300154 Sociology of Rankings (S) (SoSe 2023)

What is a ranking? Why are countries, firms, services, products, or people ranked? By whom and to what end? Why are ranking lists everywhere nowadays? Where do they come from? What kind of effect do they have on how we see and value things, on our choices, or on our perceptions of future? And how is sociology helping us make sense of rankings, their origins, and their effects?

Nowadays, rankings can be found in a growing number of areas, from human rights, education, business, and politics, but also in arts, sports, entertainment, and beyond. Rankings of countries, such as the Human Development Index, Corruption Perception Index, and PISA, rankings of universities and businesses, and league tables in sports, are some of the best-known examples. The media are awash with tier lists of various kinds, published for various audiences, often triggering a great deal of debate. Some rankings have had a profound effect on national policies, corporate agendas, organizational life, international relations, and beyond.

During the seminar, we will dive deeper into the phenomenon of rankings, discuss a range of examples, compare, and observe them, critically examine their origins and implications, and discuss some of the key theoretical and empirical works on the subject.

The language of the seminar is English. Syllabus and readings will be made available via Lernraum before the introductory seminar (which will take place on April 3).