Social Structures and Social Inequalities

Course Instructor: Dr. Rafael MrowczynskiLecturer of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)

at the Department of Sociologyof the National Research University – Higher School of Economics

Contact: rmrowczynski@hse.ru

Higher School of Economics , Moscow, 2012www.hse.ru

Higher School of Economics , Moscow, 2012

IntroductionResearch on social structure is one of the core areas of the sociology.

Issues of social inequality and injustice are currently in the focus of political debates worldwide.

Higher School of Economics , Moscow, 2012

List of themes• Social classes: classic

approaches and current debates;• Power differentials & politics of

social inequality;• Gradualist approaches to social

stratification: incomes, occupa-tions, wealth & prestige;

• Different modes of status attainment;

• Social mobility: the dynamics of social structures;

Higher School of Economics , Moscow, 2012

• Ascriptive differences (gender, ethnicity & race) and social inequalities;

• Consequences of social inequalities: cultural consumption, lifestyles, health, access to modern communications;

• Social inequalities in state-socialist & post-socialist contexts;

• Transnationalisation of social structures: old and new forms of social inequalities.;

List of themes

Higher School of Economics , Moscow, 2012

• Ten teaching units.• Lectures and seminar discussions.• Required readings should be read in

advance of the session.• All readings will be provided

on a CD-ROM.

Teaching

Higher School of Economics , Moscow, 2012

• Frequent in-class participation.• A 3,000 word essay.• A presentation of a topic based on

additional readings.• A multiple-choice test.

Assessment

Higher School of Economics , Moscow, 2012

The course will provide its participants with a general overview of the studies in social structure and social inequalities. Students will have the opportunity to discuss the readings in English and to develop their ideas about their possible research in this area.

Outcomes