Sociology of local communities

elective courses

Classroom

The topics of the course is to depict and analyze the specificity of local communities in the social and political life, their basic way of functioning, self-government as a basic form for their social and political manifestation, internal political form of activity, their role in modern society and state, and methods of their study. The aim of the course is to present the theoretical background for analyzing locality, its form of social ties, their norms and rules, and forms of common life. The course discuss a self-government as their typical political form of existence, its significance for the state and society, and the characteristic features of its political life. The local communities have their special scientific method of study – the monographic method. Its features are consequences of its social ties, territorial roots and strong inter-dependencies.

The topics of the course is to depict and analyze the specificity of local communities in the social and political life, their basic way of functioning, self-government as a basic form for their social and political manifestation, internal political form of activity, their role in modern society and state, and methods of their study. The course is divided in four blocs: local communities, cities and urban local communities, self-government, and methods of study of local communities.

The class starts from discussion of the theoretical background for analyzing locality, its form of social ties. Then it presents forms of common local and regional life. The next topic are urban local communities, their types and contemporary changes. The course discuss a self-government as their typical political form of existence, its distinguished legal features, the conditions of its emerging and the European Chart of Local Self-government. The local communities are also very important for the state and society. This is discussed using notions of social capital and communalized state. The local communities have their special scientific method of study – the monographic method. Its features are consequences of its social ties, territorial roots, strong inter-dependencies and needed close interaction between the scientist and the subject of study

Bartkowski Jerzy, Samorząd terytorialny, W: Wiatr J., Raciborski J., red., Demokracja Polska. Wyd. Naukowe „Scholar”, Warszawa 2003, s. 147-176, Hammersley M., P.Atkinson, Metody badań terenowych, Poznań 2000, Jałowiecki Bohdan, Szczepański Marek, Rozwój lokalny i regionalny w perspektywie socjologicznej, Tychy 2002; Jałowiecki Bohdan, Szczepański Marek, Miasto i przestrzeń w perspektywie socjologicznej, Scholar, Warszawa 2006; Jałowiecki Bohdan, Globalny świat metropolii, Warszawa 2007; Starosta Paweł, Społeczność lokalna (hasło), w: Encyklopedia socjologii, Wyd. Oficyna Wydawnicza, Warszawa 2001-2005; Tarkowski Jacek, Patroni i klienci w gospodarce planowej, W: Tarkowski J., Socjologia świata polityki t.I, Warszawa 1994, ISP PAN; Wykrętowicz Stanisław, Samorząd jako wyraz demokracji obywatelskiej, W: Wykrętowicz Stanisław., red., Samorząd w Polsce. istota, formy, zadania, Poznań 2001, Wyd. Wyższej Szkoły Bankowej.

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_W04 Has in-depth knowledge about social structures and selected social institutions as well as their interrelations

K_W08 Has in-depth knowledge about the types of social ties and mechanisms supporting collective governance

K_W09 Has in-depth knowledge about mechanisms of social group dynamics and interdependencies between the group and the individual

K_W17 Has in-depth knowledge of norms and rules governing social structures and institutions

K_W21 Has in-depth knowledge about politics and political processes at the domestic, EU and global levels as well as about participation in the public sphere

Presence at lectures and exam