This module engages contemporary social theory to critically understand the profound social, cultural and political challenges facing present-day societies. A selection of contemporary theory’s key thinkers, perspectives and themes will be introduced. The value of theory will be explored in relation to understanding, critiquing and imagining alternatives to contemporary social arrangements. This will involve applying theory to contested areas such as, for example, inequalities, technology, climate, democracy, culture, recognition and identities. In the tradition of the sociological imagination, this will mean attending to both large-scale structural transformations and the changing experience of everyday life and subjectivity. It will also be important to reflect on the role of power, contestation and exclusion in the production and reception of theory itself, as highlighted by post-colonial and other reflexive approaches to ‘doing’ theory.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the Module, students should be able to:
Identify and critically evaluate a range of key thinkers, perspectives and concepts in contemporary social theory.
Apply theory as a means of understanding, analysing and critiquing key contemporary societal challenges, attending to both macro and micro levels of analysis.
Show reflexive awareness of debates over theory production and reception, learning from e.g. post-colonial and public sociology perspectives.
