Theories of Contemporary Society
This unit provides a broad introduction to theories of contemporary society. It will examine at least four major themes within such theories, which constitute four recent attempts in the social sciences and the humanities to identify and name key dimensions of a rapidly changing world and rapidly changing national societies. These themes are: Globalisation; The ascendancy of neoliberal public philosophy and public policy; Postmodernity; Late or Advanced Capitalism.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify, compare and contrast different approaches to social analysis;
- Distinguish between different conceptual discourses in a variety of media;
- Recognise personal perceptual frameworks
- Apply social theory to enhance capacity for critical analysis of own social context
Content Areas
- Critical Thinking
- Imagining Society
- From Pre-Industrial to Postmodern Society
- States and the Market Economy
- Globalisation
- Consumer Capitalism and Individualism
- Media, Popular Culture and the Networked Society
- The State and Civil Society
- The End of the Welfare State?
- The Changing World of Paid Work
- The Organisational Environment in its Contemporary Social Context
- Future Trends
Unit Duration and Workload
This unit involves a total of 36 hours of face to face delivery or self-directed study including educator contact in flexible delivery modes, generating a further 120 hours of self-study per unit including research and related study activities, including assessment. This translates as 13 hours per week for the unit.