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SOC 3446-090 - POWER AND SOCIETY: POLITICAL SOCIOLOGY Fall 2019

Instructor: Gaëlle Perrier Pre-requisites: None

Course Name: Power and Society: Political Sociology

Credit Hours: 3

Department: Sociology Semester: Fall 2019

Office: BehS 419 Meeting Times: by appointment

Email: gaelle.perrier@utah.edu Skype: gaellep81

Note: This syllabus is meant to serve as an outline and guide for our course. Please note that I may modify it with reasonable notice to you. I may also modify the Course Schedule to accommodate the needs of our class. [Any changes will be announced in class and posted on Canvas under Announcements and/or emailed.]

Last update: July 15, 2019

This is an online course, and it will require you to have access to a computer and Internet throughout the duration of the course.

COURSE SUMMARY

This course constitutes an introduction to the field of political sociology, a discipline concerned with the social organization of power. This class will touch upon several key areas in the field while adopting an institutional perspective and placing the modern state at the center of our exploration. While this institution and its authority to organize social life often seem natural, its powers were acquired over time and are constantly challenged by other forces, including the marketplace and civil society.

The first half of the course aims to get a better sense of what power is and how the modern nation-state represents a peculiar institutionalized version of it, that progressively emerged and spread. The second half of the semester will successively zoom in and out the nation-state as we will look closer at the distribution of power within such units, with a focus on the United States of America, as well as the challenges posed to them by global forces.

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COURSE OBJECTIVES

By the end of this course, you will be able to: • Define and differentiate major concepts related to political sociology (including power,

state, nation, domination, legitimacy, elites, hegemony, sovereignty). • Identify power relationships (gender, race, class based) shaping political life and

individual life chances in the US. • Explain major theories related to the emergence, spread and maintenance of the

modern nation-state. • Analyze the challenges posed by economic, political and cultural globalization

processes to the modern state. • Use political sociology theories and concepts to analyze current global, national and

local events.

REQUIRED MATERIALS

All required readings for the course will be made available on Canvas. If you need additional information on the topics covered in the class, here are a few books I would recommend: - Nash, Kate and Scott, Alan (2012). The Blackwell Companion to Political Sociology. Wiley-Blackwell.- Janoski, Thomas, Robert R. Alford, Alexander M. Hicks, Mildred A. Schwartz (2005). TheHandbook of Political Sociology: States, Civil Societies, and Globalization. CambridgeUniversity Press.

TEACHING AND LEARNING METHODS

My goal as an instructor is to provide you with a diverse range of opinions and theoretical perspectives that will contribute to the development of your own critical thoughts on the topics we will be exploring. To do so, the class will be based on lectures, readings (including theoretical and empirical articles so be ready to tackle academic papers) and videos. The variety of styles in the selected resources will, I hope, accommodate the diversity in learning approaches that will for sure characterize the class.

Building on these resources, you will be asked to participate in different activities, here also designed to provide a wide range of possibilities to reflect and express your thoughts. While most of the assignments will require some type of writing, others will be more visual (mind map, word clouds) or even audio/video (see Observation report).

Additionally, I intend to facilitate as much as possible the emergence of a learning community through the use of group discussions, collective work and peer reviews. I do believe that most of your learning experience will be eventually located in those exchanges with your peers as you are together working through the material.

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INSTRUCTOR EXPECTATIONS

I am committed to the following expectations for this course:

• I will design the course to include lectures, readings materials, and assignments that willchallenge students and will provide them with opportunities to learn and practicecourse content.

• Though this online course includes pre-recorded lectures, it is not a class that is run“automatically” by technology. I will interact with the class via announcements, virtualoffice hours, emails/the Canvas Inbox feature and feedback on assignments.

• I will reply within 24h during the week and 48h over weekends and breaks. I neverintentionally ignore an email – please re-send your email if I have not responded within3 days.

STUDENT EXPECTATIONS To do well in online courses, you must be self-motivated, organized, and willing to stay on top of your schedule. You should take control of your learning while in this course.

The following is expected of all students in this class:

• You will log in to the course regularly (3 times a week would be a minimum) to check theCanvas course page and emails to remain updated in regard to class requirements,available resources and assignments.

• You will engage with the course, students, and myself in a respectful and professionalmanner at all times. In order to ensure that discussions constitute a safe learningenvironment, you will respect Ground Rules for Online Discussions.

