The main topic of historical sociology lies in the questions of social change, modernization, modernization processes, civilizational analysis, the formation of states and nations, the formation of the world system, and globalization trends. These questions are studied through an extensive comparative analysis involving a wide geographical perspective and long-term intervals. Part of the field of historical sociology comprises a number of partial, specific research areas, which include issues such as collective mentalities, habits, and social memory. Historical sociology is a very diverse and internally differentiated discipline that has general theoretical approaches, a number of special theories, a variety of specialized research directions, and empirically developed research. The PhD program in historical sociology is designed to provide high-quality and demanding training for those who want to be active in scientific and research work – especially of an analytical and comparative nature – in some of those areas which concern current historical sociology. The doctoral curriculum includes exams from compulsory and elective courses, research activities, publishing activities, and participation in scientific conferences. After the state doctoral examination and a dissertation defense, the student is awarded a PhD.
Graduates of the doctoral study program of historical sociology are qualified experts in societal and social issues, particularly on issues of comparative analysis of historical processes and trends of development. They have the knowledge, skills and competencies for a job in the field of theory and research. They are theoretically prepared for work at universities, research institutes, and specialized workplaces in the public and private sector.
Further information can be found on the faculty website.
Contact: Ing. Jana Jeníčková, Ph.D.
Web: Doctoral Study Department
E-mail: jana.jenickova@fhs.cuni.cz
Phone: +420 251 080 351
Guarantor of the field of study: doc. PhDr. Jiří Šubrt CSc.
Study program guarantor: doc. PhDr. Jan Horský Ph.D.
If you have any questions, please contact us on Facebook.
1. Tuition fees
Students studying in the English programme pay a tuition fee. The fee for one academic year is 500 euros. The czech programme is free of tuition.
2. Student accommodation
Charles University can help you find accommodation, but it cannot guarantee that you will get it.
3. Scholarships and waiving of tuition fees
The Faculty of Humanities cannot waive your tuition fee and it does not offer any special scholarship for international students. This is only in the power of the university Rector's board. All students have the oppurtinity to apply for it. However, the Rector's board does not provide these reliefs and subsidies automatically, but only after thorough consideration.
4. Study requirements
It is necessary to pass 4 exams within the study programme: a) theoretical foundations of historical sociology b) research methodology c) elective subject, d) foreign language (other than English).
The Doctoral Seminar is the only compulsory course all students have to attend within the study. This course lasts 4 semesters (2 years).
Students are required to attend an international professional conference and publish two articles in professional journals during your study.
There are state exams at the end of the study, containing three questions: a) theoretical foundations of historical sociology b) research methodology c) elective subject.
Basic information can be found in doc. Jiří Šubrt's book The Perspective of Historical Sociology (Emeral; 2017). Link: https://books.emeraldinsight.com/page/detail/The-Perspective-of-Historical-Sociology/?k=9781787433649
5. Proposed topics of dissertations
The proposed topics of dissertations are listed in a general form. In individual dissertation projects, these topics will be specified and transformed into a concrete form.
- Theory of social change, its current forms and problems
- Development and changes of modernization theory
- Comparative analysis of modernization processes and their individual aspects
- Contemporary capitalism, variants of its development and functioning
- Comparative analysis of industrialism and post-industrialism
- Historical development, forms and manifestations of rationality and rationalization
- Comparative civilization analysis in terms of cultural and religious plurality
- Genesis and development of civil society
- Analysis of the processes of formation of the modern state and nation
- Nationalism and its role in the creation of the state and nation
- The formation of national identity, its components and role today and during the formation of a modern nation
- Modern democracies and aspects of their development in terms of historical sociology
- Totalitarianism, theory and concrete experience
- Post-socialist transformation and its aspects
- Forms and changes of social conflicts
- Politics and power in historical-sociological point of view
- Historical-sociological analysis of international relations
- Globalization and the world system, development and perspectives
- Historical comparative sociology of Europe
- Arabian Spring and comparative historical sociology
- Migration, refugees, diasporas and challenges for historical sociology
- Culture and everyday life in historical-sociological perspective
- Socio-historical development in the field of entertainment, sports and leisure
- The question of the relationship between small and large histories
- Issues of elites, leaders and great personalities in terms of historical sociology
- Collective memory and historical consciousnes
Charles University
Faculty of Humanities
Study Programme Historical Sociology
Pátkova 2137/5
182 00 Praha 8 - Libeň
(Room 2.06)
