Power, Structures and Inequality, Electronic exam

Students understand the ways in which power, structures and inequality contribute to the construction of social reality, social institutions and the practices maintained by them. Students are able to analyse social change and the relationship between structures and actions, as well as to recognise the links between power and inequality. They are familiar with the concepts used by the key approaches to these aspects.

The module discusses the formation mechanisms, impacts and interrelationships of power, social structures and inequality. Power, structures and inequality are examined through various perspectives and research approaches.

Recommended Prerequisites

• Basic Studies in Social Sciences, YKT-P01, 25 cr
• Free Choice Studies in Social Sciences, Basic Studies, YKT-P02, 25 cr

The book examination covers three of the following items.

1. Desmond, Matthew (2016) Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City. New York: Broadway Books.

2. Edwards, Gemma (2014) Social Movements and Protest. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

3. Kadushin, Charles (2012) Understanding Social Networks: Theories, Concepts and Findings. New York: Oxford University Press.

4. Lamont, Michèle, et al. (2016) Getting Respect: Responding to Stigma and Discrimination in the United States, Brazil and Israel. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

5. Purhonen, Semi, et al. (2018) Enter Culture, Exit Arts? The Transformation of Cultural Hierarchies in European Newspaper Culture Sections, 1960–2010. London: Routledge.

6. Three articles:

Eliasoph, Nina (2016) The mantra of empowerment talk: An essay. Journal of Civil Society 12:3, 247–265. DOI: 10.1080/17448689.2016.1215895 AND Heiskala, Risto (2018) For a holistic social science: The NACEVP model applied to the environment, gender and populism. Journal of Political Power 11:3, 322–340. DOI: 10.1080/2158379X.2018.1523316 AND Reed, Isaac Ariail & Weinman, Michael (2019) Agency, power, modernity: A manifesto for social theory. European Journal of Cultural and Political Sociology 6:1. DOI: 10.1080/23254823.2018.1499434

7. Rivera, Lauren (2016) Pedigree: How Elite Students Get Elite Jobs. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

8. Savage, Mike et al. (2015) Social Class in the 21st Century. London: Pelican.

9. Somers, Margaret R. (2008) Genealogies of Citizenship: Markets, Statelessness, and the Right to Have Rights. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

General scale, 0-5

• YHTOPPIOAY Social Studies for Subject Teachers, Open University Studies
• YKT-A03 Intermediate Studies in Social Sciences