SOC789 Post Post-Modernity:21st Century Social Issues in Debate

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2012
Extent and Intensity
1/1. 10 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Benjamin Jeremiah Vail, Ph.D., M.Sc. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Ing. Radim Marada, Ph.D.
Division of Sociology – Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ing. Soňa Enenkelová
Supplier department: Division of Sociology – Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Thu 14:00–15:40 P22
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
This course is designed for students to read and discuss cutting-edge literature they probably won’t encounter in other courses about current events and predictions about near- and long-term social development in a sociological context. We will read five or six recently published books and related literature offering different analyses and theories about the meaning and direction of today’s social developments and how society is moving, or has already moved, toward a historical era that might be called “post-post-modern.” These alternative visions of the present and future challenge our sociological thinking about the forces that are shaping our world and our lives, and suggest new topics of social research. The topics covered in this course will vary from semester to semester depending on the selected literature and may include: Economy; Globalization; Family and Community; Environment and Society; Politics; Security and Peace; Culture and Philosophy; Technology; and Social Movements. The aim of the course is to gain knowledge about forces that are transforming our world and increase students’ familiarity with theories and analysis that make sense of these changes. By the end of this course, students will be informed about a number of controversial contemporary social issues, aware of alternative theories explaining and predicting the direction of post-post-modern society, and able to critically analyze the meaning of these issues and theories for their academic studies and in their own lives.
Syllabus
  • Every semester we will read five or six recently published books about contemporary social issues and theory. The course centers around biweekly seminar meetings in which we discuss the books in a sociological context.

  • Topics to be dealt with may include: Economy; Globalization; Family and Community; Environment and Society; Politics; Security and Peace; Culture and Philosophy; Technology; and Social Movements.

  • Students' semester evaluations are based on several graded assignments. These include essays in which students react to each book, in-class presentations and activities, and a final take-home exam which includes essays and a research paper. Success in this course depends on participating in the seminar meetings and careful reading of the assigned literature. Students should attend every seminar meeting. For each book, a small team of students should prepare materials to lead discussion on the book. Students earn a grade of A-F based on the following components.

  • Regarding academic honesty, the Faculty of Social Studies at MU expects students to know the study rules and maintain academic honesty by refraining from plagiarism and from cheating during exams. Plagiarism means that one presents other peoples' ideas as one's own and does not credit the author. Plagiarism is one of the most serious breaches of ethical standards in the academic environment, for it denies the mission of the university and the meaning of studying. From a legal perspective, plagiarism is the stealing of intellectual property. The official FSS policy on academic honesty is available in the course's interactive syllabus in IS in English and Czech.

  • Academic dishonesty is not tolerated under any circumstances at FSS. The minimum penalty for academic dishonesty in this course is expulsion from the course, a grade of F for the semester, and referral to the Faculty disciplinary committee.

  • The planned literature for Autumn 2012 includes the following books, which will be supplemented by other assigned literature and videos:

  • 1. Peter Diamandis and Steven Kotler: Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think

  • 2. William Gairdner: The Book of Absolutes: A Critique of Relativism and a Defence of Universals

  • 3. Misha Glenny: McMafia: A Journey Through the Global Criminal Underworld

  • 4. Richard Heinberg: The End of Growth: Adapting to Our New Economic Reality

  • 5. Sheldon Wolin: Democracy Incorporated: Managed Democracy and the Specter of Inverted Totalitarianism

Literature
    required literature
  • HEINBERG, Richard. The end of growth : adapting to our new economic reality. Gabriola, B.C.: New Society Publishers, 2011, xiv, 321. ISBN 9780865716957. info
  • WOLIN, Sheldon S. Democracy incorporated : managed democracy and the specter of inverted totalitarianism. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2008, xxiv, 356. ISBN 9780691145891. info
  • GAIRDNER, William D. The book of absolutes : a critique of relativism and a defence of universals. Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press, 2008, xvi, 398. ISBN 9780773536197. info
    not specified
  • GLENNY, Misha. McMafia : a journey through the global criminal underworld. 1st ed. New York: Knopf Books, 2008, xvi, 375. ISBN 9781400044115. info
Teaching methods
This course consists of biweekly seminar meetings to discuss books. Students are required to attend every seminar meeting, and will participate in the classroom through presentations and leading discussion. Written assignments will further assist in achieving the intended learning outcomes.
Assessment methods
Students must be able to read, write, and speak about advanced academic topics in English and must commit to reading all the assigned materials and attend every seminar meeting. Graded assignments will consist of biweekly essays, student-led discussion and in-class presentations, and a final exam which includes a research paper.
Language of instruction
English
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2013, Autumn 2013.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2012, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2012/SOC789