The course serves as an introduction into economic sociology, which forms part of the interdisciplinary field of socioeconomics and constitutes a subdiscipline of sociology. More specifically, the course focuses on the role of the economy in society, the connection and contention between economic interests and social relations, and the question of how economic action can be conceived and interpreted from different theoretical perspectives, economic as well as sociological ones.

Participants will develop a basic understanding of sociological approaches to the economy, which help to put the prevailing economic approaches into perspective and can be applied to multiple problems. They will be able to assess recent theoretical developments within the economic discipline from a critical sociological point of view and to take a stance in the continued debate between mainstream economics and its critics, be they from sociology, socioeconomics or political economy. With an emphasis of this course being on individual written work, they will develop and improve their academic writing skills.

This is a course with continuous assessment (PI) with full attendance requirement (at least 80% of contact hours).

The course consists of introductory lectures, preparatory readings, written assignments, and seminar discussions.

The following aspects and activities will be assessed:

1. Participation (20%): active participation in class discussion

2. Response Papers (30%): three essays that critically engage with required readings

3. Discussion Leading (10%): short presentation and moderation of class discussion

4. Final Paper (40%): a term paper on a topic of the student’s choice related to the seminar themes

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