C/S/101. Food habits and linkages do not form a neat, unified area of study. What interests do food habits have to certain groups in society?

The paper examines the role of food habits in bringing together the interests of different groups of people. Social functions of ceremonial eating and drinking are considered discussing the role of vegetarianism, traditional practices of diet and other food habits.

S/S/27. To what extent can the media influence public opinion in modern societies?

Sociologists have debated to the extent that the media is able to influence its audience, or rather whether a person in active in creating meaning and carefully selecting media appropriate to their social norms or personal values. This debate reflects the more general argument within social sciences as to the extent to which external forces of society, or the result of freely exercised choice determines our behaviour. This essay explores these issues using empirical evidence and theoretical evaluations.

S/S/25. 'The concept of class has lost its usefulness for analysing social and political life in contemporary Western societies.' Has it?

There are a number of arguments disregarding the relevance of the use of the concept of class. These have taken the form that the inequalities associated with class are declining, that class is no longer a focus of the sense of who a person is, and that class has ceased to be the basis on which political allegiances and political behaviour is formed. This essay will analyse these arguments, and propose that despite the changes in class formations, class does provide a useful way of analysing the divisions in society. However, the dynamics of stratification and inequality have changed, and must be analysed taking this into account, including other dimensions, such as those associated with gender and ethnicity in relation to inequalities in society.

S/S/24. 'Modernity is the age of individualism.' Is it?

Beck has argued that modernity is shaped by individualisation and detraditionalisation. As traditions of the early modern world become increasingly questioned and insecure society not only permits, but demands, the contribution of individuals; our biographies become increasingly reflexive. This essay will propose that individualisation is a pervasive feature of modern societies. However, one must also regard the prevalence of traditions as intrinsic features of the modern world.

S/S/23. How would you explain the rise of nationalism in the modern world?

This essay explores the various theories attempting to explain the rise of nationalism in the modern world. It outlines and critiques the theories of Gellner and Anderson in order to propose that Smith's theory is able to offer the most sophisticated and comprehensive explanation.

S/S/22. Why does Beck claim we live in a risk society? Is he right?

Beck has argued that modernity has been transformed, and although modernity has changed in fundamental ways, it has not been eclipsed. Beck (1992, 2004) argues that modernity has gone through a metamorphosis from the classical industrial society, concerned with production and distribution of wealth in conditions of relative scarcity, to the risk society, concerned with the production and distribution of risk in relative abundance. This essay will outline and analyse Beck's theory of the risk society, and will argue that Beck provides a useful insight into previously unanalysed aspects of society. However, it is not possible to accept Beck's theory as a whole. Rather, it is more plausible to argue that the production of wealth and risk are both intrinsic aspects of modern society and must always be understood together, despite any quantitative shifts in the production of wealth and risk.

C/S/13. Anthony Giddens's concept of pure relationship

This essay considers Anthony Giddens's concepts regarding the nature of contemporary relationships. In particular this means the 'pure relationship' and the democracy of emotions that has changed the nature of relationships according to Giddens. It also looks at some criticism of his concepts in terms of weakness and strengths that have been noted by others. It concludes that Giddens's concepts do not yet adequately describe the dominant social reality.

C/S/12. Religion and spirituality in modern societies

This paper begins with a short reference to the factors causing a demise of the spiritual feeling in modern societies. It goes on by mentioning the great clash between religion and science and mentions ways through which religion and science can co-exist. It questions the belief that science holds the "truth" and that science can never be proven wrong through examples of scientific research in the field of natural sciences. It goes on by mentioning factors which can either damage or strengthen the spiritual feeling in modern societies and finally it mentions the reasons religion and spirituality need to be taken so seriously and be considered as an important part of our lives.

P/S/57. Why people support social movements?

The paper looks at the so-called new social movements that have attracted support form the general public over the past forty years. The nature of these movements is analysed; the reasons behind their popularity are discussed using the theory of "post materialistic values". The strengths and weaknesses of the theory are outlined.

P/S/54. Changes in population: demographic study

The paper touches upon the problems of demography analysing changes in population with the help of Crude Birth Rate model (CBM) and Crude Death Rate model (CDM). Both models are applied to the demographic situation in Africa over the XXth century. Trends in childhood mortality and total fertility are outlined.

P/S/48. What is 'trust' associated with?

The paper seeks to give a comprehensive definition of the concept ¡trust in terms of economics, marketing, sociology and semantics. The key semantic components of ¡trust are outlined on the basis of numerous academic studies related to the topic. The application of the term in various domains of inter-personal communication and business relationships is discussed.

S/S/16. All behaviour is essentially selfish: Reciprocal altruism, kin selection and the reasons behind social behaviour.

In all actions, both in humans and non-humans, the question must be asked, what is that behaviour, or adaptation's, ultimate purpose? It most likely will be found to have positive effects, however indirectly, on the future of that individual's genes. It is on this premise that the author asserts that all behaviour is essentially selfish. The concepts of reciprocal althruism and kin selection are explored, using case studies such as the eusocial insects, in order to prove that the primary motive behind all actions is to ensure the success of one's genes.

S/S/12. CAN IT BE SAID THAT CHILD SOLDIERS HAVE AGENCY?

This paper presents anthropological discussion of the involvement of children involved in conflict, focussing on when and where children acquire agency. Differences in understandings of personhood and child development and the impact of these differences is considered. Ethnography utilised in this discussion suggests that children's understanding of participation in conflict is based upon a previous sense of personal morality and on a collective narrative, which gives logic and reasonability to war time actions.

P/S/47. Western understanding of the Orient

The paper examines the concept of Orientalism existing in European culture. Definitions of Orientalism are discussed; the author claims that the studies of the Orient by Western scholars tend to lack in objectivity due to the domination of European values. Some of the stereotyped images created in the media are discussed.

P/S/46. Sociological paradigms and their application

The paper deals with the Sociology of Regulation theory discussing the work ¡Sociological Paradigms and Organisational Analysis by Burrell and Morgan. Each of the four paradigms in a 2x2 matrix scheme is described, namely, Functionalism, Interpretism, Radical Humanism and Radical Structuralism. The application of the paradigms in managerial practices is outlined.

P/S/39. Human subject and social roles

The paper considers the concept of 'human (anthropological) subjects' seeing 'subject / object' division as the division between the internal and the external perspective. A subject cuts himself off from the realm of objects thus turning them into entities that can be manipulated. The author examines various approaches to the concept enlarging on the structuralist and post-structuralist ideas of 'roles', and illustrates them with the example of the manager / worker relationship. The paper contends that social roles (unlike social rules) do not determine the actions of the subject, but act as guidelines for social behaviour.

P/S/38. Changing cultural factors in the course of development

The paper seeks to answer the question whether a country's development could take place without one culture being imposed on another. Culture is defined as social factors that can both, separate people and bring them together. The notions of aid and development are considered in relation to culture. The paper argues that development entails cultural changes that can be either justifiable or not. The examples are given to illustrate this statement and show that there is no easy answer to the question.

P/S/18. Domestic Division of Labour and economic Control

The paper analyses and discusses how the domestic division of labour and economic control cause power relationships within the home

P/S/16. Rational Actions and rationalization

The essay discusses whether "Our rational actions make for a rational world"

P/S/13. Discuss the relations between social identities and social representations

This paper analyses the ways in which the theory of social representations may provide a framework for understanding how a social identity is created, reproduced and sustained in individuals belonging to different social groups.

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