National Law Institute University, Bhopal

Syllabus
Sociology-I
B. A. LL. B. (Hons.)
First Semester
Academic Year 2021 – 22
Course Teacher: H M Mishra

Sociology: Concepts, Theories and Perspectives

Sociology originated as an intellectual response to the crisis confronting the mid nineteenth
century European society. Its development over a century and a half since then has been
influenced by a variety of socioeconomic and political conditions where it has been taught
and practiced. It is now established a multi-paradigmatic academic discipline, with its body
of theoretical knowledge enriched and its methodological techniques and procedures
systematized. Nevertheless, some of its original concerns have persisted and some of its
classical theoretical and methodological landmarks are relevant even now. This paper is
intended to familiarize the students with the social, political, economic and intellectual
contexts in which sociology emerged as a distinctive discipline. Its objective is to help
students gain an understanding of some of the classical contributions in sociology and their
continuing relevance to its contemporary concerns. Understanding the subject is essential for
a legal scholar with a view to appreciate properly the social tensions and the reason for a fact
to be ordained in a given social system.
This course of Sociology is designed keeping in mind the ability, experience and expectations of first

year students in five-year B.A., LL. B. students. Normally an introductory course on Sociology would

aim at introducing and describing various concepts of sociology, themes and thoughts of founding

fathers and there could be great variation in the treatment of these issues depending on the nature of

students and the committee working out a syllabus. However, the traditional courses on sociology

have found wanting in arresting the interest of law students and offering them a perspective of

sociology that could make them better lawyers while transacting the nuances of sociology. It is in this

context; the course has been designed and delineated not to make sociologist out of lawyers but make

lawyers with a sociological insight. Hence, the course on community, thoughts of Durkheim, Weber,

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and Marx enabling the students to develop a critical perspective and an introduction to community

that will make them understand their surroundings and its impacts on their life. Indeed, the aim of

legal education at law schools are not just professionalization f law or development of renewed

curriculum but to impart a sense of belongingness, sensitiazation to the needs of society and use of

law as a mechanism for social development and safeguard from infringement. Therefore, what we

impart is not legal education but transaction of justice and creation of social engineers. Needless to

add, teaching sociology to them without a proper perspective and unique approach would like waiting

at railway platform for arrival of the tube leaving things at other hand.

Course objectives

Basic objective of the course is to help students build their intellectual capabilities enabling them to
develop a critical frame of mind by making them learn method of social inquiry. Students will learn
the following:

 Basic concepts of sociology

 Methods of Social Inquiry

 The relationship between law and society

 Contributions of founding fathers of Sociology

 How to think and argue clearly, dispassionately, logically, analytically, and critically.

Learning Outcome

On the completion of this course, students are expected to:

Have an understanding of various sociological methods;

Write a project report on a specific aspect of social interaction or interrelationship based on

the broad theoretical understanding;

Analyse the social context which has an overwhelming influence on community behaviour;

Distinguish various approaches and methods of study of society and their relevance for the
study of law;

Appreciate dynamics and designs of social relationship, social control and development.

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Course Outline

Unit –I Introduction

(i): The emergence of sociology - Transition from social philosophy to sociology—

the intellectual context; Enlightenment-The Social, economic and political forces.
(ii) :The French and Industrial Revolutions.

Unit- II Nature and Scope of Sociology

(i) Relevance of sociology, Nature and Scope of Sociology

(ii) Relationship of Sociology with other social sciences viz. Economics, History,
Psychology and Law.

Unit- III Sociology in Context

(i) Law and Society: Intersection, Interrelationship and Interaction – Concept of Law,
Sources of Law, Law and Social Control, Law and Social Change.
(ii) Everything in Its Path: Destruction of Community Life in Buffalo Creek

Unit-IV Concepts and Themes in Sociology

(i): Sociological concepts and perspectives; Sociological Imagination.

(ii) Society, Institution, Groups, Community, Culture and Socialization.

Unit- V Theoretical and Methodological Perspectives in Sociology -I

(i) Emile Durkheim- Division of Labour and Rules of Sociological Method

(ii) Suicide

Unit- VI Theoretical and Methodological Perspectives in Sociology -II

(i) Karl Marx- Dialectical Materialism, Concept of Class and Class Conflict
(ii) Alienation, Communist Manifesto

Unit-VII Theoretical and Methodological Perspectives in Sociology -III

(i) Max Weber- Methodology of Social Sciences, Social Action,

(ii) Power, Authority, and Sociology of Religion

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Unit-VIII Theoretical and Methodological Perspectives in Sociology -IV

(i) C. W. Mills – Power Elite

(ii) Nicklas Luhmann- Law, Justice and Society

Unit- IX- Contemporary Social Problems -I

(i) Population
(ii) Migration

Unit- X- Contemporary Social Problems-II

(i) Poverty
(ii) Health

Essential Readings:

Oommen, T. K. and Venugopal, C. N. (1989), Sociology for Law Students, EBC: Lucknow.
Sachdeva, D. R. and Vidya Bhusan, An Introduction to Sociology, New Delhi: Kitab Mahal.

References:
Aron, Raymond, Main Currents in Sociological Thought Vol. 1 &2, New Delhi: Penguin.
Giddens, Anthony and Sutton, P.W., Sociology, New Delhi: Polity Press. 8th Edition.
Routledge.
MacIver, R. M and Page, (1965). Society: An Introductory Analysis. New Delhi: McMillan.

Gisbert, P. (1972). Sociology, Bombay: Tata Mc Graw Hills.

Madan, G. R. (1971). Indian Social Problems. Bombay Delhi: Allied Publishers.

Web:

https://nptel.ac.in/content/ syllabus-pdf 109103022.pdf (nptel.ac.in)