The Social Problems of Contemporary Polish Society

obligatory courses

Classroom

The course is focused on the analysis of basic social phenomena and processes, which as such are institutionalized in contemporary Poland. Discussion topics cover both the research on these phenomena and the basic arguments used in the ongoing public debate on the various, proposed methods of coping with particular problems.

In course of the class, the basic theoretical frameworks of sociology of social problems will be presented and discussed, e.g. the disorganization theory, functionalism and constructivism. The course will also cover the difficulties faced by sociology of social problems (among other things, the. classic theses advanced by Mills on professional ideology of social pathologies will be discussed). Another area covered will be the analysis of typical social pathologies, such as criminality, drug abuse, prostitution, as well as the social problems arising from regional differences in the processes of modernization. Finally, structural tensions related to social differentiation will be analyzed and discussed, such as poverty, job market issues, access to education and problems of social exclusion and marginalization.

• Durkheim, E. „Zasady rozróżniania faktów normalnych i patologicznych” w: „Zasady metody socjologicznej”

• Merton, R.K. „Funkcje jawne i ukryte”

• Frieske, K.W. „Teoretyczne opcje socjologii problemów społecznych”

• Mills, C. W. „Zawodowa ideologia patologów społecznych”, w: J. Mucha „C. W. Mills”, 1985

• Blumer, H. „Social problems as collective beaviour”, Social Problems 1971 (vol. 18, nr 3).

• Merton, R.K. „Social problems and sociological theory”, w: R. K. Merton, R. A. Nisbet (red) Contemporary Social Problems - An Introduction to the Sociology of Deviant Behaviour and Social Disorganization; Harcourt, Brace & World Inc. 1961. Str. 697-737. (tłumaczenie)

• Frieske, K. i Poławski, P. „Opieka i kontrola”, BPS 1996, rozdział 1 „Strategie rozwiązywania problemów społecznych”, s. 11-41

• Dzierzgowski, J. „David Garland i kultura kontroli”, Kultura i Społeczeństwo 2007, nr 3, s. 93-114

• A. Sen „Rozwój i Wolność”, Zysk i S-ka 2002, rozdz. 4 „Ubóstwo jako niedostatek możliwości”, s. 105-129

• K.W. Frieske „Społeczne wykluczenie: o nicowaniu pojęć”. W: S. Golinowska (red.) „Ubóstwo i wykluczenie społeczne. Badania-metody-wyniki”. IPISS, W-wa 2005.

• Rossi P. H. „The politics of homelessness”, w: „Sociology and the Public Agenda” red. W.J.Wilson; Sage Publications 1993; str.287-299 (tłumaczenie)

• Zielińska, I. „Media, interes i panika moralna”, Kultura i Społeczeństwo 2004, nr 4: 161-177

• E. Tarkowska „Co wiemy i czego nie wiemy o polskiej biedzie”, w: Janusz Mucha, Ewa Narkiewicz-Niedbalec, Maria Zielińska (red.) „Co nas łączy, co nas dzieli?” Zielona Góra, Oficyna Wydawnicza Uniwersytetu Zielonogórskiego, 2008

• N. Christie „Dogodna Ilość przestępstw”, PSEP, Warszawa, 2004, rozdział 1 „Przestępstwo nie istnieje”

• A. Kiersztyn „Czy bieda czyni złodzieja? Związki między bezrobociem, ubóstwem a przestępczością” Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego, Warszawa 2008, rozdz. W poszukiwaniu mechanizmów przyczynowych

• P. Poławski „Alteracje prostytucji. Sex work i społeczna patologia”

***Literatura jest przykładowa. Każdy prowadzący ustali szczegółową listę lektur w prowadzonych przez siebie grupach

Knows and understands basic sociological concepts

Has basic knowledge about social structures and selected social institutions, and their interrelations

Is aware of social differentiation and existing social inequalities, as well as their impact on the life of individuals and the functioning of social groups

Has basic knowledge about the tools and goals of social policy

Has basic knowledge about cultural diversity of Poland and the modern world

Has basic knowledge of the norms and rules governing social structures and institutions

Has basic knowledge about the processes forming the basis of social stability and change, and understands their nature

Is aware of the processes occurring in Polish and global society and their consequences for social attitudes and institutions

Has basic knowledge about the current needs and problems of Polish society and changes occurring in this area

Can use basic sociological terms and categories to analyze societies, particularly contemporary Polish society

Can use basic theoretical categories to describe social changes in modern societies

Can conduct a simple analysis of the consequences of the processes occurring in modern societies

Can formulate a general evaluation of a measure undertaken to solve a particular social problem, based on acquired knowledge

Can comprehend a scientific text and identify its main theses and the author’s arguments, as well as discuss them

Can argue a thesis

1. Class attendance

2. Participation (evaluated for each class)

3. Short desk research based presentation on a selected social problem,

4. Exam – written test with open questions