Government of the Russian Federation

Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution

for Higher Professional Education
«National Research University
«Higher School of Economics»

Sociology department

Discipline program
Social structure and social stratification

For course 040100.62 «Sociology», preparation for a Bachelor's degree.

Program developed by:

O. I. Shkaratan
N.E. Tikhonova

Approved at the meeting of the Department of Socio-economic systems and social politics on
__________2012.
Department chairman ___________________ N.E. Tikhonova

Recommended by the Board of Education for Sociology _________________2013.

Chairman _________________ I.F. Deviatko

Approved by the Academic Board of the Department of Sociology___________2013.

Academic Secretary __________________(signature)

Moscow, 2013

This program may not be used by other departments within the University or other institutions of
higher education without permission of the Department-developer of this program.

1. AREAS OF USE AND REFERENCE CODES

This educational discipline program establishes the minimal standards for attained student
knowledge and skills, and determines the content and types of academic studies and reporting.
 The program is intended for professors teaching this particular discipline, teaching
assistants, and students in 040100.62 Sociology as preparation for a bachelor's degree, studying the
“Social structure and social stratification” discipline.
The program was developed in accordance with:
− The educational standards set forth by Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution for
Higher Professional Education, National Research University-Higher School of Economics
− Educational program 040100.62 Sociology in preparation for a Bachelor's degree
− The University's working academic plan for the course 040100.62 Sociology in preparation
for a Bachelor's degree that was approved in 2011.

2. SCOPE OF STUDENT KNOWLEDGE THAT WILL BE ACQUIRED AS A RESULT OF

MASTERING THE DISCIPLINE.

As a result of mastering discipline of “Social structure and social stratification,” the student
will:

--Know:
- the main approaches to studying social structure of society
- the main stages of social development and it's key research problems
- the main consistent patterns of complex social processes and mechanisms of major sociological
generalities in different stages of social development
- the essence and function of social stratification, major types of stratification systems

– Know how to:

-use methods of data collection and analysis for researching social structure of a society, take into
account their limitations, and assess the quality (validity and dependability) of sociological
information

– Gain skills/experience in
- interpreting data from social structure research obtained from various sources, including the
Internet and foreign literature.

As a result of learning the discipline, the student acquires the following expert skills:

Code Descriptions – main signifiers of Forms and

in acquired knowledge (markers of methods of
Expert skill FSES/ reaching results) teaching that aid
SRU in formation and
development of
skills
Realization of the social importance OK-8 Demonstrates an understanding of Written essays
of one's future profession, high the essence and functions of social
motivation for professional work stratification
(partial development)
Reproduces consistent patterns of
complex social processes

Assesses key research problems at

various stages of social
development

Ability to use fundamental principles OK-9 Demonstrates an understanding of Written essays

and methods of humanitarian and
socio-economic sciences when
solving professional tasks (partial
development)
Ability to analyze socially important OK-
problems and processes 10
Ability to understand the essence and OK-
meaning of information in the 12
development of modern society, to
realize dangers and threats that can
appear in this process, and adhere to
the major requirements of
information security, including
secrets of state (partial development)
Grasp of main methods of protecting OK-
operational personnel from potential 16
consequences of accidents,
catastrophes, or natural disasters
Ability to use basic and professional PK-1 Has the skills to search, interpret Written essays
knowledge and skills on the
fundamentals of sociology theory and
methods of sociological research in
professional work (partial
development)
Ability to independently formulate PK-2 Formulates specific goals of
the mechanisms of major
sociological generalities at different
stages of social development
Demonstrates the ability to take
into account the limitations of
methods of data collection and
analysis when assessing the quality
of sociological information on
social structure of society
Demonstrates an understanding of Written essays
the mechanisms of major
sociological generalities at different
stages of social development
Juxtaposes major types of
stratification systems and gives
examples of their use in socially
important problems and processes
analysis
Understands the essence and Written essays
meaning of information in modern
society development
Recognizes dangers and threats
related to the increasing role of
information in modern society
development
Demonstrates an understanding of
information security requirements,
including protecting secrets of state
Has the skills of searching and Written essays
interpreting statistical information
on consequences of accidents,
catastrophes, natural disasters
and use economic and statistical
data
Analyzes national, racial, gender
and age aspects of social inequality
Has the skills to use the basics of
social stratification to analyze facts
and events in modern social and
economic life
Written essays
goals, set specific objectives of
research in various fields of
sociology and solve them with the
help of modern research methods
with the latest domestic and foreign
experience as well as using modern
equipment, equipment, and
information technology
Ability and willingness to participate PK-3 Demonstrates the ability to compile Written essays
in the planning and executing
scientific and technical documents,
research reports, presenting the
results of research considering the
potential audience
Ability and willingness to use the
knowledge of the methods and
theories of social sciences and
humanities in expert, consulting and
analytical work
Ability to use sociological research
methods to study acute social
problems and to identify the needs
and interests of social groups
research in the field of social
stratification based on the analysis
of professional information,
including the Internet and foreign
literature (SD);
Demonstrates skills in the use of
information technology for research
(SD);
Have the skills to set specific
research goals in various fields of
sociology based on the analysis of
economic and social indicators
(LEDs)
scientific and technical
documentation (SD);
Demonstrates skills in the use of
information technology for the
presentation of research results
(SD)
PK-4 Uses statistical software application Written essays
packages for the analysis of
sociological data (SD);
Has the skills to use statistical data
to analyze the characteristics of the
organizational and management
structure of the company (SD);
Demonstrates the ability to take
into account the limitations of data
collection and analysis to assess the
quality of sociological information
about the social structure of society
(SD);
Formulates the basic approaches to
the analysis of social structure
(RB), and has the skills to use them
(SD)
PK-5 Has the skills to use statistical data Written essays
to analyze the characteristics of the
organizational and management
structure of the company (SD);
Formulates the basic approaches to
the analysis of social structure
(RB), and has the skills to use them
(SD)

