The macrosociology of modernity has always been the core theoretical concern of sociology. We will look at some classic and contemporary approaches to that issue, and consider the idea of postmodernity.

TEXTS
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, “The Communist Manifesto”
Emile Durkheim, The Division of Labor in Society
Max Weber, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism
James Skillen & Rockne McCarthy, Political Order & the Plural Structure of Society
Samuel Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order
Thomas Friedman, The Lexus and the Olive Tree
Francis Fukuyama, The Great Disruption
Quentin Skinner, The Return of Grand Theory in the Human Sciences
Anthony Giddens, The Consequences of Modernity
David Harvey, The Condition of Postmodernity

WORK (AND GRADING)
Four papers, each 8 – 10 pages, each worth 20%

Classic theory: How do Marx, Weber, or Durkheim explain the macrosociology of modernity? (Giddens and Harvey may prove helpful).

Macrosociological conflict: Compare, contrast, and assess the arguments of Huntington, Friedman, and Fukuyama on the macrosociology of modernity.

Contemporary theory: Pick one of the theorists discussed in Skinner. Read an additional article-length selection from that theorist touching on the macrosociology of modernity. Explain and assess that author's argument.

Modernity, post-modernity and sociological theory: Explain Giddens' and Harvey's accounts of modernity and postmodernity, and use them as the starting point to consider an important question of macrosociology. I recommend the "clash of civilizations" thesis as a topic. Meet with me to pick your topic.

Participation (20%) This is a seminar, so you owe it to your classmates, as well as to yourself, to actually speak and take part. As for attendance, "seminar is sacred" – most classes equal a week of the term, and can't be missed.

For more information on my grading standards, late-paper policies, and so forth, see General Instructions for Sociology Classes, linked to the Anthropology and Sociology webpage in the "Courses" section.

2/4 Marx and Engels, "The Manifesto of the Communist Party" (from any source)
2/6 Durkheim, The Division of Labor in Society Bk.I ch.2 §1, ch. 3 §4, ch. 5 §§1, 5; Bk II ch.2; Conclusion (65)

2/9 Weber, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, chs. 1, 2, 3, & 5 (100)
2/11 Harvey, The Condition of Postmodernity, chs. 1 – 3, 6 (70)
Giddens, The Consequences of Modernity, ch. 1 (55)

2/15 Paper on classic theory due 5 p.m. in my home mailbox.

2/18 Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order, Parts I and II (125)

2/25 Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order, Parts III and V (80). I recommend Part IV, which has all the actual politics, and is fun.

3/1 Friedman, chs. 1, 4, 6 (skim), 7, 8 (skim) (110)
3/3 Friedman, chs. 12, 15 (skim), 16, 18 (skim), 20 (100)

3/10 Fukuyama, chs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 (110)

3/17 Fukuyama
3/19 Paper on macrosociological conflict due 5 p.m. in my home mailbox.

BREAK

3/31 Skillen and McCarthy, Part II (90)

4/7 Skillen and McCarthy, Part III (80)

4/12 Skinner, chs. 1 – 4 (Introduction, Gadamer, Derrida, Foucault) (80)
4/14 Skinner, chs. 5 – 7 (Kuhn, Rawls, Habermas) (60)
4/16 Skinner, chs. 8 – 10 (Althusser, Lévi-Strauss, Annales historians) (60)
4/17 Paper on contemporary theory due 5 p.m. in my home mailbox.

4/21 Giddens, Parts I – III (110)

4/28 Giddens, Parts IV - VI (70)

5/3 Harvey, chs. 12 – 17 (100)
5/5 Harvey, Part IV (35)
Seminar dinner at my house.

5/19 Paper on modernity, post-modernity and sociological theory due 5 p.m. in my home mailbox.