Syllabus
Topics of the lectures (April)
1. Inequality: Concepts, theories and research in economics and sociology
2. World-wide changes in inequality. Long-term trends and recent patterns
3. Perceptions and evaluations of inequality and injustice. The sociological perspective
4. Ethnic stratification and inequality (1). General theory, quantitative and qualitative approach
5. Ethnic stratification and inequality (2). Ethnic stratification systems around the world
6. Communism and social inequality. Changes of inequality and its perceptions in East European societies and in present-day China Topics of student papers (May)
1. Changes of socio-economic inequality in Czechoslovakia/ the Czech Republic 1945 – 2015
2. Changes in patterns of wealth distribution in Czechoslovakia/ the Czech Republic 1900 – 2015
3. Comparison of changes in patterns of inequality in post-Communist East European societies (Here, several comparisons could be carried out: - Czech Republic – Slovakia, Hungary, Poland - CZ vs. Romania, Bulgaria - CZ vs. Belorussia, Russia…)
4. The middle classes in the Czech Republic since the transition
5. The perceptions of inequality in the Czech Republic
6. Is inequality no more a central political topic? Why social democratic parties have been declining in recent times in Western Europe (Right-wing populists as new working-class parties)
7. Ethnic minorities and inequality in the post-Communist central East European countries
8. The growth of inequality in Russia: Which kind of capitalism?
9. Reviews of selected chapters of important books; Eg. Thomas Piketty (Capital in the 21st century); Joseph Stiglitz (The Price of Inequality); Erik O. Wright (Class Counts); D. Eribon, Retours a Reims
10. Effects of European integration on inequality within and between the EU member states (common currency, regional and structural policy)
11. The welfare state and equality
12. New inequalities in the information society
13. Inequalities in “rentier societies” (oil states, states with rich mineral resources)
Annotation
In the lecture (first part of the course, April), the students shall first get an overview on recent research on socio-economic inequality, as it has been carried out particularly in economics and sociology. Inequality today is considered by many as the main problem of advanced societies; due to the world-wide spread of neo-liberalism, it has been increasing in many countries. The lecture begins with an overview on how to measure inequality, and on economic and sociological perspectives on its change. It will be shown that inequality did not rise everywhere; specific socio-cultural and political factors inhibiting its increase play a significant role. In the second part of the lecture, I will discuss the relation between ethnic differentiation and social inequality which is largely overlooked in much of recent work which, however, explains to large extent the huge international differences in inequality. Here I will present some of the main findings of my recent book Ethnic Stratification and Economic Inequality around the World (Ashgate and Routledge). In the final part, the changes of inequality under Communist regimes and after their transition to capitalism and democratic societies in Eastern Europe and in recent China shall be discussed.
In the second part of the course (May), the students shall present papers on topics given below.