Sociology of Social Differentiation

The course approaches differentiation as the main characteristic of an evolutionary process from simpler, traditional and undifferentiated societies and forms of cooperation to modern, complex and more differentiated ones. From an analytical point of view, we can distinguish at least three forms of this process: segmental, stratified and functional differentiation. The social analysis and interpretation of the above forms, however, is not done exclusively from the perspective of values, productive structures, functions or and institutions and the ways that differentiate over time or shape the action of individuals. It also follows the opposite direction, namely that which leads from actors, to values, institutions and productive relations. Throughout the lectures, social differentiation revolves around two central axes of sociological theory, namely the connection between macro and micro phenomena and the relationship between actors and the system through classical (H. Spencer, E. Durkheim, K. Marx) and contemporary sociological approaches (T. Parsons, N. Luhman, J. Habermas, J. Alexander, S. Eisenstadt, EO Wright, N. Mouzelis).