FACULTY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Department of Sociology

SOCIAL MEDIA

SOC 402 | Course Introduction and Application Information

Course Name
Selected Topics in Sociology
Code
Semester
Theory
(hour/week)
Application/Lab
(hour/week)
Local Credits
ECTS
SOC 402
Fall/Spring
3
0
3
6

Prerequisites
None
Course Language
English
Course Type
Service Course
Course Level
-
Mode of Delivery -
Teaching Methods and Techniques of the Course Group Work
Q&A
Lecture / Presentation
Course Coordinator -
Course Lecturer(s)
Assistant(s) -
Course Objectives The course aims to familiarise students with the social, cultural, historical, political and economic context in which rural sociology emerges as a distinctive research field. Its objective is to help students gaining understanding of the fundamental concepts, discussions and research methods in rural sociology such as agriculture, food, environment, village, peasantry, community, cultural identity, spatial inequalities and development.
Learning Outcomes The students who succeeded in this course;
  • describe basic theories, concepts and theoretical approaches guided the field of rural sociology
  • describe the historical context in which rural sociology emerged.
  • identify some of the key social problems facing rural communities anf its urban and international counterparts in the 21st century
  • identify sociological research principles in working with members of the rural community, in identifying their needs, and developing social policies for meeting these needs
  • visualize the impact of place in cultural identity and social relations
Course Description The course is organized into three sections. The course begins by exploring theoretical perspectives for studying the sociology of agriculture, food and rural communities. The second section of the course will focus on contemporary issues of global food regimes and agricultural change. The course then explores social movements for civic agriculture and alternative food systems. It addresses broader sociological questions about the socio-spatial identities and socio-spatial inequalities in Turkey and in the world.

 



Course Category

Core Courses
Major Area Courses
X
Supportive Courses
Media and Management Skills Courses
Transferable Skill Courses

 

WEEKLY SUBJECTS AND RELATED PREPARATION STUDIES

Week Subjects Related Preparation
1 Introduction
2 Rural Sociology Readings: Howard Newby. (1983). “The Sociology of Agriculture: Toward a New Rural Sociology.” Annual Review of Sociology, 9: 67‐81. Philip McMichael. (2006). "Peasant Prospects in the Neoliberal Age". New Political Economy, 11(3): 407-418. Recommended Readings: Jan Douwe Van der Ploeg. (1993). “Rural Sociology and the New Agrarian Question.” Sociologia Ruralis, 33: 240-60. Frederick H. Buttel. (1980). “Agricultural Structure and Rural Ecology: Toward a Political Economy of Rural Development”. Sociologia Ruralis, 20(1-2): 44-62.
3 Documentary Screening The World According To Monsanto (2008) Director: Marie-Monique Robin An in-depth look at placeless agro-industrial model (genetically modified seeds)
4 The Agrarian Question Readings: Susan A. Mann and James M. Dickinson. (1978). “Obstacles to the Development of Capitalist Agriculture.” The Journal of Peasant Studies, 5: 466-81. Henry Bernstein. (2003). “Farewells to the peasantry”. Transformation, 52: 1-19 Recommended Readings David Goodman and Michael Redclift. (1985) “Capitalism, Petty Commodity Production and the Farm Enterprise.” Sociologia Ruralis 25: 231-47. William H. Friedland. (2002). “Agriculture and Rurality: Beginning the ‘Final Separation’?”. Rural Sociology. 67(3): 350-371.
5 Transformation of Agriculture in Turkey Readings: Caglar Keyder and Zafer Yenal. (2011). “Agrarian Change under Globalization: Markets and Insecurity in Turkish Agriculture.” Journal of Agrarian Change, 11: 60-86. Murat Öztürk, Joost Jongerden and Andy Hilton. (2017). “The (re)production of the new peasantry in Turkey”. Journal of Rural Studies. Xxx. In press. Available online. Recommended Reading Çağlar Keyder. (1983). “The Cycle of Sharecropping and the Consolidation of Small Peasant Ownership in Turkey,” Journal of Peasant Studies, 10: 130–145 Derya Nizam & Zafer Yenal (2020) Seed politics in Turkey: the awakening of a landrace wheat and its prospects, The Journal of Peasant Studies, 47:4, 741-766.
6 Rural Development: An Agricultural Paradigm Shift? Readings: Jonathan Murdoch. (2000): "Networks-a New Paradigm of Rural Development?". Journal of Rural Studies 16:407-19. Clive Potter and Jonathan Burney. (2002): "Agricultural Multifunctionality in the WTO—Legitimate Non-Trade Concern or Disguised Protectionism?". Journal of Rural Studies 18: 35-47. Recommended Readings: David Goodman. (2004). "Rural Europe Redux? Reflections on Alternative Agro-Food Networks and Paradigm Change." Sociologia Ruralis. 44: 3-16. Henk Renting, Terry K. Marsden, and Jo Banks. (2003). "Understanding Alternative Food Networks: Exploring the Role of Short Food Supply Chains in Rural Development." Environment and Planning A 35: 393-411.
7 Midterm
8 Documentary Screening Black Gold (2006) Director: Marc Francis, Nick Francis An in-depth look at the world of coffee and global trade (fair trade movement).
9 Women and Rural Livelihoods Group A Presentation Readings: Theodosia Anthopoulou. (2010). “Rural Women in Local Agrofood Production: Between Entrepreneurial Initiatives and Family Strategies. A Case Study in Greece.” Journal of Rural Studies, 26: 394-403. Roser Manzanera-Ruiz, Carmen Lizarraga and Rosemarie Mwaipopo. (2016). “Gender Inequality, Processes of Adaptation, and Female Local Initiatives in Cash Crop Production in Northern Tanzania”. Rural Sociology, 81(2):143–171. Recommended Readings: Jo Little, Brian Ilbery, and David Watts. (2009). “Gender, Consumption and the Relocalisation of Food: A Research Agenda.” Sociologia Ruralis, 49 (3): 201-17. Catherine S. Dolan. (2004). “On Farm and Packhouse: Employment at the Bottom of a Global Value Chain”. Rural Sociology, 69 (1): 99–126.
10 Documentary Screening
11 Food Sovereignty: Social Class and Movements Group B Presentation Readings: Annette-Aurelie Desmarais. (2002). “The Via Campesina: Consolidating an International Peasant and Farm Movement”. The Journal of Peasant Studies, 29: 91-124. Marc Edelman. (2005). “Bringing the moral economy back in… to the study of 21st century transnational peasant movements”. American Anthropologist, 107: 331-345. Recommended Readings: John Wilkinson. (2011). “From Fair Trade to Responsible Soy: Social Movements and the Qualification of Agrofood Markets.” Environment and Planning A, 43: 2012-26. Peter L. Taylor, Douglas L. Murray, Laura T. Raynolds. (2005). “Keeping Trade Fair: Governance Challenges in the Fair Trade Coffee Initiative”. Sustainable Development, 13: 199-208.
12 Food, Culture and Place Group C Presentation Readings: Elizabeth Barham. (2003). “Translating Terroir: The Global Challenge of French AOC Labeling.” Journal of Rural Studies, 19: 127-38. Derya Nizam. (2017). “Place, food and agriculture: The use of geographical indications in Turkey”. New Perspectives On Turkey, 57: 3-30. Recommended Readings: Sarah Bowen and Kathryn De Master. (2011). “New Rural Livelihoods or Museums of Production? Quality Food Initiatives in Practice”. Journal of Rural Studies, 27: 73-82. Rosemary J. Coombe and Nicole Aylwin. (2011). “Bordering Diversity and Desire: Using Intellectual Property to Mark Place-Based Products”. Environment and Planning A, 43: 2027-42.
13 Food, Knowledge and Power Group D Presentation Readings: Julie Guthman. (2007). “The Polanyian Way? Voluntary Food Labels as Neoliberal Governance.” Antipode, 39: 456-78. E. Melanie DuPuis and David Goodman. (2005). “Should We Go 'Home' to Eat? Toward a Reflexive Politics of Localism.” Journal of Rural Studies, 21: 359-71. Recommended Readings: Harriet Friedmann and Amber McNair. (2008). “Whose Rules Rule? Contested Projects to Certify ‘Local Production for Distant Consumers’.” Journal of Agrarian Change, 8:408-34. Maria Fonte. (2008). “Knowledge, Food and Place. A Way of Producing, a Way of Knowing.” Sociologia Ruralis, 48: 200-22.
14 Student Group Presentations (Group A & B)
15 Student Group Presentations (Group C & D) Review of the Semester
16 Final Exam

