Vertiefungsseminar Modernization and Human Development SEMINAR IN ENGLISH

In this Vertiefungsseminar we will discuss the trends of modernization and human development, more specifically a variant of a paradigm in the analysis of social change developed and extended by Ronald Inglehart, Pippa Norris, Christian Welzel and others. The primary focus is on the effects of socioeconomic well-being on value change and the effects of values on a range of phenomena (and outcome variables) such as democratic development and civic entitlements. The seminar critically introduces the assumptions of -classical- modernization theory and step by step develops the theoretical scheme for understanding the worldwide change of societies. The course follows the assumptions from the authors' writings across almost five decades. The publications are largely based on data analyses from the World Values Survey including cross-national empirical evidence since the early 1980s. Ronald Inglehart's seminal work -The silent revolution- marks the beginning, Christian Welzel's -Freedom Rising- is one of the most recent publications to be discussed. Topics also include the human development sequence, secularization and the theory of existential security, gender equality as a rising tide and -human empowerment and the quest for emancipation-. Part I: Introduction 1. Session / 22.10.2015 The Large Scale Analysis of Social Change in the Social Sciences 2. Session / 29.10.2015 Classical Modernization Theory 3. Session / 5.11.2015 Multiple Modernities Part II: The General Perspective of Modernization and Human Development 4. Session / 12.11.2015 Modernization and Postmodernization 5. Session / 19.11.2015 Modernization, Postmodernization and Critique 6. Session / 26.11.2015 Modernization and the Perspective of Human Development 7. Session / 3.12.2015 The Perspective of Human Development, the Case of China and Critique Part III: Particular Areas of Modernization and Human Development 8. Session / 10.12.2015 Modernization and the Rising Tide of Gender Equality 9. Session / 17.12.2015 The Rising Tide of Gender Equality, the Case of Islamic Tradition and Critique 10. Session / 7.1.2016 Modernization and the Theory of Existential Security 11. Session / 14.1.2016 The Theory of Existential Security, the United States and Critique Part IV: From Human Development to Emancipative Human Empowerment 12. Session / 21.1.2016 Human Empowerment and the Impact of Emancipative Values 13. Session / 28.1.2016 Human Empowerment, Emancipative Values and Critique 14. Session / 4.2.2016 Plenary Discussion: Human Empowerment in the Light of Contemporary Conflicts 15. Session / 11.2.2016 Conclusion and Research Questions for Final Papers Important books for this seminar. Selected chapters are read during the course. Inglehart, Ronald (1977). The Silent Revolution: Changing Values and Political Styles Among Western Publicpp. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Inglehart, Ronald (1997). Modernization and Postmodernization: Cultural, Economic, and Political Change in 43 Societies. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Inglehart, Ronald, and Christian Welzel (2005). Modernization, Cultural Change, and Democracy: The Human Development Sequence. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Inglehart, Ronald, and Pippa Norris (2003). Rising Tide: Gender Equality and Cultural Change Around the World. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Inglehart, Ronald, and Pippa Norris (2004). Sacred and Secular. Religion and Politics Worldwide. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Welzel, Christian (2013). Freedom Rising. Human Empowerment and the Quest for Emancipation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Bemerkung The seminar will demand a reading work load of approx. 30-40 pages per week in English. The texts will be made available early before the sessions. Due to the nature of the data used for the studies, a sound knowledge of reading basic statistics tables is helpful or it is expected to be willing to acquire this ability during the course. Achtung: Interne Deadline! Der Anmeldezeitraum geht vom / course registration: 01.09.15 - 02.10.15, 23:59 (MEZ) Ab / From: 03.10.15 - 23.10.15 Zulassung durch den Dozenten / Admission by the course instructor. Voraussetzungen Good command of English or willingness to improve yourself during the course. Leistungsnachweis BN / proof of active participation: 4 written assignments in English pertaining to questions sent a week earlier by e-mail. Participation in all discussions in class. Willingness to particapte in the course throughout the term. -- please note: There will be no oral presentations (Referate). The course conceptis based on everyone's interest in the topic and in improving his/her/their English. AP / final exam: term paper of 12-15 pp. in English to be handed in until March 27 (no extended deadlines) or final oral exam about at least 6 session topics (details). Sozialwissenschaften (BA, PO 2000) Good command of English or willingness to improve yourself during the course. BN / proof of active participation: 4 written assignments in English pertaining to questions sent a week earlier by e-mail. Participation in all discussions in class. Willingness to particapte in the course throughout the term. -- please note: There will be no oral presentations (Referate). The course conceptis based on everyone's interest in the topic and in improving his/her/their English. AP / final exam: term paper of 12-15 pp. in English to be handed in until March 27 (no extended deadlines) or final oral exam about at least 6 session topics (details). Universität Düsseldorf WiSe 2015/16 Dr. Beckers Tilo