Sociology of the State and of the Democracy

Recommended Prerequisites

Competencies in the fields of social theory, sociological theories, political theory, political sociology and political science are recommended.

Teaching Methods

Based on the notion of active pedagogy, it is proposed to alternate between oral exposure on the part of the teacher and to encourage students to reflect on the materials distributed for classes.

Learning Outcomes

General objectives: To provide a systematic guide to the main theoretical traditions related to the analysis of the State and democracy from a sociological perspective.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. The social and the political in the analysis of the State

2. Theories of the State and democracy in capitalist societies

3. The problem of the relationship between the State and civil society

4. Democratic and non-democratic states

5. Postwar constitutionalism as a foundational movement of the democratic state

6. The rule of law and democracy

7. The welfare state and democracy

8. What future for the social state under democratic law in the context of post-democracies?

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Periodic or by final exam as given in the course information: 100.0%

Bibliography

Crouch, Colin (2004), Post Democracy. Oxford: Polity Press.

Crouch, Colin (2013), Post -democracy and the crisis. Juridikum 41.

Dryzek, John S.; Honig, Bonnie; Phillips, Anne (2006), The Oxford Handbook of Political Theory. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Ferreira, António Casimiro (2014), Política e sociedade. Teoria social em tempo de austeridade. Porto: Vida Económica.

Rhodes, R. A. W.; Binder, Sarah A.; Rockman, Bert A. (2006), The Oxford Handbook of Political Institutions. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Santos, Boaventura de Sousa (org.) (2002), Democratizar a democracia: os caminhos da democracia participativa. Porto: Afrontamento.

Waters, Malcolm (1994), Modern sociological theory. London: Sage Publications.