Information Package / Course Catalogue
Social Inequalities and Class
Course Code: SOS448
Course Type: Required
Couse Group: First Cycle (Bachelor's Degree)
Education Language: Turkish
Work Placement: N/A
Theory: 3
Prt.: 0
Credit: 3
Lab: 0
ECTS: 8
Objectives of the Course

Recently together with intensive economical and technological changes, class and class relations has been differentiated. Especially neo-liberal politics and globalization process affects class structure in a large extent in the world. In this course main purpose to debate changes concerning class structure, class struggle and class identity. İn this course the class phenomenon will be debating both in theoretical context and support with empirical data.

Course Content

Classical class theories; the changes in class structure in 20 th. Century (technological, economical, social and cultural factors); neo-liberalism; globalization process and transformations in class formation; transition from class movements to new social movements; social exclusion based upon poverty; ethnic identity; gender and religious belief.

Name of Lecturer(s)
Prof. Özlem IRMAK BALKIZ
Learning Outcomes
1.to know the debate on class and class structure in literature of social theory.
2.To be able to learn difference between social stratification paradigm and social class paradigm
3.To be able to learn as a classical social class theories of Marxist and Weberian class paradigms
4.To be able to learn emerging transformations at the structure of social classes.
5.To be able to learn new expansions in social class debates in the 21 th century
6.To be able to analyse poverty, social exclusion, new proletarianization, precariousness and immaterial labour processes.
Recommended or Required Reading
1.Sınıf- Stephen Edgell, Çev. Didem Özyiğit, Dost Kitabevi Yay., Ankara, 1998.
2.Prometheus’un Sönmeyen Ateşi, Günümüzde İşçi Sınıfı- Tülin Öngen, Alan Yay., İstanbul, 1996.
3.Eşitlik- Bryan Turner, Çev. Bahadır Sina Şener, Dost Kitabevi Yay., Ankara, 1997.
4.Değişen İşçi Sınıfı- Alex Callinicos, Chris Harman, Çev. Osman Akınhay, Z Yayınları, İstanbul, 1994.
5.İktidar Seçkinleri- Wright Mills, Çev. Ünsal Oskay, Bilgi Yayınevi, Ankara, 1974.
6.İstanbul ve Anadolu’dan Sınıf Profilleri- Korkut Boratav, İmge Yayınevi, Ankara, 2004.
7.Toplumsal Tabakalaşma- Eyüp Kemerlioğlu, Saray Kitabevleri, İzmir, 1996.
8.Tülin Öngen; ‘Teknik Emekgücünün Sınıfsal Profili’, Toplum ve Bilim, Sayı: 85, Yaz 2000.
9.Şükrü Argın; ‘Neo-Marksist Sınıf Analizinde Weber Hayaleti’, Birikim, Sayı:36, Nisan, 1992.
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
Week 1 - Theoretical
What is Social Inequality? Various Patterns of Inequality Historically and Socially
Week 2 - Theoretical
Social stratification forms and theories about social stratification, Functional stratification theory
Week 3 - Theoretical
What are the main differences between the social stratification perspective and the social class perspective? How are Strata and Classes distinguished from each other?
Week 4 - Theoretical
Classical theories of stratification - Karl Marx's theory - philosophy, methodological approach, class theory, proletarianization-polarization-revolutionary change, class consciousness approach
Week 5 - Theoretical
Max Weber's theory, philosophy, methodological approach, stratification theory, class, status group and party
Week 6 - Theoretical
Changes in class structure in 20 th. century
Week 7 - Theoretical
Differences in capital accumulation regimes and their effects on classes
Week 8 - Theoretical
The division management and ownership, new ruling class and new white collars in capitalist class formation. Bureaucratization of capital
Week 9 - Theoretical
Technological revolutions, transformations, differences in the mode of production and their effects on classes, Class consequences of Taylorism-fordism and the Fordist mode of production , Class effects of post-Fordism and the post-Fordist/flexible mode of production
Week 10 - Theoretical
Historical development of the new middle class and white-collar workers
Week 11 - Theoretical
In the context of global and neo-liberal politics changing positions of white collars. New Prolateriatization, precarization and precariat
Week 12 - Theoretical
Transformations in the structure of the upper classes/bourgeoisie - Views from Europe and Turkey
Week 13 - Theoretical
The effects of new media, consumerism and consumer society phenomena on classes
Week 14 - Theoretical
Discussions about the future of Social Classes, new inequalities, new class patterns and new forms of struggle
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Type of AssessmentCountPercent
Midterm Examination1%40
Final Examination1%60
Workload Calculation
ActivitiesCountPreparationTimeTotal Work Load (hours)
Lecture - Theory142370
Reading140342
Individual Work130339
Midterm Examination120222
Final Examination130232
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours)205
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
PÇ-1
PÇ-2
PÇ-3
PÇ-4
PÇ-5
PÇ-6
PÇ-7
PÇ-8
PÇ-9
PÇ-10
PÇ-11
OÇ-1
5
5
5
5
5
4
5
4
5
5
4
OÇ-2
5
5
5
5
5
4
5
4
5
5
4
OÇ-3
5
5
5
5
5
4
5
4
5
5
4
OÇ-4
5
5
5
5
5
4
5
4
5
5
4
OÇ-5
5
5
5
5
5
4
5
4
5
5
4
OÇ-6
5
5
5
5
5
4
5
4
5
5
4
Adnan Menderes University - Information Package / Course Catalogue
2026