Political Sociology

Presentation

This curricular unit is part of the curriculum of both the First Cycle in Political Science and in Sociology. It is an indispensable unit for understanding the changes that globalization has brought about in the social system and for understanding the relationship between the political and social elements.

Part of this Programme

Sociology

Level of Qualification|Semesters|ECTS

| Semestral | 5

Year | Type of course unit | Language

2 |Mandatory |Português

Code

ULHT45-6545

Recommended complementary curricular units

In the area of Political Science, the Political Sociology unit is closely linked to the Political Parties and Political Communication.

With regard to Sociology, it is important to mention the link to the curricular unit of Inequalities, Inclusion and Social Exclusion.

In both areas, the relationship is clear with the curricular unit of Demography, Migration and International Relations.

Prerequisites and co-requisites

n/a

Professional Internship

Não

Syllabus

Conceptual Framework: Political Science; Political Sociology versus Political Science

Systems and subsystems Proposal by Talcott Parsons

Easton system

Luhmann's theory of the social system

Political subsystem and the other subsystems

Politics and social structure: the social anchoring of politics

State, political representation and general interest

Actors of political life Citizens

Political parties

Types of parties and social representation

The Political Class. The theory of elites in Pareto and Mosca

Lobby groups and interest groups

Public opinion and pressure groups

Political practices in democracy

Introduction to the democratic process

Formation of representational logics

The ideological dimension of politics

Votes and elections in the network society

New social movements of citizenship

Populism and the question of hegemony and the social-historical blocs

Sociological diagnosis of the new Diluted Power in the network and digital society

Democracy and so-called religious terrorism

Objectives

This UC intends to provide student conceptual tools enabling him to deal with the political phenomenon in his societal dimension, allowing him to know and interpret the societal mechanics and its transformations from the point of view of its political conversion. The student should understand the sociological environment in which citizens move and to what extent this environment determines the intensity and forms of intervention in political life. It should also identify the role of each of the social actors in this process of constant interaction between civil society and the State. In a unit of Political Sociology, the essential is to understand the societal anchoring of political processes, avoiding an excessively formalist understanding of the political-juridical universe. Thus, the student will have cognitive instruments that make him competent to understand the important sociological component presented in the political process, helping to a more complete analytical decoding

Teaching methodologies and assessment

The lessons will combine the theoretical exposition with the reading of thematic excerpts and their debate in class. The evaluation will include two modalities: continuous or by exam. In the continuous evaluation, requiring the minimum frequency stipulated in the regulations, the analytical control of the syllabus will be done through two tests, both with a relative weight of 45%. Due to the size of the class, participation in the discussions will correspond to 10% of the final result. The evaluation by exam will be done through a written test that will involve the development of two themes relating several of the contents analyzed in the classes.

References

Baudoin, J. (2000). Introdução à Sociologia Política . Lisboa: Editorial Estampa.

Braud, P. (2011). Sociologie Politique . Paris: LGDJ.

Colas, D. (2006). Sociologie Politique .Paris: PUF.

Dormagen, J.Y.& Mouchard, D. (2010). Introduction à la Sociologie Politique . Bruxelles: De Boeck.

Lagroye, J; François, B.& Sawicki, F. (2012). Sociologie Politique . Paris: Dalloz-Sirey.

Office Hours

Comments

Há a possibilidade de a calendarização prevista vir a ser alterada devido à realização de eventos que se revelem importantes para a discussão dos conteúdos temáticos.