POLS 254 - Siyaset Sosyolojisi - Course Information

Basic Information

Course Code:

POLS 254

Course Name:

Siyaset Sosyolojisi

Language of Instruction:

English

Course Type:

Class

Course Level:

Bachelor

ECTS:

6.00

Instructor:

Dr. Öğr. Üyesi İhsan Ercan SADİ

Course Objectives

The main objective of this course is to introduce students to the key concepts and theoretical approaches of political sociology and to provide them with the conceptual tools necessary to analyze the relationship between social structures and political power. The course focuses particularly on class, social order, power, the state, globalization, neoliberalism, and inequality.

Course Content

This course examines how political institutions and processes are shaped by social relations and how political power, in turn, structures social life. The first part of the course addresses class, social order, power, and the state through classical and contemporary approaches in political sociology, with particular attention to Marx, Weber, Durkheim, Erik Olin Wright, and Steven Lukes. The second part examines globalization and neoliberalism, the neoliberal state, the structural power of business and capital strikes, income and wealth inequality, and the implications of these processes for state autonomy, democratic representation, poverty, and exclusion. Finally, contemporary global reform agendas aimed at sustainable and inclusive development are evaluated from a political-sociological perspective.

Prerequisites / Corequisites

NA

Course Books / Materials / Recommended Resources

Please refer to the syllabus

Learning Outcomes

Code	Description
LO1	Explain the central concepts and theoretical approaches of political sociology, including class, power, the state, social order, and inequality.
LO2	Compare Marxian, Weberian, Durkheimian, and contemporary approaches to class, social order, and power.
LO3	Analyze relations among the state, class, and capital in capitalist societies by using concepts such as state autonomy and the instrumental and structural power of capital.
LO4	Critically evaluate the effects of globalization, neoliberalism, and inequality on political power, democratic representation, poverty, and exclusion.

Weekly Course Content

Week	Content
1	Introduction to Political Sociology: Society, Politics, and Power
2	Class and Social Inequality: A Relational Approach to Class
3	Marx and Weber: Class, Exploitation, and Domination
4	The Problem of Social Order: Weber and Durkheim
5	The State in Capitalist Society: Class, Structure, and Political Power
6	The Relative Autonomy of the State: Instrumental and Structural Approaches
7	Dimensions of Power: Pluralism and Steven Lukes
8	Midterm Exam
9	Globalization: Concept, History, and Waves of Globalization
10	Neoliberalism and Neoliberalization
11	The Neoliberal State and Accumulation by Dispossession
12	The Political Power of Business: Structural Power, Capital Strikes, and State Autonomy
13	Income and Wealth Inequality
14	Inequality, Political Power, and Democratic Representation
15	Poverty, Exclusion, and Sustainable Development: SDGs and Global Reform Agendas

Workload Calculation

Activity	Count	Duration (Hours)	Total
Attendance	1	45.00	45.00
Pre-Class Individual Study	1	45.00	45.00
Midterm Exam/Preparation	1	40.00	40.00
Final Exam/Preparation	1	50.00	50.00
Total Workload (Hours)			180
ECTS Credit (Workload / 25)			6

Assessment

#	Assessment Type	Contribution (%)
1	Midterm Exam	%35
2	Attendance	%15
3	Final Exam	%50
TOTAL		%100

PO - LO Matrix

PO \ LO	LO1	LO2	LO3	LO4
PO-1
PO-2
PO-3
PO-4
PO-5
PO-6
PO-7

1

Low Contribution

2

Medium Contribution

3

High Contribution

Teaching and Learning Methods

#	Method Name	Description	Tools
1	Lecture (expository teaching), interactive discussion	Listening and taking notes.	Standard classroom technologies, multimedia tools (projector, computer, digital presentations)
2	Controversial Course	Listening and comprehension, critical thinking	Standard classroom technologies, multimedia tools, projector, computer, overhead projector
3	Problem Solving	* Analyzing physical and physiological problems using problem-solving techniques and developing appropriate solutions.

Academic Integrity and Artificial Intelligence

Violations of scholastic honesty include, but are not limited to cheating, plagiarizing, fabricating information or citations, facilitating acts of dishonesty by others, having unauthorized possession of examinations, submitting work of another person or work previously used without informing the instructor, or tampering with the academic work of other students. Any form of scholastic dishonesty is a serious academic violation and will result in a disciplinary action.