Think like a Sociologist – a Decolonial approach to society

The discipline of Sociology – the science of Society no less! - was defined and developed during the height of European colonialism in the 19th century, and it's initial uses and purposes were typically to better understand and manipulate the colonies of the European empires as well as the citizens (or subjects) of the home nation itself. It's framing and expectations, were of a White-European-Universalised perspective of Europeans as the most intellectually elevated, socially civilised, and biologically advanced, expression of humanity seeking to better itself intellectually, philosophically, culturally, and economically.

Yet its presentation was, until relatively recently, simply 'the study of sociology' – stripped of the fundamental sociological contexts and purposes that birthed and directed much of it's development.

This short course takes a more globalised, decolonised, approach to the key elements that underlay sociology. We consider what it means to:

· Think like a sociologist; to investigate and understand complex social phenomena from a decolonised perspective.

· The art of asking good sociological questions to devising sophisticated theories, and develop methodologies by which to observe social phenomena.

· Engage with key sociological issues, topics, and problems, like crime, immigration, race and ethnicity, media, education, family, organizations, gender, poverty, modernization and religion

No previous knowledge is needed, although some familiarity with basicl sociological and academic language would be helpful.

This taster course is for anyone interested in gaining a deeper level of understanding society, and those wishing to develop better tools by which to question existing social practices

This short course takes a globalised approach to the key elements that underly sociology. We consider what it means to :

· Think like a sociologist; to investigate and understand complex social phenomena from a decolonised perspective.

· The art of asking good sociological questions to devising sophisticated theories, and develop methodologies by which to observe social phenomena.

· Engage with key sociological issues, topics, and problems, like crime, immigration, race and ethnicity, media, education, family, organizations, gender, poverty, modernization and religion