Contemporary State from the perspective of a sociologist

elective courses

Remote learning

The course will be dedicated to the analysis of contemporary state in terms of the most influential theories of the state. Will, in particular: a classic Weberian perspective, pluralist theory, Marxist and neo-marxist approach.

The main emphasis will be on the perspective of neo-Weberian. Accordance with the Weberian tradition the state is regarded as an social actor extracted from society. At the same time, modern State passes a violent transformation associated with the processes of globalization and transnationalization. Staked so are questions about the prospects of the nation State and of new forms of political communities.

The course will be dedicated to the analysis of contemporary state in terms of the most influential theories of the state. Will, in particular: a classic Weberian perspective, pluralist theory, Marxist and neo-marxist approach.

The main emphasis will be on the perspective of neo-Weberian. Accordance with the Weberian tradition the state is regarded as an social actor extracted from society. At the same time, modern State passes a violent transformation associated with the processes of globalization and transnationalization. Staked so are questions about the prospects of the nation State and of new forms of political communities.

At the starting point will be present two States of antiquity: China day Qin dynasty and Han and the Roman Empire in the era of the late Republic and early Empire. Later briefly discussed will be model medieval feudal States and the medieval phenomenon of urban republics. The main attention will be focused, however, on the concepts relating to the way in which the existence and activities of the modern State. We will analyze the manifestations of power of the contemporary state and the condition and future of the welfare state. A separate presentation will deal with the issues of the rule of law – the classic and the new institutional approaches, the citizenship and civil society.

1. G. Poggi, Państwo, Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, Warszawa 2010, rozdz. 1-4, s. 18-109.

2. G. Jellinek, Ogólna nauka o państwie t.1 i 2 (fragmenty);

3. J. Raciborski, Wprowadzenie. definiowanie państwa i problem suwerenności państwa; P. Sadura, Państwo w społeczeństwie: postweberowski model procesu upaństwowienia, w: J. Raciborski (red), Państwo w praktyce: style działania, NOMOS, Kraków 2017, s.21-46; 85 – 102.

4. U. Beck, Europa kosmopolityczna, Warszawa 2009,

5. J. Raciborski, Obywatelstwo w perspektywie socjologicznej, Warszawa 2011;

6. M. Mann, The autonomous power of the state: its origins, mechanisms and results, fragment: The Sources of Social Power, dostępny na stronie Autora.

7. F. Fukuyama, Ład polityczny i polityczny regres, REBIS, Poznań 2014, s. 574 – 620.

8. J. Maravall, A. Przeworski (red), Demokracja i rządy prawa, Warszawa: WN Scholar, s. 27-65.

9. Helmut Willke, Tragedia państwa. Prologomena do teorii państwa i policentrycznego społeczeństwa, w: Zarządzanie Publiczne nr 1/2007.

10. Th. Piketty, Kapitał w XXI wieku, Warszawa 2015, rozdz. Państwo socjalne, s. 581-611.

11. J. Wilkin, Jakość rządzenia w Polsce, Warszawa 2013, s. 19-37.

12. Hausner i inni, Współzarzadzanie, Warszawa 2015 (fragmenty)

13. G. Peters, The Future of Governing, Kansas 2008, pp. 1-22.

Knows and understands basic concepts of various sub-domains of sociology (e.g. sociology of family, health, work, religion, economy, education, etc)

Is aware of ongoing theoretical and methodological disputes conducted in modern sociology; is reflective and critical of various positions

Has in-depth knowledge about social structures and selected social institutions as well as their interrelations

Is reflective and critical of the problem of social differentiation and inequalities

Has in-depth knowledge about the types of social ties and mechanisms supporting collective governance

Has in-depth knowledge about cultural diversity and its transformations, cultural identity, and intercultural interaction and communication

Has in-depth knowledge about major international and domestic sociological research pertaining to selected areas of social reality or sub-domains of sociology

Has in-depth knowledge of norms and rules governing social structures and institutions

Has in-depth knowledge about the functioning and management of various types of organizations

Has in-depth knowledge of assumptions and claims of selected historical and contemporary sociological theories

Knows how to interpret the role of culture in the life of the individual and society

Is open to various theoretical and methodological perspectives of social research

Final exam