Structure and Social Change

This course introduces students to the major contemporary theories and the central concepts relevant to the study of social stratification in advanced industrial societies, with particular attention to class inequalities. It presents some of the key findings from the comparative literature on social stratification and shows how theoretical debates can be tested against empirical data. The course offers a comprehensive introduction to key debates in the field of social stratification, including debates on meritocracy, the declining significance of social class, the causes of income polarisation, and the determinants of gender and ethnic stratification in contemporary societies.