Teacher(s)
Language
French
Learning outcomes
At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to : | |
| 1 |
-Develop a capacity to locate contemporary social phenomena in the middle and long run of history -Develop a capacity to use the resources of "history" (as a discipline) in sociological research -Clarify and overcome the contingencies which determined the frequent opposition between the two disciplines |
Content
The course examines the social organization and political treatment of religious and cultural issues in contemporary society and its main institutions, as well as the forms of social conflict that arise from them. The focus is on how French-speaking Belgian society is affected by these contemporary changes, which can be linked to the processes of globalization. The starting point for reflection is the observation of the renewed salience of religious and cultural issues in our second modernity, but also the difficulties and conflicts they raise in the construction of social and institutional arrangements today.
More specifically, our reflection focuses on two main objectives: (i) analyzing new forms of social conflict surrounding religious and cultural pluralism in our globalized societies, and (ii) identifying political responses to these conflicts and the institutional mechanisms designed to address them.
The course will identify a series of conflicts or public debates considered emblematic of this situation and will propose a series of analytical tools useful for understanding these phenomena.
He begins by defining and delimiting the concepts of culture, ethnicity, religion/religious/religiosity, before drawing on contemporary sociology to attempt to understand the novelty of the arrangements between these dimensions of society.
He also examines how the configuration of the nation-state (and the way in which relations between culture, religion, and politics were organized within it), which was established in early modernity, has now been profoundly destabilized and transformed. At the same time, secularization, the main “cultural narratives of nations,” and models of social integration and citizenship are now the subject of tensions and redefinitions.
We will work specifically on contemporary social conflicts in which religious and/or cultural or identity issues appear to be central. These conflicts will be chosen at the beginning of the course based on current events and the students' interests. The course provides various frameworks for analyzing this type of conflict, as well as analytical benchmarks for considering the institutional mechanisms currently attempting to address them (reasonable accommodations; integration pathways; new mechanisms focused on citizenship and the management of religion; etc.), without overlooking the supranational dimension of some of these mechanisms.
More specifically, our reflection focuses on two main objectives: (i) analyzing new forms of social conflict surrounding religious and cultural pluralism in our globalized societies, and (ii) identifying political responses to these conflicts and the institutional mechanisms designed to address them.
The course will identify a series of conflicts or public debates considered emblematic of this situation and will propose a series of analytical tools useful for understanding these phenomena.
He begins by defining and delimiting the concepts of culture, ethnicity, religion/religious/religiosity, before drawing on contemporary sociology to attempt to understand the novelty of the arrangements between these dimensions of society.
He also examines how the configuration of the nation-state (and the way in which relations between culture, religion, and politics were organized within it), which was established in early modernity, has now been profoundly destabilized and transformed. At the same time, secularization, the main “cultural narratives of nations,” and models of social integration and citizenship are now the subject of tensions and redefinitions.
We will work specifically on contemporary social conflicts in which religious and/or cultural or identity issues appear to be central. These conflicts will be chosen at the beginning of the course based on current events and the students' interests. The course provides various frameworks for analyzing this type of conflict, as well as analytical benchmarks for considering the institutional mechanisms currently attempting to address them (reasonable accommodations; integration pathways; new mechanisms focused on citizenship and the management of religion; etc.), without overlooking the supranational dimension of some of these mechanisms.
Teaching methods
The learning program combines (and alternates) three types of complementary teaching approaches:
- “theoretical markers,” during which teachers present key concepts and offer elements of interpretation and context drawn from the literature and their research;
- discussions and debates with students based on the reading of certain texts distributed in advance;
- the presentation and discussion of case studies (specific contemporary debates and conflicts surrounding religion and/or cultural identities and their political treatment, in relation to current events and/or recent research). These case studies will provide an opportunity to apply the proposed analytical frameworks.
- “theoretical markers,” during which teachers present key concepts and offer elements of interpretation and context drawn from the literature and their research;
- discussions and debates with students based on the reading of certain texts distributed in advance;
- the presentation and discussion of case studies (specific contemporary debates and conflicts surrounding religion and/or cultural identities and their political treatment, in relation to current events and/or recent research). These case studies will provide an opportunity to apply the proposed analytical frameworks.
Online resources
Moodle site for course LSOC2075: provides information on the course outline, session schedule, useful bibliographic references for different parts of the course, and assignment deadlines.
Bibliography
- Slides des professeurs disponibles sur moodle
- Textes pertinents sélectionnés (moodle)
Teaching materials
- Slides des professeurs disponibles sur moodle
- Textes pertinents sélectionnés (moodle)
Faculty or entity
