The lecture course introduces the students to the theoretical basics and to the basic thematic direction of their master's degree program. Attention is paid to the beginnings, developments and current state of historical sociology, which are primarily observed with regard to the thinking of its main representatives (Weber, Elias, Tilly, Wallerstein, Eisenstadt, etc.). The aim of the lecture is to give students a comprehensive overview of the state and perspectives of historical sociology, to orient them in its basic questions and problems and to prepare them for further study of this field especially on the theoretical side.

Structure of Lessons:
1. Introduction to the theme; changes in the relationship between history and sociology.

2. Positivist and anti-positivist approaches to historical sociology (Comte, Spencer and others).

3. Marx's historical materialism and his acceptance in contemporary historical sociology.

4. The Durkheim school and its influence on sociological and historical thinking.

5. Max Weber: religion, rationalization and modernization.

6. Norbert Elias’s civilization theory.

7. Structuralism and poststructuralism; Michel Foucault.

8. Functionalism and evolutionism (from Parsons to Eisenstadt).

9. Ernest Gellner: the structure of history, modernization and nationalism.

10. World systems theory (Wallerstein et al.).

11. New historical comparative sociology (Moore, Skocpol, Tilly, Mann).

12. Long-term processes and comparative approaches.

13. Final recapitulation.

Required reading:

• ŠUBRT, J. The Perspecitve of Historical Sociology: The Indsividual as Homo-Sociologicus through Society and History. Bingley: Emerald Publishing 2017. ISBN: 978-1-78743-364-9.

• HARRINGTON, A. (ed.) Modern Social Theory. Oxford: Oxford University Press 2005. ISBN 978-0199255702

Recommended reading:

• ABRAMS, P. Historical Sociology. Somerset: Open Books, 1981. ISBN 0-8014-9243-2.

• DELANTY, G., ISIN, E. Handbook of Historical Sociology. London: Sage, 2003. ISBN 0761971734.

• LACHMANN, R. What is Historical Sociology? Cambridge: Polity Press, 2013. ISBN: 978-0745660097

• MAHONEY, J., RUESCHEMEYER, D. (eds). Comparative Historical Analysis in the Social Sciences. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003. ISBN 0-521-81610-6.

• SKOCPOL, T. Vision and Method in Historical Sociology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1984. ISBN 0-521-22928-6

• SMITH, D. The Rise of Historical Sociology. Cambridge: Polity Press, 1991. ISBN 0-87722-920-1.

• SZTOMPKA, P. The Sociology of Social Change. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing 1993. ISBN 0-631-18205-5.

• TILLY, C. Coercion, Capital and European States. Cambridge: Blackwell, 1990. ISBN 978-1-55786-368-3.