via the Circle U
alliance:
The exam will also take place in an Open Book format as mentioned above.
There will be further instructions on how to take the exam online at the beginning of the lecture.Please note: The use of AI is prohibited - the texts will be actively checked for signs of AI usage.
consists of the texts designated for the course and the "exam material"
on the Moodle platform. The written exam consists of: 2 questions on the concepts discussed in the lecture; 2 questions on a comparison of the concepts/approaches, as well as 1 question on the discussion of a concrete empirical example that is to be analyzed on the basis of what was presented/read in the exam. The answer to this question should show that the students are able to explain the discussed concepts and approaches by means of a concrete example. (Some such examples will be given in the lecture in order to prepare the students for such a task).
b. For the students taking part in the lecture via the Circle U
alliance:
The exam will also take place in an Open Book format as mentioned above.
There will be further instructions on how to take the exam online at the beginning of the lecture.Please note: The use of AI is prohibited - the texts will be actively checked for signs of AI usage.
Literatur
Alexander, Jeffrey C. 2018. ‘The Societalization of Social Problems: Church Pedophilia, Phone Hacking, and the Financial Crisis’. American Sociological Review 83 (6): 1049–78. https://doi.org/10.1177/0003122418803376.
Alexander, Jeffrey C. 2019. ‘Frontlash/Backlash: The Crisis of Solidarity and the Threat to Civil Institutions’. Contemporary Sociology: A Journal of Reviews 48 (1): 5–11. https://doi.org/10.1177/0094306118815497.
Beck, U., Hajer, M. A., & Kesselring, S. (1999). Der unscharfe Ort der Politik: Empirische Fallstudien zur Theorie der reflexiven Modernisierung. Leske + Budrich.
Bertani, Mauro, ed. 2003. ‘Lecture 11 from 17 March 1976’. In Society Must Be Defended: Lectures at the Collège de France, 1975-76, by Michel Foucault and David Macey, 239–64. New York: Picador.
Douglas, Mary.1991. How Institutions think. (Introduction, Chapter1 and 9). Suhrkamp, pp. 1- 20 + 111 – 120).
Gould, Deborah. 2004. ‘Passionate Political Processes: Bringing Emotions Back into the Study of Social Movements.’ In Rethinking Social Movements: Structure, Meaning, and Emotion, edited by James M. Jasper and Jeff Goodwin, 155–76. People, Passions, and Power. Lanham, Md: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
Hajer, Maarten A. 2005. ‘Rebuilding Ground Zero. The Politics of Performance’. Planning Theory & Practice 6 (4): 445–64. https://doi.org/10.1080/14649350500349623.
Kulawik, Teresa. 2021. ‘Political Epistemology in Gender Policy-Making: The German Democratization of Expertise’. Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society 27 (4): 765–89. https://doi.org/10.1093/sp/jxaa036.
Latour, Bruno, and Michel Callon. 2015. ‘Unscrewing the Big Leviathan: How Actors Macro- Structure Reality and How Sociologists Help Them to Do So’. In Advances in Social Theory and Methodology: Toward an Integration of Micro- and Macro-Sociologies, edited by Aaron Victor Cicourel and Karin Knorr-Cetina, 277–303. Routledge Library Editions. Social Theory, Volume 1. London New York: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315763880.
Linke, Gabriele. 2011. ‘The Public, the Private, and the Intimate: Richard Sennett’s and Lauren Berlant’s Cultural Criticism in Dialogue’. Biography 34 (1): 11–24. https://doi.org/10.1353/bio.2011.0013.
Machin, Amanda, Nico Stehr, and Institute of Philosophy, Russian Academy of Sciences. 2018. ‘On the Power of Scientific Knowledge: Interview with Nico Stehr’. Epistemology & Philosophy of Science 55 (1): 19–22. https://doi.org/10.5840/eps20185512.
McGoey, Linsey. 2012. ‘The Logic of Strategic Ignorance’. The British Journal of Sociology 63 (3): 533–76. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-4446.2012.01424.x.
Paterson, Stephanie. 2021. ‘Emotional Labour: Exploring Emotional Policy Discourses of Pregnancy and Childbirth in Ontario, Canada’. Public Policy and Administration 36 (2): 252–72. https://doi.org/10.1177/0952076719869786.
Sander, Thomas H., and Robert D. Putnam. 2010. ‘Democracy’s Past and Future: Still Bowling Alone? - The Post-9/11 Split’. Journal of Democracy 21 (1): 9–16. https://doi.org/10.1353/jod.0.0153.
Sauer, Birgit. 2011. ‘Governance as Political Theory: Through the Lens of Gender. A Response to B. Guy Peters’. Critical Policy Studies 5 (4): 454–57. https://doi.org/10.1080/19460171.2011.628070.
