13927 - Concepts of Social Criticism and Social Transformation Modulübersicht

Module Number: 13927
Module Title:Concepts of Social Criticism and Social Transformation
  Konzepte von Gesellschaftskritik und sozialer Transformation
Department: Faculty 5 - Business, Law and Social Sciences
Responsible Staff Member:
  • Prof. Dr. Amelina, Anna
Language of Teaching / Examination:English
Duration:1 semester
Frequency of Offer: Every winter semester
Credits: 6
Learning Outcome:
  • Students are familiar with historical discourses as well as theoretical concepts on social change, social criticism and social transformation in Political Theory and Social Philosophy including
    perspectives from Critical Theory, Radical Democratic Theory, Political
    Epistemology and Political Philosophy.
  • Students can apply these concepts in their own research and are
    able to use these concepts to analyse real-life examples.
  • Students are able to understand and critically examine ‘classical’ as
    well as contemporary texts.
  • Students can articulate and present their own perspective on course
    contents in an academically adequate and sound manner.
  • Students are able to write academically and are capable to orally
    present their ideas convincingly in an academic context.
Contents:The module gives an overview of the development, critique and application of concepts of social criticism and social transformation. We will discuss the formation of key concepts and ideas such as “progress”, “emancipation”, “reform” and “revolution” in the Age of Enlightenment as well as their appropriation and subsequent critique in theoretical movements such as Critical Theory, Postmodernism and Postcolonialism.
The module will then focus on contemporary ideas of social criticism and social change in Critical Theory, Radical Democratic Theory, Political Epistemology, Feminist Philosophy, Abolitionism and (possibly) other strands of the current theory landscape. We will explore how the approaches discussed may serve as building blocks for a theory of the transformation of contemporary societies in light of current economic and ecological crises and/or for the description of current blockades and impediments for such a transformation. Additionally, we will ask how the concepts discussed relate to conceptions of transformation in sociology and transformation science.
Recommended Prerequisites:Students have knowledge of at least one of the following modules
  • 13922 Introduction to Transformation Studies
  • 13932 Transformation Theories
Mandatory Prerequisites:none
Forms of Teaching and Proportion:
  • Seminar / 4 Hours per Week per Semester
  • Self organised studies / 120 Hours
Teaching Materials and Literature:Literature and teaching materials will be provided on moodle at start of the semester.
Module Examination:Continuous Assessment (MCA)
Assessment Mode for Module Examination:
  • One oral presentation (10 to 15 minutes) (10%)
  • Three writing assignments (750 to 1500 words per assignment) (30%)
  • A final essay (5000 to 10000 words) (60%)
Evaluation of Module Examination:Performance Verification – graded
Limited Number of Participants:None
Part of the Study Programme:
  • Master (research-oriented) / Transformation Studies / PO 2024
Remarks:None
Module Components:
  • Seminar Critical Theories of Social Transformation
Components to be offered in the Current Semester:
  • no assignment