Course overview
Contemporary social life can feel riven with conflict young against old, men against women, rich against poor. Culture wars rage in which people are mobilised to support one side and view those who disagree with their position as stupid or evil. Violent conflicts in distant lands can stoke conflict and unrest near and far. Political divisions cut across generational lines and can cause family disputes. This course will analyse various forms of social conflict and polarisation. We will investigate whether polarisation is indeed increasing, and if so, what are the driving forces that lay behind such social conflict. Students will develop skills in analysing contemporary forms of polarisation and conflict and how these might be addressed or remedied.
- Understanding Polarisation
- Divisions in Dangerous Times
- Crisis and Contingent Outcomes
Course learning outcomes
- Recognise and apply key concepts through which sociologists investigate social conflict and social polarisation
- Analyse lay depictions of social conflict or polarisation using sociological concepts and evidentiary standards of the discipline
- Empirically analyse a contemporary form of social conflict and polarised socio-political debate using sociological perspectives
- Propose policy recommendations that draw from sociological research and perspectives
- Demonstrate literacy in social research through practice in effectively communicating in ways relevant to end users
Availability
Class details
Adelaide City Campus East
Group 1
Class number 62063
Section SE02
Size 30
Available 30
Class number 62064
Section SE01
Size 30
Available 30
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