30205

WiSe 12/13: Conflict Sociology and Conflict Theory

Uwe Ruß

Comments

When scholars deal with social inequalities today, their explanations given root in what can be termed the conflict tradition in social theory. According to Gerhard Lenski, the main problem of this tradition is to answer the question "Who gets what and why?". But instead of forming a coherent school of thought, the approaches summarized under this heading can be conceived of as a loose conglomerate of theories. Their common vantage point merely is the centrality of conflicts that arise between different social groups in the struggle for goods and resources. Nonetheless, social conflict thinking has proven to be a fruitful approach for different subject matters in the social sciences. In order to acquire the analytical tools necessary for inequality research, students will explore the classical grounds of conflict theorizing (Marx, Weber, Simmel), its re-emergence in sociological thinking during the second half of the twentieth century (Coser, Dahrendorf, Lenski, Mills, Collins) and gain an understanding of specific fields of application (Sociology of Education, Feminist Sociology). Basic Reading: - Joas, H. & Knöbl, W. (2009) Conflict Sociology and Conflict Theory. In: ibid. (ed.) Social Theory. Twenty Introductory Lectures. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 174-198. - Turner, J. (2003) Conflict Theorizing. In: ibid. The Structure of Sociological Theory. Belmont: Wadsworth, 129-194. Exam: Seminar paper (3000 words) close

16 Class schedule

Additional appointments

Wed, 2012-12-19 18:00 - 20:00

Lecturers:
Uwe Ruß

Location:
Garystr.55/302a Seminarraum (Garystr. 55)

Regular appointments

Wed, 12:00 - 14:00 16 Class schedule

Wed, 2012-10-17 12:00 - 14:00

Lecturers:
Uwe Ruß