ASOC 25A01 - Global sociological debates

Global Sociological Debates is an advanced course in sociological reasoning. It examines how different theoretical frameworks interpret the same phenomena, and asks whether they are complementary perspectives or genuine controversies leading to divergent explanations. Through debates on love, race, violence, religion, responsibility and fairness, students learn to connect theories, empirical research and micro-, meso- and macro-level explanations. The course is demanding: it requires steady weekly reading, active discussion and sustained intellectual “gymnastics”. It is not designed as a difficult exam, but as a rigorous training process: students who work methodically each week will be well prepared for the mid-term and final exams.

This is an advanced course with a substantial workload. It requires regular preparation throughout the semester, including significant weekly reading. In other words: this is not a course that can be successfully approached through last-minute revision. Students are expected to have completed an introductory course in sociology. Those without this background are strongly encouraged to study Frank van Tubergen, Introduction to Sociology (Routledge, 2022) before Week 1. Students without prior coursework in sociological theory should also study Jonathan H. Turner, Theoretical Sociology: A Concise Introduction to Twelve Sociological Theories (SAGE, 2013).

The assigned readings are the backbone of the course and must be completed before class. Lectures and small-group workshops build directly on them, assuming familiarity with the key arguments and concepts. Students who do not keep up with the readings will quickly find it difficult to follow discussions, contribute meaningfully, or succeed in the assessments. The course encourages critical discussion, but moves beyond the exchange of opinions to the analysis and comparison of sociological arguments and theoretical frameworks.

The course combines a weekly two-hour lecture in the amphitheatre with a weekly two-hour small-group workshop. These two formats are complementary and equally essential. Lectures introduce the major theoretical controversies in sociology, clarify their analytical stakes, and demonstrate how sociological arguments are constructed, compared, and connected to empirical research. Workshops (conférences de méthode) focus on the close reading and discussion of assigned texts, helping students understand and analyse the readings while maintaining regular engagement with the course material.

Attendance at both lectures and workshops is compulsory. Students cannot successfully complete the course by attending only one format. Mid-term and final examinations will include questions on both the assigned readings and the material covered in lectures.

Lecture slides are not a substitute for attendance. They are designed to support explanations, discussions, and examples presented in class and do not capture the full content of the course. The lectures themselves, including oral examples and exchanges with students, form an integral part of the learning process.

Students are expected to complete the assigned readings before class, contribute questions and critical reflections during workshops, and progressively develop their ability to compare theoretical frameworks. The course requires consistent weekly preparation, but students who work steadily and methodically can make substantial progress.

Grades are awarded on a scale from 0 to 20. The assessment is designed to evaluate both regular work during the semester and the ability to mobilise sociological theories in written examinations. To pass the course, students must complete the following four assignments:

• Debate commentaries and participation in conférences de méthode 20%

Students submit six short commentaries during the semester, each approximately 250 words. Each commentary must discuss the assigned texts, relate them to the lecture, and formulate a question capable of stimulating collective discussion. Active and well-prepared participation in small-group discussions will also be taken into account.

• Group presentation 15%

In groups of three, students present one of the mandatory readings. The presentation should last approximately 15 minutes and must be followed by a discussion facilitated by the group. The presentation is not a simple summary: students are expected to identify the main argument, clarify the theoretical framework, assess the empirical support, and open a sociological debate.

• Mid-term written exam 25%

The mid-term exam is a three-hour written examination. It tests students’ comprehension of the assigned readings, their understanding of the lectures, and their ability to articulate theories, arguments and empirical examples. Questions may require students to compare theoretical frameworks or to explain how different approaches interpret the same phenomenon.

• Final written exam. 40%

The final exam is a four-hour anonymous written examination. It assesses students’ understanding of the central theories, readings and debates covered throughout the semester. Students are expected to demonstrate precision, analytical clarity and the capacity to compare sociological theories rather than merely reproduce isolated information.

The examinations are demanding but predictable. They are not designed to reward last-minute memorisation. Students who read carefully each week, attend both formats of the course, prepare the workshop seriously and practise comparison between theories will be well prepared.