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 21^st 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)