MAHARASHTRA NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY, NAGPUR

Course Outline

BAL 3.5 SOCIOLOGY I (INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY)

BA LLB (Hons.) Five-Year Integrated Degree Course

Academic Session: 2022-2023
2nd YEAR, SEMESTER-III

Designed and Developed by:

Dr. Rajesh K P
Assistant Professor of Sociology
Dr. Rengasamy Stalin
Assistant Professor of Sociology

Course Instructor:
Dr. Rajesh K P
Assistant Professor of Sociology

July 2022
(Strictly for Private Circulation)
 SOCIOLOGY I (INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY)

Semester-III July-December, 2022

Course Code BAL 3.5
Course Credits 3
Maximum Marks 100
Teaching Hours 48
Presentation Hours 10-12
Medium of Instruction English
Course Compulsory

Introduction
Sociology is a modern academic discipline whose subject matter is society. Defining society by
understanding its specificities is always a challenging task. The mediation of concepts and
theories are essential to understand the functioning and transformation of society. Unlike in a
proper sociological programme, here the basic concepts of sociology will be discussed as part of
law programme. Therefore, law is considered as an important aspect of society and it functions
as one of the important catalysts of social change. The relationship between individual and group
and how this is influencing and formulating social relationships is an important consideration of
this course. Sociology as a discipline originated in the West and that theoretical legacy is still
embedded in the discipline. But, it does not mean that West is the only reference point for our
discussion because sociology in India developed significantly during the postcolonial period by
engaging with our own circumstances, socio-economic and political realities and specificities.
Course Objectives
The course is designed to introduce various sociological concepts because these concepts are
inevitable to understand and evaluate law as a social phenomenon and process. Further, the course
briefly touches upon European sociological theories and its mode of thinking. In view of this, the
course makes an attempt to understand the Indian society in general and its social institutions and
structure in particular and it is expected to:
• To provide the basic introduction on the discipline of sociology, various sociological
concepts and theoretical approaches and discuss the nature, characteristics and
transformation of Indian society and culture in the light of these concepts and
approaches.
• Give an introduction on the subject sociology in general, and society and culture in
particular and explain the concepts such as community, association, institution, norms,
values, status, roles and customs.
• Explain the major societal processes including socialisation, social stratification, social
control, social structure, social change and social movements and its various aspects.
• Delineate the meaning of various institutions of the society and discuss its major role
and functions in society.
• Introduce the basic theoretical perspectives of the societal structure and functions.
• Discuss the nature, various features and structures that characterise the Indian society.
Teaching methodology
The course will be primarily delivered through classroom based lecture method of teaching.
Besides, the modalities such as group discussions, debate and presentation by the students are
also included as part of teaching methods. In this course, I will develop a learners’ centric
approach where dialogic and ‘reflexive’ learning is the central focus. The students are informed
in advance the topic for discussion and the topic of the project/assignment that they have to
prepare. The students will prepare their topics from authentic sources either suggested to them
or identified by the students themselves by getting an approval from the instructor. The students
are also encouraged to do independent research on their respective assignments. They are
motivated to explore current social issues including legal issues from the sociological
perspective. Discussions and assignments on contemporary socio-political and legal issues will
provide opportunities to explain those issues with the help of sociological concepts and
theoretical approaches. Along with textbooks, we have handpicked a broad range of articles,
book chapters, and opinion pieces for students to read during the semester. From time to time,
use of movie fragments, as well as brief contemporary videos will be done for better learning.
Course Evaluation
The Course is assessed for 100 Marks in total by a close book- application-based examination
system. There shall be a Mid-Semester Exam for 20 Marks and End Semester Exam for 50
Marks. 25 M arks are allotted for the Project work which includes 20 Marks for the written
research work and 5 Marks for presentation of Project.
Course Outcome
The course is designed to give an introduction to the discipline of sociology and ensuring its
significance in the study of law. This will theoretically and conceptually equip the students to
understand the Indian society, its societal components, processes, institutions, structure and
functions through their familiarity with the sociological concepts. This conceptual exercise will help
them to comprehend the social context for examining law as a social process and institution and the
students will be able to:

• Comprehend the origin and emergence of the discipline sociology, understand the meanings of
various concepts and theoretical approaches, and critically examine the transformation of
modern Indian society.
• Develop the conceptual understanding by engaging with the concepts such as community,
association, institution, norms, values, status, and customs.
• Perceive the major societal processes like socialisation, social stratification, social control,
social structure, social change, social movements and its various aspects.
• Understand the meanings of various institutions in the society and their major role and
functions.
• Conceive the various theoretical perspectives of the societal structure and functions.
• Critically engage with the nature, features and structures that characterise the Indian society.
 COURSE CONTENTS

Module-I: Introduction to Sociology [Teaching Hours 10]

1.1 Sociology: Definitions; Nature; Scope; Relation of Sociology with other Social
Sciences and Law; Emergence of Sociology in India; and Sociology of India and Sociology
in India.
1.2 Society: Definitions; Historical Transformation; Attributes and Types.
1.3 Culture: Definition and Types; Elements of Culture; Pop Culture; Subculture; and
Cultural Change.
1.4 Community, Association and Institution: Meanings and Characteristics.
1.5 Norms, Values, Status, Roles and Customs: Meanings, Salient Features and Types.

Compulsory Readings
• Randal Collins and Micheal Makowsky (1992). The Discovery of Society. New York:
McGraw-Hill. pp. 1-15.
• Antony Giddens (2013). Sociology. 7th edition. Cambridge: Polity Press.
• Kathy S Stolley (2005) The Basics of Sociology, London: Greenwood Press.
• Bernard S Cohn (1996). Notes on the History of the Study of Indian Society. In Milton
Singer and Bernard S. Cohn (eds.) Structure and Change in Indian Society. Jaipur: Rawat
Publications (pp. 3-47).

Suggested Readings
• George Ritzer. 2011. Sociological Theory (Fifth Edition), London: McGraw-Hill.
• John Scott. 2015. Oxford Dictionary of Sociology, London: Oxford University Press.
• George Ritzer. 2012. Introduction to Sociology, New York: Sage Publications.

Module-II: Societal Components [Teaching Hours 10]

2.1 Socialization and Social Stratification: Definitions; Agents and Types Socialisation;
Caste; Gender; Race; Class; and Role of Law in Socialisation and Social Stratification.
2.2 Social Control: Definitions; Need of Social Control; Means of Social Control, and Role
of Law in Social Control.
2.3 Social Structure: Definitions; Elements of Social Structure; Types of Social Structure;
and Law and Social Structure.
2.4 Social Movement: Definitions; Causes of Social movement; Types of Social Movement
and Relevant Actors of Social Movements.
2.5 Social Change: Definitions; Sources of Social Change; Consequences of Social Change,
and Role of Law in Social Change.

Compulsory Readings
• Giddens, A., (2013). Sociology. 7th edition. Cambridge: Polity Press.
• G S Ghurye (1969 [1932]). Caste and Race in India. 5th edition. Mumbai: Popular
Prakashan. (Features of the Caste System, pp. 1-30 & Origins of the Caste System, Pp.
162-181).
• M N Srinivas (1992) The Dominant Caste in Rampura. In Dipankar Gupta (ed.) Social
Stratification. Delhi: Oxford Uni Press. pp. 307-311.

Suggested Readings
 • Upendra Baxi (1986). Towards a Sociology of Indian Law. Delhi: Satvahan.
• Dumont, Louis. (1992). Hierarchy, Status, and Power: The caste system and its
implication. In Dipankar Gupta (ed) Social Stratification in India. New Delhi: Oxford
University Press, pp. 471-491.
• Srinivas, M. N. (1992). Mobility in the caste system. In Dipankar Gupta (ed.) Social
Stratification. Delhi: Oxford University Press, pp. 312-325.
• Virginius Xaxa (1999). Transformation of Tribes in India: Terms of Discourse. Economic
and Political Weekly, 34 (24): 1519-1524.

Module-III: Institutions and Society (Teaching Hours 10)

3. 1 Social Institutions: Marriage, Family and Kinship: Definition, Functions and Types
3.2 Economic Institution: Capitalist, Socialist and Mixed Economy – Definitions; Functions
and Types
3.3 Political Institutions: Definitions, Functions and Types; Legislature and the State.
3.4 Religious Institutions: Definitions, Functions and Types.
3.5 Education and Expressive Institutions: Literature, Music, Dance, Fine Arts:
Definition, Functions and Types.