• You will perform your tasks as early as possible to avoid last-minute technologicalproblems or glitches in the system. For example, you will be asked to record a videoreport; you should make sure you have a good enough handle of a recording softwareahead of time (feel free to contact me for some guidance).

• If you are unsure whether an assignment was correctly submitted, you will check on thesubmission status and send your assignment as an attachment to confirm it wascompleted by the due date.

ASSIGNMENTS

This section outlines how you will be assessed and graded on throughout the semester. Further information for each item will be provided in due time.

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Participation (21% of final grade - 95pts) - interspersed through all of the course modules are a series of brief assignments that you will be expected to complete. The assignments range from short quizzes, posts and responses to group discussion boards, minute papers, etc. The time demands of each assignment are not too onerous but be thoughtful in the content, originality and quality of your contributions.

Quote notebook (12% of final grade - 55pts) – throughout the semester you are required to keep a notebook of your readings. For each material included in the Resources section of your weekly guide (readings, videos, etc), you will write down the key idea/message you got from it. You can directly quote the text or video if you find a sentence particularly efficient in capturing the essence of it. However, you are encouraged to reformulate in your own words. You will submit your notebook at the end of each week.

Mid-term exam (22% of final grade - 100pts) – this test will include a series of questions (multiple choice, T/F, fill the gap).

Observation (22% of final grade - 100 pts) – you will choose, observe and report on a political event, using the course material to make sense of it. You can consider events such as a debate in the state legislature as well as a town hall, a political rally, protests, movement meetings, school board meetings, etc. Whatever your choice is, keep in mind that you will be evaluated on your capacity to analyze it through the lenses developed in this course. Your choice will have to be approved by myself at least 2 weeks before the report is due. Reports will be done through video presentation. This assignment will include a peer-review component.

Final exam (22% of final grade - 100 pts) – this test is cumulative and include a series of questions (multiple choice, T/F, fill the gap) and one short essay with 2 options to choose from.

NOTE ON LATE ASSIGNMENTS

No late submission will be accepted except in the case of University-sanctioned absences (e.g., travel for University athletics) which conflict with class schedules, or dire emergencies. You should communicate with me before rather than after the due date. Let me know what is going on and I will do my best to make it work.

EXTRA-CREDIT

Throughout the semester, you will have the opportunity to engage on the news discussion board by selecting and posting a news article with a short comment on how it relates to our class material. You also have the possibility to earn extra-credit by posting thoughtful responses to your peers’ initial post. You can accumulate up to 15 extra points that will be added either to your exams or your observation report.

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GRADING SCHEME

A 100%-94% A- 93.9%-90%

B+ 89.9%-87% B 86.9%-84% B- 83.9%-80%

C+ 79.9% - 77% C 76.9%-74% C- 73.9%-70%

D+ 69.9%-67% D 66.9%-64% D- 63.9%-60%

E 59.9%-0%

COURSE NAVIGATION This course follows 4 modules. Each one is divided in thematic weekly guides that include required readings, lectures, video and links to assignment(s). The modules are set up for chronological completion, meaning that you should complete Modules 1-4 in chronological order, and within each module, you should ideally complete the reading, viewing and assignment tasks in the order in which they are outlined. This will provide a logical flow of information, and ensure that you have the necessary information/background to contribute to a discussion board, answer quiz questions, etc.

Course organization

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COURSE OVERVIEW

Module 4:

Globalized power

Week 13: Markets and the Economy

Week 14: Migration and borders

Week 15: Culture, religion and the clash of civilizations

Module 3:

Stratification and power

Week 8: DemocracyWeek 9: Power and

GenderWeek 11: Power and

RaceWeek 12: Power and

Class

Module 2:

The modern nation state

Week 4: What is a state?

Week 5: State formation

Week 6: Nationhood and citizenship

Week 7: Diffusion of the modern state

Module 1: Defining Our Terms

Week 2: Conceptualizing power Week 3: Theoretical inspirations

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DETAILED COURSE SCHEDULE

Week Material provided Assignments and Due Dates

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08/19

Welcome & Orientation

Class topic: Introduction, course navigation and Canvas set up

Resources: 1) Course Overview2) Syllabus3) Canvas tips

Introduction post due by: Aug 25 at 11.59 pm.

Scavenger hunt due by: Aug 25 at 11.59 pm.

