Module 30-M-Soz-M5c Political Sociology c

Faculty

Person responsible for module

Regular cycle (beginning)

Every semester

Credit points and duration

14 Credit points

For information on the duration of the modul, refer to the courses of study in which the module is used.

Competencies

Non-official translation of the module descriptions. Only the German version is legally binding.

Within the framework of the General Competence Concept for the MA in Sociology (see https://www.uni-bielefeld.de/fakultaeten/soziologie/studium/master/pdf/Kompetenzkonzept_Masterstudiengaenge.pdf), students in the profile-forming degree programme are able to formulate political-sociological questions with a high degree of independence, make theoretical and methodological decisions for their analyses, justify these against objections and reflect critically on the results.

Content of teaching

Political sociology deals with the functioning and structure of the political system, with changes in participation, citizen roles and statehood under the pressure of denationalisation, with 'new' forms of governance, with the effects of public policies as well as with political communication and the corresponding observation conditions. In particular, political sociology is concerned with analysing and classifying the functioning, structure and dynamics of the political system in terms of social theory and focusing on the relationships between politics and society.

Accordingly, the seminars in the module deal with basic theoretical questions of the sociological analysis of politics as well as with current topics and fields of research in political sociology. Accordingly, they can be more theoretical or empirical in orientation. Three thematic areas are distinguished:

a.) Political Communication and Observation, b.) Global Governance and Public Policy and c.) Citizenship, Participation and Democracy.

Courses on political communication and observation (area a) focus on the diverse forms of political communication in modern society. Political communication is not limited to the media-effective external presentation and communication of politics, but also includes the preparation and production of collectively binding decisions. Insofar as it is exposed to public observation, political communication adapts to this being observed and changes as a result - and not only in the course of its media-effective self-presentation. Politics observes itself in the medium of public opinion, which in turn is represented by the mass media. The courses deal with both the production and presentation of political decisions by political organisations and their public observation in the mass media. In addition to classic subjects of political sociology, such as political parties, administration and social movements, the focus is on the forms and consequences of political communication beyond the nation state.

Courses on Global Governance and Public Policy (area b) deal with the global dimension of politics and the transformation of institutional arrangements in the global social context. Here, questions of the transformation of public policy in welfare state, economic and environmental policy or infrastructural arenas are dealt with. This involves changes in the modes of control and coordination and communication in the political system as well as the types of self-regulation of social subsystems. The importance of private authorities, public-private partnerships, expert networks and non-governmental organisations in the context of global governance will be analysed. The dynamics within multi-level governance structures are included. The changes in organisational arrangements, modes of governance and policy content are also examined in a transnational and transregional comparison.

Courses on citizenship, participation and democracy (area c) deal with theoretical and empirical concepts of citizenship, participation and democracy. In essence, the relationship between citizens and the form of political rule is thematised. From a transnational comparative perspective, the focus is on models of democracy and citizenship and on explaining the transformation of autocratic and democratic rule and political culture. Questions of elite selection, willingness to participate, education and deliberation are raised. The module thus also addresses approaches to citizenship education in relation to the normative criteria that arise from concepts of democracy and education theory.

Students are recommended to choose courses in such a way that they have acquired knowledge in all three thematic areas (Political Communication and Observation, Global Governance and Public Policy or Citizenship, Participation and Democracy) by the time they complete their degree programme.

The module programme is always completed with a written assignment. This always takes the form of a term paper.

Recommended previous knowledge

The study of module 30-M-Soz-M5a should already be completed and the study of module 30-M-Soz-M5b started.

Necessary requirements

Explanation regarding the elements of the module

As an alternative to studying Seminar 1 and Seminar 2, a large seminar with double the scope can be taken.

Module structure: 1-2 SL, 1 bPr 1

Courses

Alternativ zu Seminar 1 und Seminar 2: großes Seminar
Type seminar
Regular cycle Unregelmäßig
Workload5 240 h (60 + 180)
LP 8 [SL]
Seminar 1
Type seminar
Regular cycle WiSe&SoSe
Workload5 120 h (30 + 90)
LP 4 [SL]
Seminar 2
Type seminar
Regular cycle WiSe&SoSe
Workload5 120 h (30 + 90)
LP 4 [SL]

Study requirements

Allocated examiner Workload LP2
Teaching staff of the course Alternativ zu Seminar 1 und Seminar 2: großes Seminar (seminar)

Participation in group work (including working on exercises, development of research designs, data collection and evaluation), moderation or protocol activities and presentations as specified by the lecturer. The coursework is used for communicative (written and/or oral) practice and learning of the competences to be acquired with a focus on the interaction situation of the seminar. The coursework is part of the self-study and attendance time and corresponds to approximately 60 hours.

see above see above
Teaching staff of the course Seminar 1 (seminar)

Participation in group work (including working on exercises, developing research designs, collecting and analyzing data), moderation or taking minutes and presentations as specified by the lecturer. The coursework is used for communicative (written and/or oral) practice and learning of the competences to be acquired with a focus on the interaction situation of the seminar. The coursework is part of the self-study and attendance time and corresponds to approximately 30 hours.

see above see above
Teaching staff of the course Seminar 2 (seminar)

Participation in group work (including working on exercises, developing research designs, collecting and analyzing data), moderation or taking minutes and presentations as specified by the lecturer. The coursework is used for communicative (written and/or oral) practice and learning of the competences to be acquired with a focus on the interaction situation of the seminar. The coursework is part of the self-study and attendance time and corresponds to approximately 30 hours.

see above see above

Examinations

term paper
Allocated examiner Person responsible for module examines or determines examiner
Weighting 1
Workload 180h
LP2 6

term papers are approx. 20-30 pages in length.
The examination is taken by a teaching staff, instructors, lecturers of one of the courses of the modules.

The module is used in these degree programmes:

Degree programme Profile Recom­mended start 3 Duration Manda­tory option 4
Sociology / Master of Arts [FsB vom 17.12.2012 mit Änderungen vom 17.03.2014, 30.11.2018, 01.11.2022, 28.06.2024 und 15.11.2024] Political Sociology 1. o. 2. o. 3. one or two semesters Compul­sory optional subject

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Legend

1
The module structure displays the required number of study requirements and examinations.
2
LP is the short form for credit points.
3
The figures in this column are the specialist semesters in which it is recommended to start the module. Depending on the individual study schedule, entirely different courses of study are possible and advisable.
4
Explanations on mandatory option: "Obligation" means: This module is mandatory for the course of the studies; "Optional obligation" means: This module belongs to a number of modules available for selection under certain circumstances. This is more precisely regulated by the "Subject-related regulations" (see navigation).
5
Workload (contact time + self-study)
SoSe
Summer semester
WiSe
Winter semester
SL
Study requirement
Pr
Examination
bPr
Number of examinations with grades
uPr
Number of examinations without grades
This academic achievement can be reported and recognised.