 

Course Notes/Textbooks Readings listed in this form
Suggested Readings/Materials The recommending readings will be avaliable on Blackboard.

 

EVALUATION SYSTEM

Semester Activities Number Weigthing
Participation
Laboratory / Application
Field Work
Quizzes / Studio Critiques
Portfolio
Homework / Assignments
1
10
Presentation / Jury
2
30
Project
Seminar / Workshop
Oral Exams
Midterm
1
20
Final Exam
1
40
Total

Weighting of Semester Activities on the Final Grade
5
60
Weighting of End-of-Semester Activities on the Final Grade
1
40
Total

ECTS / WORKLOAD TABLE

Semester Activities Number Duration (Hours) Workload
Theoretical Course Hours
(Including exam week: 16 x total hours)
16
3
48
Laboratory / Application Hours
(Including exam week: '.16.' x total hours)
16
0
Study Hours Out of Class
16
3
48
Field Work
0
Quizzes / Studio Critiques
0
Portfolio
0
Homework / Assignments
1
14
14
Presentation / Jury
2
15
30
Project
0
Seminar / Workshop
0
Oral Exam
0
Midterms
1
15
15
Final Exam
1
25
25
    Total
180

 

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES AND PROGRAM QUALIFICATIONS RELATIONSHIP

#
Program Competencies/Outcomes
* Contribution Level
1
2
3
4
5
1

To have the knowledge of classical and contemporary theories in sociology, and be able to comparatively analyze these theories.

X
2

To have the knowledge of main methodological approaches in sociology as well as social research and data analysis methods.

X
3

To have knowledge in the fields of general sociology, sociology of institutions, social structure and change, and applied sociology.

X
4

To be able to determine the appropriate methods in the design of the planning stage and conclusion of a sociological project, individually or as part of a team.

X
5

To be able to diagnose the social dynamics behind personal problems by using sociological imagination.

X
6

To be able to define social problems at local, national, and global level, and offer new policies for solutions.

X
7

To be able to apply commonly-used computer programs for data collection and analysis in sociological research.

8

To be able to develop a socially responsible, scientific and ethical perspective regarding the collection, analysis, interpretation and presentation of data.

9

To be able to analyze different aspects of the social world by drawing on the knowledge produced by other disciplines of the social sciences.

10

To be able to constantly renew herself/himself professionally by following scientific and technological developments in sociology and social research.

X
11

To be able to collect sociological data and communicate with sociologists and other social scientists in a foreign language ("European Language Portfolio Global Scale", Level B1).

12

To be able to speak a second foreign at a medium level of fluency efficiently.

13

To be able to relate the knowledge accumulated throughout the human history to their field of expertise.

*1 Lowest, 2 Low, 3 Average, 4 High, 5 Highest

 


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