Class Structure and Social Stratification

Presentation

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

Part of this Programme

Sociology

Level of Qualification|Semesters|ECTS

| Semestral | 5

Year | Type of course unit | Language

2 |Mandatory |Português

Code

ULHT45-7167

Recommended complementary curricular units

Not applicable

Prerequisites and co-requisites

n/a

Professional Internship

Não

Syllabus

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.

Objectives

This subject, as one of the ¿general Curricular Units¿, allows students to gain skills to operationalize procedures for the location (in visibility and invisibility) of social inequalities and for the interpretation or explanation of a given empirical material, whether related to the problematic found, either to the powers that are present. They are divided into competences:

1. Address the issue of inequalities: social, economic, professional, cultural, political / ideological, symbolic, ethnic, religious, lifestyles, gender, family, social exclusion, city and rural;

2. Identify and explain the location of powers and power relations in: groups, organizations, professions (associations and orders), companies, unions, parties, NGOs, institutions (civil and military) and elites;

3. Study and explain social change.

Students have competencies to analyze inequalities that fit into different specialized areas of sociology

Teaching methodologies and assessment

Continuous assessment is privileged considering the students' participation and attendance as important, in order to develop problematization work with theoretical critical analysis. For this, it is intended to create a positive dynamic. Continuous assessment includes: the classification obtained in the oral presentation of a paper that includes the abstract (preparation for future syntheses), the presentation guide (evaluation of systematization capacity, logic and coherence) and the motivated interest in the debate (expository form) - 35%; a report on a study visit (observation and analysis capacity) - 10%; a final work can be based on the contents of the presentation and those acquired in learning (theoretical-analytical competence) - 50%; and participation in class discussions (attention and commitment) - 5%. Students who do not enter the continuous assessment process or have a grade lower than 10 will be given an written exam.

References

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.

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