Social and institutional change

Uitgebreide vaknaam	Social and institutional change
Leerdoelen	At the end of the course, students … • … understand core theoretical conceptualizations of social institutions • … know important theories of the emergence, dissemination, and change of social institutions • … are able to analyze how and when typical institutions help solve problems of coordination and cooperation • … understand the micro-macro problem and the concept of emergence, knowing important examples of emergent phenomena from sociology and other disciplines. Students can distinguish between alternative approaches to explaining sociological phenomena (Max Weber vs. Emile Durkheim vs. complexity science) • … know core approaches to changing the behavior of individuals and collectives (incentives, nudging, institution design), and can reflect on their strengths and weaknesses in general and in specific cases • … are able to discuss approaches of institution design (e.g. reputation mechanisms, peer punishment, meritocracy, signaling) and their ability to solve specific problems of social collectives. • … know central arguments in the debate on the relationship between the state and the market, knowing classical arguments for a free, unregulated market and strong state providing social welfare institutions.
Omschrijving	As a result of globalization and the success of the Internet; companies, organizations, and societies face new challenges of coordination, and cooperation. The complexity of these challenges is illustrated by the difficult negotiations for an international treaty to limit climate change. On the other hand, the success of Internet services such as wikipedia, and couchsurving proofs that coordination, and cooperation can be established even between strangers and on a global scale. This course focuses on the effects of social institutions, i.e. norms (e.g. cultural conventions) and formal rules (e.g. law), on problems of coordination and cooperation in social groups, organizations, and societies. We will pay attention to how social institutions emerge, how they change, and how they affect the behavior of individuals and collectives. We will explore the conditions under which institutions have desired or undesired effects. Special attention will be paid to the role of the state in a market economy, and the effect of cultural norms on economic development. To this end, we will discuss classical (Weber, Durkheim, Smith) and contemporary theories (e.g. political economy, game theory, and complexity science) that have been used to explain social institutions. Students will be introduced to methods of analyzing social institutions and will be introduced to alternative approaches to changing the behavior of individuals. In particular, we will debate the design of incentive programs, institutional design (reputation systems, peer-punishment systems, signaling institutions, meritocracy), and nudging.
Uren per week	variabel
Onderwijsvorm	hoorcollege
Toetsvorm	schriftelijk tentamen (essay) DIGITAL
Vaksoort	bachelor
Coördinator	dr. M. Maes
Verplichte literatuur	Titel Auteur ISBN Prijs Articles in scientific journals, accessible through Web of Science
Entreevoorwaarden
Opmerkingen
Opgenomen in	Opleiding Jaar Periode Type Ba sociologie  (Ba2 sociologie) 2 semester I a verplicht Ba sociologie Internationale (keuzevakken) 1 semester I a keuze Course package 'Challenging Society' for exchange students BSc level - Autumn - semester I a keuze Course units for exchange students BSc level - Autumn semester (Sep-Jan) - semester I a keuze SO Liberal Arts and Sciences  (Year 2 Social Sciences) - semester I a keuze Minor Development Studies 3 semester I a keuze Minor Maatschappelijke orde en sociaal welzijn 3 semester I a verplicht Schakel sociologie 1 semester I a verplicht