Classical Sociological Theory

This course explores sociological theory as it shaped the discipline and continues to be important today. Readings come from both the field's 'classics', like Marx, Weber, Durkheim, Simmel, and Du Bois and more recent thinkers whose work shaped perspectives like symbolic interactionism, feminist sociology, critical theory, and human ecology. Themes include rising individualism, the growing integration of national societies, and the impact of colonialism, migration, global order and conflict. We also examine different approaches to theorizing and their relationship to empirical research.