1. Social Structures and Social Inequalities Course Instructor: Dr. Rafael Mrowczynski Lecturer of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) at the Department of Sociology of the National Research University – Higher School of Economics Contact: rmrowczynski@hse.ru Higher School of Economics, Moscow, 2012 www.hse.ru

2. Higher School of Economics, Moscow, 2012 Introduction Research on social structure is one of the core areas of the sociology. Issues of social inequality and injustice are currently in the focus of political debates worldwide.

3. Higher School of Economics, Moscow, 2012 List of themes Social classes: classic approaches and current debates; Power differentials & politics of social inequality; Gradualist approaches to social stratification: incomes, occupa- tions, wealth & prestige; Different modes of status attainment; Social mobility: the dynamics of social structures;

4. Higher School of Economics, Moscow, 2012 Ascriptive differences (gender, ethnicity & race) and social inequalities; Consequences of social inequalities: cultural consumption, lifestyles, health, access to modern communications; Social inequalities in state- socialist & post-socialist contexts; Transnationalisation of social structures: old and new forms of social inequalities.; List of themes

5. Higher School of Economics, Moscow, 2012 Ten teaching units. Lectures and seminar discussions. Required readings should be read in advance of the session. All readings will be provided on a CD-ROM. Teaching

6. Higher School of Economics, Moscow, 2012 Frequent in-class participation. A 3,000 word essay. A presentation of a topic based on additional readings. A multiple-choice test. Assessment

7. Higher School of Economics, Moscow, 2012 The course will provide its participants with a general overview of the studies in social structure and social inequalities. Students will have the opportunity to discuss the readings in English and to develop their ideas about their possible research in this area. Outcomes