Historical Sociology
This module provides an introduction to those traditions in social theory that have sought to understand the nature of societies by treating them as aspects of a process of historical development. Theorists covered include Karl Marx, Max Weber, Robert Michels, Antonio Gramsci, Leon Trotsky, E P Thompson, Perry Anderson, Barrington Moore, Werner Sombart, Theda Skocpol and Michael Mann. Topics include the origins of capitalism, the formation and variants of the modern state, class and class consciousness, the peculiarities of national development and the relative contributions of social structures and agency in bringing about social change.
Convenor: Professor David Howell
Duration of course: two terms, Autumn and Spring.
Credits: 40.
Procedural requirements: a seminar presentation in each term.
Assessment:
Term 4: Each student must write an assessment essay of up to 1500 words in length to be submitted in week ten of term 4. This will count for 25% of the combined assessment essay mark.
Term 5: Each student must write an assessment essay of up to 3000 words in length to be submitted in week ten of term 5. This will count for 75% of the combined essay assessment mark. The two assessed essays comprise 20 credits.
There will be a three-hour unseen exam, worth 20 credits.
Module guide 2009-2010 (pdf)
Past Exam Papers
2004 (pdf)
2005 (pdf)
2006 (pdf)
2007 (pdf)