SOC 545

Social Control

The course begins with an examination of the meaning of social control, both as a formal and an informal system of constraint. The second part of the course offers a historical account of the emergence and development of the prison in both Europe and the United States. This involves a detailed consideration of the competing historical accounts of the birth of the prison offered by Robin Evans and Michel Foucault. Finally, the course explores contemporary issues concerning surveillance and the use of technology to exercise control over a modern, predominantly urban population.

Units: 3.0