Professor B Hutter, CARR and Dr N Dodd, STC. S283

This is an optional paper for MSc Sociology, MSc Political Sociology, MSc Regulation, MSc Regulation (Research), MSc Environmental Policy and Regulation,  MSc Culture and Society, MSc Management and Regulation of Risk, MSc Public Management and Governance, MSc Accounting, Organisations and Institutions, MPA Public and Economic Policy/MPA Public Policy and Management/MPA International Development/MPA European Public and Economic Policy/MPA Public and Social Policy, PhD Accounting students and other MSc/MPhil students by arrangement and with the proviso that they take the exam.

This course introduces students to sociological perspectives on economic life and risk regulation in advanced industrial societies. Topics include economic sociology, state risk regulation including regulatory variations, enforcement and business responses, economic and civil society sources of regulation, organizational risk management, science, experts and risk regulation, globalization, and trends in risk regulation. The course will draw upon a broad international literature on social and economic regulation and case studies from the environmental, financial and public health domains.

22 weekly two-hour seminars, which will combine lecture-led and student-led discussions with debates.

All students are expected to submit at least one piece of non-assessed written work and prepare seminar presentations.

Attendance at all seminars and submission of all set coursework is required.

Hood, C., Rothstein, H. and Baldwin, R. (2001) The Government of Risk, Oxford: Oxford University Press; Hutter, B.M. and Power, M.K. (eds) (2005)  Organizational Encounters with Risk, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press; Smesler, N. & Swedberg, R. (eds) (2005) The Handbook of Economic Sociology; Swedberg, R. (2003) Principles of Economic Sociology.

One three-hour examination (70%) and an assessed 2,500-3,000 word essay (30%), two copies to be submitted to the Sociology Administration Office, Room S219a, by the Tuesday, week 2 of ST; a third copy uploaded to Moodle.