Masters Module in Social Capital and Democratisation

The module offers 15 European Credits (ECTS) towards a Masters or PhD programme. It is one module taught as a summer school in Aberdeen at the end of August 2007 and funded by the European Union Sixth Framework Programme as part of a Network of Excellence CINEFOGO.
The course relates to the research carried out at the “New Europe Centre” Aberdeen.
The programme will provide students with an advanced social scientific understanding of social capital and democratisation. The learning outcomes of the programme are:

• To equip students to understand the main concepts and theories underlying social capital
• To equip students to understand the main concepts and theories related to democratisation.
• To equip students to be able to understand the comparative study of European politics and society
• To acquaint students with some of the main comparative data sources on European society and politics
• To develop the ability to undertake independent investigation.

The programmes utilize the major research strengths of the Department of Sociology in the field of European societies. Claire Wallace, Florian Pichler and Bernadette Hayes have undertaken numerous comparative projects that form the basis for understanding social capital both substantively and methodologically. The module would be run in co-operation with the Department of Politics and International Relations where there is already substantial expertise in the field of comparative studies of democratisation. Indeed, Christian Haerpfer and Patrick Berhagen are editing a textbook for Oxford University Press on this subject.
The programmes will contribute strongly towards meeting several broader goals. They will assist in the recruitment and development of postgraduate students, particularly those seeking to move on to doctorates under expert supervision. They will help to cement the research component within the School of Social Science, particularly in relation to RAE strategy. They will also make a significant contribution towards meeting the international aspirations of the University.

Market demand

The course is fully funded as part of the CINEFOGO Network of Excellence, of which Aberdeen University is a partner. It contributes actively to building the European Research Area (ERA). These skills are also ones increasingly required for business and international NGOs. For those interested in going into policy making, a knowledge and understanding of what happens in other European countries is also important.

Deadline for applications was 20 June 2007.

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