Sociology

This course studies environmental ethics, with a focus on reasoned arguments regarding our handling of, dealing with, and behavior towards nature and the environment. It introduces concrete analysis tools emerging from classical ethical theories and environmental philosophy; anthropocentrism and the various alternatives; and the notions of nature and the natural, risk, equality and justice, value pluralism, and the different needs for relating through nature in physical, aesthetical, and existential ways. The course utilizes environmental ethical issues of contemporary concern as case studies, in the context of both Euro-American and developing countries, in order to uncover, understand, and structure relevant knowledge and ethical issues to address professional challenges related to environments and society. Case study topics include climate change, animal production, biodiversity conservation, sustainability and human well-being, wildlife management, genetically modified crops, and ecological restoration. This course consists of an integrated mix of lectures, exercises, and discussions, including quizzes, votes, panel debates, student presentations, guest lecturers, and films. Through exercises, discussions, and assignment work, it explores various approaches to identifying, assessing, and approaching ethical dilemmas in relation to environmental decision-making.

This course examines the basic concepts, theories and methods of sociology. It seeks to provide basic knowledge of the sociological approach to the study of social and economic problems and development.

The course provides a theoretical and practical inquiry into the interface between society and politics in both developed and developing countries. Special emphasis will be on African states.  The issues addressed include the nature of power and the state, relations between the state and society, social movements, political organization and civic participation, political culture, voting behavior, democracy and economic development, nationalism, citizenship, and globalization. 

This course presents a general overview of drugs (illegal and legal) in today’s society. It covers both classic and contemporary work around the sociology of drugs and actors in the world of drugs. The course explores drugs in modern societies, including the history of drugs, representation, diffusion, social dynamics, and drug control policies. It also investigates the drug economy: the organization of markets, petty dealing, networks, and national and international trafficking. Additional topics include uses and experiences, motivations, experimentation; the organization of care, therapeutic models, the theory of addiction, the philosophy of risk reduction, and the medicalization of drugs; alcohol as a national and legal drug, the social construction of good drinking, and binge drinking; and “new” addictions, such as gambling, pornography, and video games.

The course is divided into three parts: the first part addresses the Chinese political economy in the time of reform and opening out. Topics include some of the momentous shifts in China's socio-economic order from Maoism to the present day, with a particular focus on the rising and declining social groups and the distribution of power resources across society; the key stages and (re)orientations of Reform and Opening; economic policies with an eye to the social and political tendencies and tensions that it encapsulates; Chinese socio-economic landscape of today in a critical discussion of notions such as state capitalism and China model; and the diversity of Chinese development through a focus on the contrasts between several competing regional models. The second part addresses Chinese culture and religion. Topics include cultural foundations of ancestor worship and its contemporary practice; the meaning of guanxi (relationship) and its application and transition in Chinese society; the Five Relationships, the core of Confucian ethics; the culture of Shanghai, including themes such as nostalgia and consumerism, as well as the value system and lifestyle of Shanghainese; and an introduction to Chinese policy of religious freedom, to the historical background and contemporary situation of Chinese folk religion, and to the phenomenon of mass conversion to Christianity in China. The third part focuses on Shanghai studies as a means to offer a distinct localized illustration of the Chinese experience.