SOCIOLOGIA GENERALE 1

The main objective of the course is to provide students with the fundamental foundations of sociology as a science that studies society in both its theoretical and empirical dimensions. It aims to offer a concise introduction to the various constituent elements and fields of application of sociological knowledge. These concepts will also be explored in depth through the study of the classics of sociology and the examination of some of the fundamental concepts in the history of sociological thought and theory. To round off the institutional component, the course will include an in-depth examination of the most important American and European theories on collective action, with the aim of providing students with a general overview of the various collective phenomena that make up society, taking a critical approach to the use of methodological approaches. The monographic component will serve as an in-depth exploration of the theoretical part, focusing on one of the themes already addressed: fashion as collective action.

The following learning outcomes are expected to be achieved:

1) Knowledge and understanding: to demonstrate knowledge and understanding that extend and/or reinforce those already acquired at the first-cycle level, with the aim of developing and/or applying original ideas within a process of speculative and/or applied research.

2) Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: being able to apply one’s knowledge

3) Independent judgement (making judgements): the ability to integrate knowledge in order to manage complexity, and to form judgements even on the basis of limited or incomplete information, including reflection on the social, scientific or ethical responsibilities associated with the application of one’s knowledge and judgements.

4) Communication skills: acquiring the ability to communicate one’s conclusions, as well as the knowledge and reasoning underlying them, clearly and unambiguously to an audience comprising both specialists and non-specialists.

5) Learning skills: developing learning skills that enable self-directed or independent study.

INSTITUTIONAL SECTION:

1) Sociology as a science for the individual; The origins of sociology; Karl Marx and the relations of production; Émile Durkheim and the problem of social order; Max Weber and social action; Georg Simmel and forms of interaction; Herbert Blumer and symbolic interaction; Talcott Parsons, Robert Merton and the needs of social coexistence; Erving Goffman and the order of interaction; Raymond Boudon and the individual; Pierre Bourdieu and social practices; Anthony Giddens and the analysis of radical modernity; Zygmunt Bauman and liquidity; Being in relationship; Feeling part of something; Reproducing cultures; Reproducing social norms; Communication: mediatisation; Everyday life; The life course; Family life; Acting together; Learning and education; Living in a globalised world; Living on the planet: climate change;

2) Collective action as a social process; Discontinuity and continuity in collective action; Models of rationality in collective action; Social movements as empirical case studies; Collective action and research methods; Concluding hypotheses; Fashion as collective action; #ItalianiSenzaCittadinanza: collective action by second-generation migrants in Italy; Collective action and environmental sustainability.

MONOGRAPHIC SECTION (CHOICE OF VOLUME):

3) An overview of the early pioneering studies in sociology in Italy; a concise account of the positivist and project-oriented nature of the social sciences; an example of research based on a text database; disciplinary reflection on the social responsibility of sociological knowledge.

4) Sociological interpretations of the concept of fashion; emerging themes in postmodernity; young people, fashion and identity formation: processes of social inclusion and exclusion through fashion; conformism and originality amongst young people: empirical research.

Testi di riferimento

1) Bichi R., Sociologia, Vita&Pensiero, 2022, Milano, pp. IX-XII, 5-32, 44-81, 111-120, 153-167, 190-201, 263-326, 383-439, 464-516, 546-557, 600-611, 668-690.

2) Daher L.M., Azione collettiva. Teoria e ricerca empirica, FrancoAngeli, 2021, Milano. 

3) Un volume monografico a scelta tra i seguenti: 

Leonora A.M., Conoscere per governare. Sistema di Sociologia di Enrico De Marinis, FrancoAngeli, 2025, Milano.

Mavica G., Definizioni di moda. Soggettività giovanili e cambiamento sociale, FrancoAngeli, 2024, Milano.

Assessment methods

The course assessment comprises a mid-term assessment (halfway through the course), a written examination (at the end of the course) and an oral examination (during the examination session of the student’s choice).

Mid-term assessment: this covers the book by Bichi, R., "Sociologia", Vita & Pensiero, Milan, 2022, pp. IX–XII, 5–32, 44–81, 111–120, 153–167, 190–201, 263–326, 383–439, 464–516, 546–557, 600–611, 668–690. The exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions and lasts 2 hours. The exam is marked out of 30.

Written exam: based on the book by Daher L.M., "Collective Action: Theory and Empirical Research", FrancoAngeli, Milan, 2021. The exam consists of 30 multiple-choice questions and lasts 1 hour. The exam is marked out of 30

Both the continuous assessment and the written exam will be conducted via the Exams platform (https://exam.net/it/), in person, in the lecture theatre.

Validity of assessments: The marks obtained in the two assessments are valid for one academic year.

Oral examination: this focuses on a monograph of the student’s choice from the following: 3) Leonora A.M., Conoscere per governare. Sistema di Sociologia by Enrico De Marinis, FrancoAngeli, 2025, Milan; 4) Mavica G., "Definizioni di moda. Soggettività giovanili e cambiamento sociale", FrancoAngeli, Milan, 2024.

Knowledge of the chosen monograph is assessed through an oral examination, which is also marked out of 30.

Determination of the final mark. The final mark is determined by the arithmetic mean of the three marks obtained: the mark for the first continuous assessment, the mark for the second written examination and the mark for the oral examination.

The overall assessment will take into account knowledge and mastery of the content, the ability to understand and make connections between different topics, and the ability to use sociological concepts and categories appropriately. For the oral examination, the ability to argue a case, clarity of presentation and the appropriate use of disciplinary terminology will also be taken into account.

CRITERIA FOR AWARDING THE FINAL GRADE

• Failed: insufficient knowledge of the course’s core content and difficulty in applying key sociological concepts.

• 18–21: minimal but sufficiently adequate knowledge of the content; basic ability to understand and link topics; sufficiently clear presentation.

• 22–25: reasonable knowledge of the content; adequate ability to understand, analyse and link the main topics; fairly clear presentation and, on the whole, appropriate use of disciplinary language.

• 26–28: good knowledge and understanding of the course content; good ability to analyse, link and apply sociological concepts; clear presentation and appropriate use of disciplinary language.

-    How does Weber define the process by which we link action and shared representations?

a.    Rationality

b.    Explanation

c.    Understanding

-    What are the main ideologies of modernity?

a.         Liberalism, democracy, socialism and nationalism

b.    Liberalism, Marxism, socialism and nationalism

c.    Federalism, Marxism, liberalism and socialism

-    For Simmel, sociology as a science is:

a.    cultural

b.    eclectic

c.    positivist

-    Bauman’s highly narrative sociology has been viewed by critics with:

a.    optimism

b.    scepticism

c.    indifference

-    Which of the following statements is true regarding Bourdieu’s concept of habitus:

a.         it is a structured structure, that is, it is interdependent with the social world

b.    it is not a principle that generates practices

c.    it is not a structuring structure

-    According to Durkheim, social facts:

a.    have an autonomous existence

b.    exist independently of individuals, but individuals must internalise them

c.    must be treated as subjective phenomena.