Alexander, Jeffrey C. 2019. ‘Frontlash/Backlash: The Crisis of Solidarity and the Threat to Civil Institutions’. Contemporary Sociology: A Journal of Reviews 48 (1): 5–11. https://doi.org/10.1177/0094306118815497.
Beck, U., Hajer, M. A., & Kesselring, S. (1999). Der unscharfe Ort der Politik: Empirische Fallstudien zur Theorie der reflexiven Modernisierung. Leske + Budrich.
Bertani, Mauro, ed. 2003. ‘Lecture 11 from 17 March 1976’. In Society Must Be Defended: Lectures at the Collège de France, 1975-76, by Michel Foucault and David Macey, 239–64. New York: Picador.
Douglas, Mary.1991. How Institutions think. (Introduction, Chapter1 and 9). Suhrkamp, pp. 1- 20 + 111 – 120).
Gould, Deborah. 2004. ‘Passionate Political Processes: Bringing Emotions Back into the Study of Social Movements.’ In Rethinking Social Movements: Structure, Meaning, and Emotion, edited by James M. Jasper and Jeff Goodwin, 155–76. People, Passions, and Power. Lanham, Md: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
Hajer, Maarten A. 2005. ‘Rebuilding Ground Zero. The Politics of Performance’. Planning Theory & Practice 6 (4): 445–64. https://doi.org/10.1080/14649350500349623.
Kulawik, Teresa. 2021. ‘Political Epistemology in Gender Policy-Making: The German Democratization of Expertise’. Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society 27 (4): 765–89. https://doi.org/10.1093/sp/jxaa036.
Latour, Bruno, and Michel Callon. 2015. ‘Unscrewing the Big Leviathan: How Actors Macro- Structure Reality and How Sociologists Help Them to Do So’. In Advances in Social Theory and Methodology: Toward an Integration of Micro- and Macro-Sociologies, edited by Aaron Victor Cicourel and Karin Knorr-Cetina, 277–303. Routledge Library Editions. Social Theory, Volume 1. London New York: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315763880.
Linke, Gabriele. 2011. ‘The Public, the Private, and the Intimate: Richard Sennett’s and Lauren Berlant’s Cultural Criticism in Dialogue’. Biography 34 (1): 11–24. https://doi.org/10.1353/bio.2011.0013.
Machin, Amanda, Nico Stehr, and Institute of Philosophy, Russian Academy of Sciences. 2018. ‘On the Power of Scientific Knowledge: Interview with Nico Stehr’. Epistemology & Philosophy of Science 55 (1): 19–22. https://doi.org/10.5840/eps20185512.
McGoey, Linsey. 2012. ‘The Logic of Strategic Ignorance’. The British Journal of Sociology 63 (3): 533–76. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-4446.2012.01424.x.
Paterson, Stephanie. 2021. ‘Emotional Labour: Exploring Emotional Policy Discourses of Pregnancy and Childbirth in Ontario, Canada’. Public Policy and Administration 36 (2): 252–72. https://doi.org/10.1177/0952076719869786.
Sander, Thomas H., and Robert D. Putnam. 2010. ‘Democracy’s Past and Future: Still Bowling Alone? - The Post-9/11 Split’. Journal of Democracy 21 (1): 9–16. https://doi.org/10.1353/jod.0.0153.
Sauer, Birgit. 2011. ‘Governance as Political Theory: Through the Lens of Gender. A Response to B. Guy Peters’. Critical Policy Studies 5 (4): 454–57. https://doi.org/10.1080/19460171.2011.628070.
Zuordnung im Vorlesungsverzeichnis
Letzte Änderung: Fr 07.11.2025 09:07
This course provides a contemporary introduction to political sociology, examining the interaction between individuals, institutions, and socio-political dynamics. It focuses on how personal feelings, bodily experiences, and public discourse shape political legitimacy and policy. We approach current societal changes through a sociological lens rather than traditional institutional analysis, focusing on the individual as the anchor point of liberal democracies.
The course is structured around three primary focus areas:
1. Sociological Theory and Conceptual Foundations: Explores the historical development and key terms such as subject/individual, institution, power, knowledge, culture, legitimacy, political rationality, and civil society.
2. Comparative Political Sociology: Studies democratic institutions and their socio-historical evolution and functions.
3. Policy Process Research: Offers analytical tools for examining public policy and social movements, especially how social issues are framed in governance and protest structures
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will:
• Understand and apply core political sociology concepts.
• Gain familiarity with key scholars and theories in the field.
• Analyze political events using sociological approaches.
• Formulate sociological research questions based on real-world developments.
Course organisation:
• Weekly lectures and structured discussions
• Required readings/ newspaper commentaries
• Moodle platform for materials, announcements, and assessmentsWelcome, Circle U. students! Please read the information about this lecture and follow the instructions on the website:
https://international.univie.ac.at/en/circle-u/univie-courses-open-for-students-from-circle-u-partner-universities/214858/