SOCI0112-1 : Family Structures, Cultural Dynamics and Globalisation

University of Liege | Version française

Study programmes 2013-2014

Last update : 13/05/2014

SOCI0112-1

Family Structures, Cultural Dynamics and Globalisation

Duration :

30h Th

Number of credits :

Master in Anthropology, in-depth approach, 1st year		3

Master in Population and Development studies, Research Focus, 2nd year		6

Master in Sociology, in-depth approach, 1st year		3

Master in Anthropology, Teaching Focus, 1st year		3

Master in Sociology, didactic approach, 1st year		3

Master in Anthropology, specialized approach in applied anthropology, 1st year		3

Master in Population and Development Studies, Professional Focus in Contemporary China , 2nd year		6

Master in Population and Development Studies, Professional Focus in North-South Cooperation , 2nd year		6

Master en anthropologie, à finalité spécialisée en anthropologie des dynamiques sociales et du développement, 1st year		3

Master in Sociology, Professional focus in applied sociology, 1st year		3

Master in French and Romance Languages and Literatures : French as a Second Language, Professional Focus, 1st year		4

Lecturer :

Marc Poncelet

Language(s) of instruction :

French language

Organisation and examination :

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Course contents :

First part

Basics of the anthropology of kinship
Basics of research in the field of family/gender

Second part
From the question of the youngest in the African societies especially, and the evolution of their status:

Evolution of family structures in developing countries and their interactions with questions of development: themes and observations.
Socio-demographic African transformations.
Urbanisation, transformation of identities and individualisation of social relationships in Africa.

Learning outcomes of the course :

Knowledge of the main concepts and theories of the anthropology of kinship (filiation/marriage)
Knowledge and the ability to critically discuss theories of modernisation and the theory of demographic transition
Introductory knowledge of the problems of family and gender in developing countries
Awareness of the complexity and diversity of kinship institutions (marriage and filiation), gender and their contemporary evolution. Main illustration using data given by contemporary research in sub-Saharan Africa and the cultural and social implications (redefinition of communities and individualisation of social relationships and relationships between generations).
To supply the tools required to understand the consequences and latent challenges of interventions and development of behavioural logic in relevant populations in terms of relationships, values and domestic practices.

Prerequisites and co-requisites/ Recommended optional programme components :

The course assumes students have read the book by C. Ghasarian, Introduction à l'étude de la parenté. Le Seuil, coll. Point, 1996, Paris. This anthropological piece of work is the educational material for the first part but should be considered as reading to be carried out beforehand.During the second part of the course, students will be asked to read the texts form the portfolio (to be purchased).

Planned learning activities and teaching methods :

None

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :

Direct teaching (presentations, film, lectures) in a group which rarely exceeds 20 students.

30 hours of theory given in the first term. Friday morning from 9:00 to 11:00 at seminar 12.
The first part of the course is mainly provided by Pr. Poncelet, the second by Dr . André.