Ability to participate in the
development of sociological
proposals and recommendations
(based on professional knowledge) to
solve social problems as well as
develop mechanisms to coordinate
the interests of social groups and
communities
Ability to develop and present
research and analytical projects in
development in accordance with
standards and regulations
Ability to process and analyze data
and prepare analytical solutions,
expert conclusions and
recommendations
Ability and willingness to plan and
Analyzes national, racial, gender
and age aspects of social inequality
(SD);
Demonstrates skills in the use of
sociological research methods to
study problems of social inequality
in modern Russian society
PK-6 Demonstrates an understanding of Written essays
the formation and development of
the information economy in the
context of national cultures (SD);
Applies the basic provisions of the
regional stratification when
analyzing the issue of sustainable
development and economic security
of Russia (CD);
Analyzes the possibility of using
determinate analysis to the study of
social inequality (SD)
PK-7 Demonstrates the ability to make Written essays
statistical analysis of data in
accordance with the standards of
academic publications (SD);
Has the skills to analyze
professional literature, prepare a
review of urgent social problems in
order to identify research problems;
Justifies the appropriatenes of the
chosen research methodology use
for the set task
PK-8 Formulates the basic approaches to Written essays
the analysis of social structure
(RB), and has the skills to use them
(SD);
Formulates a function of social
differentiation and social
stratification in society (RB) and
analyzes their role in social
processes (SD);
Demonstrates the ability to use
statistical information about the
economy and society in the
proposals and recommendations for
the solution of social problems
PK-9 Demonstrates skills in analysis of Written essays
implement project activities in the
field of public opinion research,
organization of marketing services
Ability to use basic theoretical
knowledge, practical skills and
knowledge to participate in scientific
and applied research, analytical and
consulting activities
Ability to use the methods of
collection, processing and
interpretation of complex social
information for solving
organizational and managerial tasks,
including those outside the
immediate occupational field
Capacity and ability to use this
knowledge in the teaching of
sociological disciplines (basic
knowledge of the socio-economic
sciences and humanities)
3. TOPIC PLAN FOR THE ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE
№ Name of section
territorial communities in social
perception, communication and
collaboration at the micro and
macro levels (SD)
PK- Gives examples of application of Written essays
10 theoretical foundations of social
stratification in science, research
and consulting activities (SD);
Compares the characteristics of
different types of social structure
(organizational and managerial,
professional and employed, social
and industrial, social, territorial,
ethnic, national, demographic and
family/ business)
PK- Demonstrates the ability to find, Written essays
11 select, process and interpret data on
the organizational and management
structure of society and its role in
social processes (SD)
PK- Demonstrates understanding of the Written essays
12 theoretical foundations of social
structure and social stratification
(RB);
Formulates the regularities of
complex social processes (RB);
Demonstrates understanding of the
mechanisms of the major
sociological communities at
different stages of social
development (RB);
Gives examples of the analysis of
data on various types of social
structure (organizational,
managerial, professional,
occupational, social sector, social
territory, ethnic, national,
demographic and family/business)
to address organizational and
managerial tasks (SD)
Total Lecture Seminar Practice Self-
Hours Hours Hours sessions Study
 Hours
1 Society as a developing system. The main 8 4 2 2
approaches to the analysis of social structure
of society
2 Social groups and social communities. 6 2 2 2
3 The main sections of the social structure of 10 6 2 2
modern societies (private substructures of
society)
4 The nature and function of social 12 2 2 8
stratification. The main types of
stratification systems.
5 The concept of class and the two main 28 8 4 8
approaches to the allocation of classes in the
history of sociology. Modern foreign
concepts of social stratification
6 Social stratification in modern Russia 22 10 4 8
7 Preparation of the abstract and preparation 30 30
for the final exam
Total hours 108 32 16 60