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08/26

Module #1: Defining Our Terms

Class topic: Conceptualizing power

Resources: 1) Lecture: Power and political sociology (10min)2) Beetham, Political legitimacy (10p)3) Video cultural hegemony (10min)4) Langman, Why is assent willing (8p)5) Piven & Cloward, Rule-making, rule breaking andpower (20p)

Minute paper due by: Sept 1st at 11:59pm

Quiz due by: Sept 1st at 11:59pm

Quote notebook due by Sept 1st at 11:59pm

09/02 Labor Day

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09/03

Module #1: Defining Our Terms

Class topic: Theoretical inspirations

Resources: 1) Badie & Birnbaum, The Sociology of the State, ch1(22p)2) Block, The Ruling Class Does Not Rule (22p)3) Weber, Class, Status, Party (25p)4) Durkheim, Preface to the Second edition (30p)5) Lecture: Current theoretical debates (10min)

Quote notebook due by Sept 8 at 11:59pm

Discussion: pick your theory. Initial post due by Sept 6 at 11:59pm. Responses to peers due by Sept 8 at 11:59pm.

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09/09

Module #2: The modern nation-state

Class topic: What is a state?

Resources:

Quote notebook due by Sept 15 at 11:59pm

Group work: Sovereignty challenged. Group post due by

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1) Ted talk: Selasi, Ask where I’m a local (16min)2) Lecture – The state as a variable (10min)3) Krasner, Abiding Sovereignty (23p)4) McNeely, The Determination of statehood (38p)

Sept 13 at 11:59pm - Peer assessment and individual responses due by Sept 15 at 11:59pm

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09/16

Module #2: The modern nation-state

Class topic: State formation

Resources: 1) Poggi, Theories of state formation (12p)2) Ertman, State building and state formation in Europe(16p)3) Tilly, How War Made States and Vice-Versa (28p)4) Mamdani – State formation and conflict (55min)

Quote notebook due by Sept 22 at 11:59pm

Mind mapping due by Sept 22 at 11:59pm

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09/23

Module #2: The modern nation-state

Class topic: Nationhood and citizenship

Resources: 1) Youtube – crash course on nationalism (12min)2) Finlayson – Imagined communities (10p)3) Brubaker – Traditions of nationhood (17p)4) Abu el Haj – The Beauty of America (34p)

Mapping theory peer reviews due by Sept 24 at 11:59pm

Quote notebook due by Sept 29 at 11:59pm

Discussion: Constructing nationhood. Initial post due by Sept 27 at 11:59pm. Responses to peers due by Sept 29 at 11:59pm.

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09/30

Module #2: The modern nation-state

Class topic: Diffusion the modern State

Resources: 1) Lecture – World system theory (10-15min)2) Lecture – World society theory (10-15min)3) Wimmer & Feinstein – The Rise of the Nation-State(28p)

Mid-term exam due by Oct 6 at 11:59pm (available from Oct 4 at 8:00am – 2h window to complete it once started)

Quote notebook due by Oct 6 at 11:59pm

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10/06

10/13

Fall Break

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10/14

Module #3: Stratification and power

Class topic: Democracy

Resources: 1) T.H Marshall – Citizenship and social class (49p)2) Torfason and Ingram – The global rise of Democracy(24p)3) Sen - Democracy as Universal value (14p)4) Eisenstadt – Interview (3p)

Quote notebook due by Oct 20 at 11:59pm

Discussion: Democracy in the US Initial post due by Oct 18 at 11:59pm. Responses to peers due by Oct 20 at 11:59pm.

Observation proposal due by Oct 20 at 11:59pm

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10/21

Module #3: Stratification and power

Class topic: Power and gender

Resources: 1) Ramirez, Soysal & Shanahan – Cross-NationalAcquisition of Women’s Suffrage Rights (20p)2) Connell – Gender and the State (10p)3) Misra and King – Gender and State policies (20p)4) Roberts – women of color and the future ofreproductive justice (1h18)5) PBS – the welfare queen (2min)

Quote notebook due by Oct 27 at 11:59pm

Group work: Gender in the Green New Deal. Group post due by Oct 25 at 11:59pm - Peer assessment and individual responses due by Oct 27 at 11:59pm

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10/28

Module #3: Stratification and power

Class topic: Power and Race

Resources: 1) Skretny – The Minority Rights Revolution (20p)2) Youtube - Adam ruins everything (6min)3) Phillips – The subprime crisis and African Americans(8p)4) Ted Talk – Alexander Michelle (23min)5) Wacquant – From Slavery to Mass Incarceration(20p)6) NPR – “Go Back Where You Came From”

