(in Polish) State – power – modernity: key problems and readings of the historical sociology

The course provides students with basic knowledge of the development of power institutions in Europe, as seen from the perspective of the historical sociology. It deals with the diversity of social and political development paths of various regions, peoples and states on that continent. These issues will be presented on the background of broader modernization and social development processes, and interpreted by the means of reading the classical works of the historical sociology.

Using the classical notions, concepts and theories of that social science branch, the class touches upon the East-West divide, definitely instituted with the development of capitalist economy in Western Europe. Another discussed issue is the diversity of despotic vs liberal, democratic vs authoritarian development paths. The variety of regional types and roles of nationalisms and their relation to the state-building process in the various parts of Europe will be discussed too.

The course provides students with basic knowledge of the development of power institutions in Europe, as seen from the perspective of the historical sociology and the comparative method. It deals with the diversity of social and political development paths of various regions, peoples and states on that continent. These issues will be presented on the background of broader modernization and social development processes, and interpreted by the means of reading the classical works of the historical sociology.

Using the classical notions, concepts and theories of that social science branch, the class touches upon the variety of political development paths, which led to the formation of modern forms of social and political organization, including nation-states. It deals with the East-West divide, with its supposed historical origins, possibly related already to the end of Antiquity and the beginning of European Feudalism, and definitely instituted by the development of capitalist economy in Western Europe. Another discussed issue is the diversity of despotic vs liberal state development paths, as well as the various routes leading to modern, liberal democracy – and its authoritarian, Fascist or Communist alternatives. The variety of regional types and roles of nationalisms and their relation to the state-building process in the various parts of Europe will be discussed too. Last but not least, the course deals with the significant oversights of the classical, historical-sociological reflection, which has been marked by the Western-Centrism (or even Eurocentrism), which led to the omission of certain peripheral areas, such as Balkans. All these issues will be presented and discussed by reading the classical works and using concepts developed by Perry Anderson, Barrington Moore, Reinhard Bendix, Charles Tilly and Miroslav Hroch.

Perry Anderson, Passages from Antiquity to Feudalism, London: NLB 1978; Perry Anderson, The Lineages of the Absolutist State, London: NLB 1974; Reinhard Bendix, Kings or People, University Of California Press 1978; Norbert Elias, The Civilizing Process, Oxford – Cambridge: Blackwell 1995; Miroslav Hroch, European Nations: Explaining Their Formation, London: Verso 2015; Michael Mann, Sources of Social Power, vol. I-IV,: Cambridge University Press 1986, 1993, 2012, 2013; Michael Mann, States, War and Capitalism, Blackwell, Oxford–Cambridge 1992; Barrington Moore, Social Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy, Harmondsworth: Penguin University Books 1974; Wim van Meurs, Alina Mungiu-Pippidi (eds.), Ottomans Into Europeans, London: Hurst 2010; Theda Skocpol (ed.) Vision and Method in Historical Sociology, Cambridge University Press 1984; Charles Tilly (ed.) The Formation of National States in Europe, Princeton University Press, Princeton 1975; Charles Tilly, Coercion, Capital, and European States, AD 990-1990, Blackwell, Oxford–Cambridge 1992; Charles Tilly, European Revolutions, 1492–1992, Blackwell 1993; Peter Wagner, A sociology of modernity. Liberty and discipline, London – New York: Routledge 1994.

K_W01 Knows and understands basic concepts of various sub-domains of sociology (e.g. sociology of family, health, work, religion, economy, education, etc)

K_W03 Is aware of ongoing theoretical and methodological disputes conducted in modern sociology; is reflective and critical of various positions

K_W16 Has in-depth knowledge about major international and domestic sociological research pertaining to state, politics and historical sociology

K_W27 Has in-depth knowledge of the 19th, 20th and 21st ideas and social processes which have shaped the face of the modern world

K_U04 Can critically select information and materials for academic work, using various sources in Polish and a foreign language as well as modern technologies

K_U18 Can identify the kinds of research in which the scientific texts read can be applicable

K_U19 Can prepare a presentation of a selected problem or study in Polish and in a foreign language

K_K05 Can gather, find, synthesize and critically assess information about social sciences

K_K07 Can justify the choice of sources

K_K10 Independently sets directions of personal development and further learning

Assessment of each participant’s individual activity during the classes (carried out by the teacher together with the students at the final meeting) – 55% of the final grade, final oral exam – 45% of the final grade.

Up to two absences are allowed. Those students who have been absent more than twice (but with no more that 45% absences) are expected to prepare and send the teacher short resumes of the main readings they missed. The type and form of second term exam are identical with the first one.