Political sociologists are primarily interested in connections among the state, politics, and society. They examine how state and extra-state influences shape formal political processes and patterns of social inequality and change. Research in political sociology incorporates both quantitative methods, studying social survey data or institutional data, and qualitative methods, studying small group processes.

The following courses focus on or are related to the study of political sociology:

• SOCI 100B
• SOCI 103
• SOCI 215
• SOCI 311
• SOCI 315
• SOCI 321
• SOCI 331
• SOCI 335
• SOCI 535
• SOCI 566

Students enrolled in the undergraduate Honours program and the Master’s and Doctoral programs enjoy opportunities to conduct research on a wide range of topics in political sociology. Some examples of research opportunities in this area include:

• Class and Stratification
• Race and Racism
• Moral Panic and Moral Regulation
• Globalization
• Power Structure Research
• Critical Media Research
• Corporations and Political Economy

Click for details about our demography research activities

Click to contact Dr. Peyman Vahabzadeh

Sociologists specializing in social movements focus on the how, why, and what of collective action (e.g., the civil rights movement, the environmental movement, and democratic revolutionary movements). They also focus on the complex interplay between state and politics, civil society, social policy, social movement organizations, mobilization of the publics, and how social movements communicate and debate visions of the future. Social movement research is often painstaking and involved, but it is also exciting and rewarding.

The following courses focus on or are related to the study of social movements:

• SOCI 100B
• SOCI 311
• SOCI 316
• SOCI 321
• SOCI 331
• SOCI 335
• SOCI 418
• SOCI 566

Students enrolled in the undergraduate Honours program and the Master’s and Doctoral programs enjoy opportunities to conduct research on a wide range of topics in social movements research. Some examples of research opportunities in this area include:

• Social movements and collective action
• Advocacy groups and networks
• Media and activism
• Theorizing social movements
• Activism and public mobilization
• Capitalism and counter-hegemonic struggles
• Alternative social and economic organization

Click for details about our social movements research activities

Click to contact Dr. Peyman Vahabzadeh