Before (know, wonder, believe) due by Oct 31 at 11:59pm

Quote notebook due by Nov 3rd at 11:59pm

After (know, wonder, believe) due by Nov 3rd at 11:59pm

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11/04

Module #3: Stratification and Power

Class topic: Power and Class

1) Sorensen – The Basic Concepts of StratificationResearch (12p)2) Giddens – Elites and Power (5p)3) Cole – Poor and powerless (28p)4) Fantasi and Voss – Why labor matters (18p)5) Domhoff – Who rules America today (43min)

Quote notebook due by Nov 10 at 11:59pm

Observation report due by Nov 10 at 11:59pm

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11/11

Module #4: Globalized power

Class topic: Markets and the Economy

Resources: 1) Crash Course Economics (10min)2) Pros and cons of liberalism (3min)3) Crouch – Markets and States (10p)4) Tonkiss – Markets against the State (10p)5) Babb – Social consequences of structuraladjustments (26p)

Quote notebook due by Nov 17 at 11:59pm

Discussion “Neoliberalism and the State”. Initial post due by Nov 15 at 11:59pm. Responses to peers due by Nov 17 at 11:59pm

Peer-review observation report due by Nov 17 at 11:59pm

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11/18

Module #4: Globalized power

Class topic: Migration and borders

Resources: 1) Harvest of Empire (1h34)2) Peutz & De Genova – The deportation regime -introduction (27p)3) Lindsey & Lloyd – Ilegality at work (20p)4) Soysal – Postnational citizenship (9p)5) Anderson - Why no borders (14p)

Quote notebook due by Nov 24 at 11:59pm

Mini-essay due by Nov 24 at 11:59pm

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11/25

12/01

Thanksgiving break

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12/02

Module#4: Globalized power

Class topic: Culture, religion and the clash of civilizations

1) Lecture – Modernization (26min)2) Huntington – The Clash of Civilization (28p)3) Cole – Cross-cultural variations and human rights(37p)4) Inglehart and Baker – Cultural change and thepersistence of traditional values (34p)5) Casanova – Cosmopolitanism, the clash ofcivilizations and multiple modernities (15p)

Word cloud due by Dec 8 at 11:59pm

Quote notebook due by Dec 8 at 11:59pm

Self-evaluation due by Dec 8 at 11:59pm

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12/09 Finals week

Final exam due by Dec 13 at 11:59pm (available from Dec 11 at 8:00am – 3h window to complete it once started)

Faculty and Student Responsibilities

You can learn about your rights and responsibilities of students at the University of Utah here, and about my rights and responsibilities here.

The Americans with Disabilities Act

The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services, and activities for people with disabilities. If you will need accommodations in this class, reasonable prior notice needs to be given to the Center for Disability Services, 162 Olpin Union Building, (801) 581-5020. CDS will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations. All written information in this course can be made available in an alternative format with prior notification to the Center for Disability Services.

Accommodation Policy (see Section Q): http://regulations.utah.edu/academics/6-100.php

Addressing Sexual Misconduct Title IX makes it clear that violence and harassment based on sex and gender (which Includes sexual orientation and gender identity/expression) is a civil rights offense subject to the same kinds of accountability and the same kinds of support applied to offenses against other protected categories such as race, national origin, color, religion, age, status as a person with a disability, veteran’s status or genetic information. If you or someone you know has been

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harassed or assaulted, you are encouraged to report it to the Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action, 135 Park Building, 801-581-8365, or the Office of the Dean of Students, 270 Union Building, 801-581-7066. For support and confidential consultation, contact the Center for Student Wellness, 426 SSB, 801-581-7776. To report to the police, contact the Department of Public Safety, 801-585-2677(COPS). You may also seek help with me, but be advised that as a university employee, I am a mandatory reporter (i.e., I am legally obligated to notify the Title IX Coordinator).

Drop/Withdrawal Students may drop a course within the first two weeks of a given semester without any penalties. Students may officially withdraw (W) from a class or all classes after the drop deadline through the midpoint of a course. A “W” grade is recorded on the transcript and appropriate tuition/fees are assessed. The grade “W” is not used in calculating the student’s GPA. See the Academic Calendar for the last day to withdraw from term, first and second session classes.