4. FORMS OF STUDENT ASSESSMENT CONTROL

The midterm exam and assignments over the course involves a great deal of student involvement at
seminars and writing one abstract (graded on a 10-point scale). The test will be an oral examination.

Grading weights:

Final grade = 0.2*In-Progress Activities (seminar work) + 0.2*Abstract + 0.6*Test

Assessment for the final control is blocking. If the final test/exam is not passed, the student will
receive a failing grade for the course.

5. DISCIPLINE CONTENTS

Topic 1. Society as a developing system. The main approaches to the analysis of social
structure.

Society as a developing system. The main stages of social development. The specifics of the
current stage of development in Russia.
Social space and its multidimensionality. Status as a point in social space. Dictated and
acquired status. Social roles, role-set, content, features and value, role identification.
The concept of "social structure of society." Two approaches to this concept. The formation
of a structured approach to society. The role of structuralism, functionalism and structural-
functional approach in the development of the theory of social structures. Structuralist and
interactionist approaches.

Topic 2. Social groups and social communities.

The concept of a social group. Types of groups (primary and secondary, formal and
informal, etc.). The nuclei of communities and periphery. The role of social norms in the
functioning and reproduction of communities. The influence mechanisms of various social groups
on their members (reference groups, conformity, etc.).
Social community at macro- and meso-levels. Social and societal structures in terms of the
macro-, meso-, and micro-structure of society.

Topic 3. The main sections of the social structure of modern societies (private substructures of
society)

1. Organizational management society structure.

Organizational management structure. Characteristic features of the organizational

management structure. Formal and informal substructure in an organizational management
structure. Core and periphery. Target and official groups: their functions, value, and roles. New
aspects in the development of businesses in an information economy.

2. Socio-industrial structure.

Socio-industrial structure. Industry as social community. The dominance of industry social

networks in Soviet society and maintaining them in modern Russia. Pyramid of socio-industrial
stratification. Major global trends in industry structure under conditions of global economy and
information society.

3. Socio-demographic structure.

Socio-demographic structure. The main demographic characteristics of people. Social

differences in the function and position, social inequality of demographic groups. Demographic
cohorts and historical generations. Social age stratification. Social typology of families.

4. Socio-spatial structure.

Territorial communities, the content of the concept; the criteria for the formation and
separation of territorial communities; their functions; the main components - consumer groups.
Territorial communities and spatial forms of settlement. Historical and cultural areas. Socio-
economic areas. Urban versus rural, urban agglomeration. Typology of cities, urbanization and
post-urbanization. Global city. Social geography of cities, social segregation, features of urban life.

5. Ethno-racial structure.

The ambiguity of the concept of "nation." Ethno-social stratification. Horizontal ethno-

cultural differentiation and its impact on employment and consumer behavior. The role of value
systems, social norms and traditions of labor in industrial and information economies. The place
and importance of ethno-stratificational and ethno-cultural issues in the economic and social
development of Russia in the 21st century.

Topic 4. The nature and function of social stratification. The main types of stratification
systems.

The basic concepts of the theory of stratification. The correlation between "social
differentiation" and "social stratification." The functions of social differentiation and social
stratification in society.
The main types of stratification systems in the history of mankind. Physical and genetic
stratification system. The slave-owning system. The caste system. Feudal ("European") system.
State-social class ("Asiatic") system. Class system. Autocratic (state-strata) system in the era of
industrial mode of production. Supporting stratification systems.

