TLÜ ÕIS

Political Sociology

Course code

RIT6002.YK

old course code

RIT6002

Course title in Estonian

Poliitika sotsioloogia

Course title in English

Political Sociology

ECTS credits

5.0

Assessment form

Examination

lecturer of 2024/2025 Autumn semester

Tõnis Saarts (language of instruction:English, Estonian)

lecturer of 2024/2025 Spring semester

Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.

Course aims

To teach students to see and analyse social and social psychological factors that influence policy-making and processes in politics. To show the main junctures between politics and society and different aspects, developments and problems related to them.

Brief description of the course

Power: the essence, types, legitimacy and and social basis. Main theories of power (Dahl, Foucault, Giddens, etc.). Political and social environment – social gaps and Marx’s and Weber’approaches of the gaps. Elite theories (Pareto, Mosca, Michels). Evolution of the elite in postcommunist context. The public and public opinion. Political culture (Almond ja Verba). Faith in institutions and the crisis of democracy. Political involvment and its forms, participation democracy. Civil society and social movements. Parties and determinants of electoral behaviour. Political communication and the logic of “new media” in contemporary political communication. Revolutions and democratization. The main logic of postcommunictic transition. Identities and politics – nationality and politics, women and politics. Postmodernist orientations in politics.

Learning outcomes in the course

Upon completing the course the student:
- has orientation in the concepts of political sociology;
- has knowledge of the main theorists related to political sociology and their viewpoints;
- has skill to relate the theories and approaches also with Estonian politics and society;
- has skill to realise the limits of theoretical conceptions and the ability to evaluate them critically.

Teacher

Tõnis Saarts

Prerequisite course 1

State, Politics and Government (RIT6101.YK)

Study programmes containing that course