Compulsory Readings
• Giddens, A., (2013). Sociology. 7th edition. Cambridge: Polity Press.
• MacKinnon, N. and Heise, D., (2010). Self, Identity, and Social Institutions. Palgrave
Macmillan.
• Parsons, T., & Mayhew, L. (1985). Talcott Parsons on institutions and social evolution.
Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Module-IV: Basic Theoretical Perspectives (Teaching Hours 10)

4.1 Functionalistic Perspective: August Comte (Law of Three Stages), Herbert Spencer
(Organic Analogy), Emile Durkheim (Solidarity and Suicide Theories), Talcott Parsons
(AGIL Model) and R. K. Merton (Manifest, Latent and Disfunctions)
4.2 Conflict Perspective: Karl Marx (Historical Materialism and Alienation), Max Weber
(Power & Authority) and Georg Simmel (Critical Theory)
4.3 Symbolic Interactionist Perspective: G.H. Mead (Social Behaviorism), Herbert Blumer
(Symbolic Interaction) and C. H. Cooley (Looking-Glass Self)
4.4 Feminist Perspective: Simone de Beauvoir (The Second Sex), Dorothy Smith
(Standpoint Theory) and Patricia Hill Collins (Black Feminist Thought)
4.5 Post-Modern Perspectives: Jacques Derrida (Deconstruction), Michel Foucault
(Discourse and Power) and Immanuel Wallerstein (World-Systems Theory)

Compulsory Readings
• Jonathan Turner (1987) The Structure of Sociological Theory, Jaipur: Rawat
Publications.
• Robert A Nisbet (1966) The Sociological Tradition, London: Basic Books.
• Turner, J. (2013). Theoretical Sociology: A Concise Introduction to
Twelve Sociological Theories (1st ed.). SAGE Publications.
• Rao C. N. Shankar (1990), Sociology – Principles of Sociology with An
Introduction to Social Thought, S. Chand & Co. Ltd.

Suggested Readings
• Bryan S Turner (1999) Classical Sociology, London: Sage Publications.
• Bryan S Turner, Leonard Beeghly and Charles H Powers (1995) The Emergence of
Sociological Theory,
• H E Barnes (Ed.) 1948. Introduction to the History of Sociology, Illinois: The University
of Chicago Press.

Module-V: Indian Society: An Overview (Teaching Hours 8)

5.1 Features of Indian Society: Unity and Diversity (Geographical, Political and Religious
Indicators of Unity); Forces of Unity in Modern India, National Unity with Cultural
Diversity (Caste, Class, Regional and Linguistic Diversities)
5.2 Tribal Society: Definition, Distinctive Features, Tribal Policy (Isolation, Assimilation
and Integration), Tribal Legal System, Customary Law Practices and Constitutional
Provisions.
5.3 Rural Society: Meanings, Distinctive Features, Agriculture as a way of life, Class and
Caste Structure, Legal System and Rural Society.
5.4 Urban Society: Meanings, Distinctive Features, Urbanization, Urban Social Issues;
Urban Development, Governance and Law.
5.5 Social Development: Meanings and Nature; Development and Marginalisation, Socio-
cultural dimensions of Development; Approaches to Development: Modernisation
Approach; Top down and Bottom-up; Post-development; Indian Experience with
Development.
 Compulsory Readings
• S. C. Dube (1990). Indian Society (Second Edition), New Delhi: National Book Trust,
India.
• Abraham, M. F. (2006). Contemporary Sociology: An Introduction to Concepts and
Theory, New Delhi: Oxford University Press.
• Oommen, T. (2005). Crisis and Contention in Indian society. Thousand Oaks, Calif.:
SAGE.
Suggested Readings
• Satish Deshpande. (2003). Contemporary India: A Sociological View. New Delhi:
Viking.
• T K Oommen (1990) State and Society in India, New Delhi: Oxford University Press.
• Biswajit Ghosh (Ed.) 2021. Interrogating Development: Discourses on Development
in India Today, Jaipur: Rawat Publications.
• D N Dhanagare (1999) Themes and Perspectives in Indian Sociology, Jaipur: Rawat
Publications.