| CODE | SOC3005 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Sociology of Money | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Sociology | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit introduces key theoretical, conceptual and empirically-grounded developments in the sociology of money and puts them in the context of dominant narratives of the history of money, money creation and the role of money in society. A key focus will be placed on the idea that money is embedded in social and cultural relations, and on the ways in which communities imbue money with social and cultural meaning. - Is there morality to money? - What is 'clean' money and what makes money 'dirty'? - Is money a cold, distant and corruptive object that destroys social relations, or can money also be personal and intimate? - What does it mean to gift money? A second key focus is placed on social theories that conceptualise money as a social relation in and of itself, on the politics and contestations of money, on power relations in the context of digital money. - Who creates money? - Who controls money? - What role do states and markets play in the social life of money? - What does the turn to cashless societies imply? The study-unit applies these questions to contemporary developments - from cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin to central bank digital currency - and explores the ways in which the conditions and configurations of these 'new monies' represent alternative, and possibly competing, visions of the organisation of society and economy. Study-Unit Aims: - To introduce new modes of thinking about money and moneyness; - To present competing ideas on the relationship between money and social relations; - To offer interpretation of the concept of money as a social relation; - To explore historical and contemporary developments against dominant narratives of money. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - consider the concept of money as an important sociological phenomenon, rather than a neutral, mundane and technical object; - critically assess the ways in which current social structures and processes influence the creation and governance of money; - reflect on the ways in which the conditions and re-configurations of money are influenced by and in turn influence the organisation of markets and society. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - apply theories and concepts of money to current social and economic problems like financial crises and socio-technical phenomena like cryptocurrencies; - appraise and synthesise the key sociological literature on money; - deliver a well-structured assignment that presents a sociological analysis/interpretation of money or an aspect related to it; - draw on the key literature and referencing it by making use of the right referencing system. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Bandelj, N., Wherry, F. F., & Zelizer, V. A. (2017). Money talks: Explaining how money really works. Princeton; Oxford: Princeton University Press. - Carruthers, B. G. (2010). The Meanings of Money: A Sociological Perspective. Theoretical Inquiries in Law, 11(1), pp. 51-74. Supplementary Readings: - Dodd, N. (2014). The Social life of money. Princeton: Princeton University Press. - Graeber, D. (2011). Debt: The first 5,000 years. Brooklyn, New York. Melville House Publishing. - Ingham, G. (2004). The nature of money. Geoffrey Ingham. Cambridge: Polity Press. - Simmel, G. (1900/2011). The philosophy of money. London: Routledge. - Zelizer, V. A. (1997). The social meaning of money: Pin money, paychecks, poor relief, and other currencies. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Independent Study | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Dylan Cassar |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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