The aim of the course is to contribute to a critical understanding of social changes in the contemporary world. These changes are associated with concepts such as reflexive modernity, globalization, postcolonialism, cultural and gender identities. From historical and sociological perspectives the development of the modern global society are elucidated; and from there, the cleavages and problems of contemporary societies are analyzed. The course also provides an introduction of sociology as an academic discipline of global relevance.
