Class Class Structure and Social Stratification

In addition to a theorizing that encompasses development, from founder to contemporary theorists and indispensable operationalization procedures in the analysis of social inequalities and the formation of interest groups, this UC will focus on research environments and experiences in particular impact on the analysis of Portuguese society
Thus, it is intended:

- Introduce the problem of social inequalities in modern societies;

- Check the theoretical polarization of very diverse formulations;

- Problematize the formation and action of distinctive groups and ¿power blocs¿, articulating the political, economic and ideological fields.

- Determine the social spaces and lifestyles in society in general, alerting to the symbolic construction;

- Verify the plurality of current theoretical strategies to address the issues;

- Present modes of operationalization of the variables used in this field of knowledge.

- Create motivation for the study of the subject

Theoretical formulations on social classes and social stratification taking into account three points:

1) the transversality of the social strata in the historical process; theories of stratification and mobility; the formation of open and closed social classes; class society and power; the multidimensionality of social inequalities with the articulation of classes, status groups and parties; classes, social visibility, symbolic classification and lifestyles; the formation of elites and power;

2) the operational procedures for class analysis; with the determination of class places and class interests;

3) the construction of classes and interest groups in Portugal with the articulation between the State, society and interest groups; specific cases: leaders of Social Solidarity NGOs; scientists, artists, professionals and excluded; and the social transformations and the recomposition of classes in Portuguese society.

Adult education active methods will be used, namely: a) classroom debates; b)
viewing of online clips followed by debate; c) group exercises at the classroom, using the
European Commission websites, ESA sites and other international organisations.

Almeida, J. (1999). Classes Sociais nos Campos. Oeiras: Celta

Bourdieu, P. (1979). La Distinction. Critique Sociale du Jugement. Paris: Éditions Minuit.

Estanque, E. (2012). A Classe Média. Ascensão e Declínio. Lisboa: FFMS.

Estanque, & Mendes, J. (1997). Classes e Desigualdades Sociais em Portugal. Porto: Afrontamento.

Louçã, F. & Ferro, L., Lopes J. (2017). As Classes Populares A produção e a reprodução da desigualdade em Portugal. Lisboa: Bertrand.

Ossowski, Stanislaw. (1976). Estrutura de Classes na Consciência Social. Rio de Janeiro: Zahar.

Poulantzas, N. (1978). Fascismo e Ditadura. S. Paulo: Martins Fontes

Poulantzas (1975). As Classes Sociais no Capitalismo de Hoje. Rio de Janeiro: Zahar.

Wright, E. (1981). Classe, Crise e o Estado. Rio de Janeiro: Zahar.

Wright, E. (2013). Classes. Mangualde: Pedagogo.