Deadlines for courses with irregular start and end dates policy. https://registrar.utah.edu/handbook/miscellaneous.php

Academic Misconduct

Per University of Utah regulations (Policy #6-400). “A student who engages in academic misconduct,” as defined in Part I.B. and including, but not limited to, cheating, falsification, or plagiarism, “may be subject to academic sanctions including but not limited to a grade reduction, failing grade, probation, suspension or dismissal from the program or the University, or revocation of the student's degree or certificate. Sanctions may also include community service, a written reprimand, and/or a written statement of misconduct that can be put into an appropriate record maintained for purposes of the profession or discipline for which the student is preparing.” Please refer to the Student Code for full elaboration of student academic and behavioral misconduct policies.

Acts of academic dishonesty include but are not limited to:

• Cheating: using, attempting to use, or providing others with any unauthorized assistance intaking quizzes, tests, examinations, or in any other academic exercise oractivity. Unauthorized assistance includes:o Working in a group when the instructor has designated that the quiz, test, examination,

or any other academic exercise or activity be done “individually;”o Depending on the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing

papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments;o Substituting for another student, or permitting another student to substitute for

oneself, in taking an examination or preparing academic work;o Acquiring tests or other academic material belonging to a faculty member, staff

member, or another student without express permission;

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o Continuing to write after time has been called on a quiz, test, examination, or any otheracademic exercise or activity;

o Submitting substantially the same work for credit in more than one class, except withprior approval of the instructor; or engaging in any form of research fraud.

• Falsification: altering or fabricating any information or citation in an academic exercise oractivity.

• Plagiarism: representing, by paraphrase or direct quotation, the published or unpublishedwork of another person as one‘s own in any academic exercise or activity without full andclear acknowledgment. It also includes using materials prepared by another person or by anagency engaged in the sale of term papers or other academic materials.

Wellness Statement

Your personal health and wellness are essential to your success as a student. Personal concerns such as stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, depression, cross-cultural differences, etc., can interfere with a student’s ability to success and thrive in this course and at the University of Utah. Please speak with the instructor or TA before issues become problems. And, for helpful resources, contact the Center for Student wellness at www.wellness.utah.edu or 801-581-7776.

Veterans Support Center The Veterans Support Center is a “one stop shop” for student veterans to find services, support, advocacy, and camaraderie. They are located in the Park Building Room 201. You can visit their website for more information about their services and support at http://veteranscenter.utah.edu.

LGBT Resource Center The University of Utah has an LGBT Resource Center on campus. They are located in Room 409 of the Olpin Union Building. Hours: M-F 8-5pm. You can visit their website to find more information about the support they can offer, a list of events through the center and links to additional resources: http://lgbt.utah.edu.

Learners of English as an Additional/Second Language If you are an English language learner, please be aware of several resources on campus that will support you with your language and writing development. These resources include: the Writing Center (http://writingcenter.utah.edu); the Writing Program (http://writing-program.utah.edu); the English Language Institute (http://continue.utah.edu/eli).

University Safety Statement The University of Utah values the safety of all campus community members. To report suspicious activity, call campus police at 801-585-COPS (801-585-2677). You will receive important emergency alerts and safety messages regarding campus safety via text message. For more information regarding safety and to view available training resources, including helpful videos, visit safeu.utah.edu.

Please let me know if there is any additional support you would like to discuss for this class

As the only institution in the state classified in the highest research category (R1), at the University of Utah you will have access to state-of-the-art research facilities and be able to be part of the knowledge creation process. You will have the opportunity to do research of your

own with faculty who are leading experts in their field, engaging in programs that match your

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research interests. Further, you will interact with and often take classes with graduate students that provide an advanced understanding of the knowledge in your field.

EAP (Emergency Assembly Point) – When you receive a notification to evacuate the building either by campus text alert system or by building fire alarm, please follow your instructor in an orderly fashion to the EAP marked on the map below. Once everyone is at the EAP, you will receive further instructions from Emergency Management personnel. You can also look up the EAP for any building you may be in on campus at http://emergencymanagement.utah.edu/eap

U Heads Up App: There’s an app for that. Download the app on your smartphone at http://alert.utah.edu/headsup to access the following resources:

• Emergency Response Guide: Provides instructions on how to handle any type of emergency, such as earthquake, utility failure, fire, active shooter, etc. Flip charts with this information are also available around campus.

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• See Something, Say Something: Report unsafe or hazardous conditions on campus if you see a life threatening or emergency situation, please call 911!

• Safety Escorts: For students who are on campus at night or passed business hours and would like an escort to your care, please call 801-585-2677. You can a call 24/7 and a security officer will be sent to walk with you or give you a ride to your desired on-campus location.