Topic 5. The concept of class and the two main approaches to the allocation of classes in the
history of sociology. Modern foreign concepts of social stratification

Karl Marx's theory of classes. The criteria of social class according to Marx. Causes of class
appearance. The struggle between classes as a source of social development of society. A "class in
itself" versus a "class for itself."
Max Weber on the classic stage of sociology of inequality development. Weber on the
criteria of social class (strata). Three interacting factors of social inequality: property, power and
prestige.
Neo-Marxism and neo-Weberianism. Discussions about non-class system of social
differences between people in post-industrial society. New foundations of social inequality in
manufacturing and non-manufacturing fields.

Topic 6. Social stratification in modern Russia

Features of social stratification in Soviet-type societies. The concept of class stratification of

Soviet-type societies (St. Ossowski, V.Tekkenberg, Yu.Arutyunyan, O.Shkaratan).
The main factors of transformation in the social structure of post-Soviet Russia and
approaches to analyzing the social structure of modern Russian society (T.Zaslavskaya, V.Radaev,
O.Shkaratan, etc.). Methodological problems in selecting criteria for stratification of
transformational type societies.
Real social groups that form the stratified hierarchy of modern Russian society. The "old"
and "new poor." Discussion about the middle class in Russian sociology. Elite and subelite groups.
The applicability of the new Western European and American approaches to the
stratification of Russian society and the problem of its class structure.

6. GRADING MEANS FOR IN-PROGRESS CONTROL AND STUDENT ASSESSMENT

6.1 Abstract Topics of in-progress control assignments.

1. Formation and development of information economy in the context of national cultures (in light
of the problem of Russia's place in the global economy)
2. Relationship "center - regions," regional stratification in the context of sustainable development
and economic security of Russia
3. Possibilities in using determination analysis in social inequality research
4. City social zoning
5. Biographical method in the study of stratification
6. The innovative potential of the business elite
7. Global City and differentiation of the population
8. The use of causal analysis in the study of social stratification and mobility
9. Advertising in mass-media: social and structural aspects (socio-demographic, regional, class-
layered cross-sections of potential users)
10. A sociological interpretation of the theory of administrative markets
11. The nature of intergenerational differences under the conditions of social transformation
12. An assessment of Russian business in recent sociological literature
13. The formation of the middle class as the basis of structuring of contemporary Russian society
14. The sources of large capital and big bourgeoisie formation in Russia
15. A socio-professional portrait of the Russian unemployed: regional features
16. The social structure of poor families and factors that led to poverty
17. The level and nature of income inequality in modern Russia
18. Changes in the structure of employment in the 90s and new types of employment
19. The social structure of poor families and factors that led to poverty.
20. The problem of income differentiation and social justice in a society in transition to market
economy.
21. The revolution of claims and change of life strategies of young people.
22. The nature of inter-generational differences under conditions of social fracture.
23. The problem of studying the potential consumer and creating demand for the manufactured
products.
24. The new consumer orientation and behavior models in modern economy.
25. The social polarization of the education system in Russia: "pros" and "cons."

6.2 Examples of questions for the midterm/final control

1. Social status, content, features and value, dictated and acquired status.
2. Types of social groups.
3. The concept of "social structure of society." Two approaches to this concept.
4. The formation of structured approach to society. Structuralists and functionalists.
5. Organizational management structure.
6. Vocational occupation structure.
7. Socio-industrial structure.
8. Socio-territorial structure.
9. Ethno-national structure.
10. Demographic and family-economic structure.
11. Territorial communities.
12. City: definition, classification criteria, typology.
13. K. Marx's theory of classes.
14. Max Weber's theory of stratification.
15. Main types of stratification systems.
16. E.Wright on the stratification of modern Western society.
17. D. Goldthorpe on the stratification of modern Western society.
18. Methodology of the stratification of modern Western society by ESOMAR.
19. Resource-based approach to the stratification of modern Western society (Bourdieu,
E.Sorensen, D.Gruski).
20. National, racial, gender and age aspects of social inequality.
21. Nature of stratified hierarchies in Soviet-type societies.
22. A new system of stratification in the late 1980s to the early 1990s.
23. Main approaches to the analysis of social structure of Russian society.
24. The "old" and "new poor" in Russian society.
25. Discussion about the middle class in Russian sociology.
26. The particularities of the condition and composition of the elite and subelite groups in Russian
society.
27. The stratification of modern Russian society by living standards criteria.
28. Class structure of Russian society.