230080 SE Theory and research on cities in the 20th century sociology (2016S)

This class introduces students to the history of urban sociology through reading and discussing original writings of urban scholars. Students will get familiar with the 19th century roots of sociological theory and research on cities in Europe, as well as with selected works of the Chicago school of urban sociology, with the critical response it has attracted, and with the new paradigms that appeared in the second half of the 20th century. Last but not least, we shall discuss some of the most recent debates that have developed in urban studies in the past ten years, especially the calls for more cosmopolitan and comparative urban theory (e.g. Robinson 2006), and the challenges and stimuli they have brought to urban sociology. At the end of the course, students shall be familiar with, and able to critically discuss original historical writings of several urban sociologists. They should also better understand cities and urban life in various historical and geographical contexts and be familiar with the sociological perspective in researching cities.