Critically explain the salient features of ‘alienation’ as propounded by Karl Marx.(2024)
What is historical materialism? Examine its relevance in understanding contemporary societies.(2023)
Critically examine the dialectics involved in each mode of production as propounded by Karl Marx. (2021)
What is the Marxist concept of ‘Fetishism of Commodities? (2019)
According to Marx, how are human beings alienated from their human potential and what does he suggest to change this? (2018)
Analyse Marxian conception of historical materialism as a critique of Hegelian dialectics. (2017)
Evaluate Marx’s ideas on mode of production. (2016)
Identify the similarities and differences between Marx’s theory of ‘alienation’ and Durkheim’s theory of ‘anomie. (2014)
According to Marx, capitalism transforms even the personal relationships between men and women. Critically examine with illustrations from the contemporary Indian context. (2014)
Analyse the salient features of historical materialism. (2013)
Sometimes workers do not feel attachment for their work. Marx formed a theory for this situation, discuss that theory. (2012)
In Marxian classification of Society, feudal and slave societies are very important. How are they different from each other? (2012)
Examine Karl Marx’s views on ‘class – in itself’ and ‘class – for – itself’ with reference to proletarians. (2010)
Comment on the responses of the functionalist school to Karl Marx’s views on social change. (2009)
Explain Karl Marx’s analysis of capitalistic mode of production and class-struggle. What are the intellectual reactions to his views? (2007)
Explain Karl Marx’s ‘theory of social change’. What are the reactions of functionalists to his views? (2006)
Write short note: Class struggle a conceived by Karl Marx. (2005)
Analyse socio-cultural consequences of corruption and suggest remedial measures for curbing it. (2004)
Write short note: Class – in – itself and class – for – itself. (2003)
Explain Karl Marx’s conception of classantagonism. How have the functionalists reacted to his views? (2001)
Write short note: Alienation. (2000)
“It is not the consciousness of men that determines their being, but on the contrary it is their social being that determines their consciousness.” Examine Karl Marx’s notion of mode of production in the light of this statement. (1998)
Explain the concept of social change. Critically examine the contribution of Karl Marx’s theory of social change. (1997)
Write short note : Mode of production. (1996)
“Subjective perception of the objective reality prepares the context for the articulation of class antagonism.” Evaluate this statement with reference of Karl Marx’s contribution. (1995)
Critically examine Karl Marx’s theory of alienation. (1994)
Explain Karl Marx’s theory of social stratification. On what grounds functionalists refute it ? (1993)
Critically bring out the differences in the approaches of Karl Marx and Max Weber to the study of class structure in industrial capitalist society. (1992)
‘The history of the hitherto existing societies is the history of class struggle.’ Critically comment on this Marxian thesis. (1991)
How does Marx’s treatment of alienation differ from that of other sociologists ? (1990)
Write short note: Alienation. (1989)
Attempt a comparative analysis of the Weberian and Marxian theories of social change. Which do you think is more relevant to the Indian society at present ? Give reasons for your answer. (1988)
Do you accept that Marxism offers a prefabricated theory of social change ? Discuss critically. (1987)
Write short note : Alienation. (1987)
Write short note : Historical materialism. (1986)
How is Marxism relevant to developing nations? Will it be able to establish classless societies? (1985)
Write short note : Alienation in developing societies. (1984)
Discuss Marx’s concept of class. Is class struggle inevitable for the elimination of inequalities and exploitation in the third world societies? (1984)
Write short note : Alienation in modem society. (1981)
Analyse Marxian theory of social change. Is it useful to comprehend the changes in the developing societies? (1982)
Emile Durkheim
Describe various characteristics of a ‘social fact’. How is rate of suicide a social fact according to Durkheim? (2024)
Durkheim argued that society is more than the sum of individual acts. Discuss (2022)
Critically examine how Durkheim and Merton explicate Anomie. (2022)
Critically examine the relevance of Durkheim’s views on religion in contemporary society. (2022)
Explain whether Durkheim’s theory of Division of Labour is relevant in the presentday context. (2021)
Critically analyse Durkheim’s views on elementary forms of religious life and role of religion. Also discuss the consequences of religious revivalism in contemporary society. (2020)
What are the problems in observing social facts in Durkheim’s views? (2020)
How well do you think Tonnis, Durkheim, Weber and Max predicted the character of modern society? Critique. (2019)
Explain Durkheim’s basic arguments on suicide. Can you analyse high suicide rates of contemporary Indian society with Durkheim’s theory? (2018)
In what way did Durkheim perceive religion as functional to society? (2018)
Discuss distinct sociological method adopted by Emile Durkheim in his study of ‘suicide’ (2017)
Elaborate the views of Durkheim on “The Elementary Forms of Religious Life” (2015)
“According to Durkheim, the essence of religion in modern society is the same as religion in primitive society.” (2014)
Compare Karl Marx with Emile Durkheim with reference to the framework of ‘division of labour’. (2013)
Write short note on the following, keeping sociological perspective in view : Sacred and Profane. (2012)
Show how Durkheim through the study of totemism demonstrates the reality of religion. (2012)
‘Social fact is to be treated as a thing.’ Discuss. (2012)
Compare Karl Marx with Emile Durkheim with reference to the framework of ‘division of labour’. (2010)
Write short note on Subject-matter of Sociology, according to Emile Durkheim. (2009)
Elaborate Emile Durkheim’s analysis of the Elementary Forms of Religious Life and role of religion in society. How does the explain existence of religion in modern industrial societies ? (2007)
Write short note : Social facts. (2007)
What according to Emile Durkheim is the nature of relationship between the individual and society ? Explain this with the help of his analysis of division of labour in society. (2006)
Give a Critical Review of Emile Durkheim’s Theory on Religion and Society. To what extent does it explain the contemporary scenario in Asia ? (2004)
Write short note : The sacred and the profane. (2002)
Examine the nature of social facts as understood by Durkheim. (2001)
What is the focus of sociological analysis in the contributions of Emile Durkheim ? Give your answer with the help of any one of his contributions. (2001)
Emile Durkheim had argued that the function of division of labour in society is that of the promotion of social solidarity. Elaborate the statement and analyze the distinction between two forms of solidarity discussed by him. (2000)
Write short note : Gemeinschaft and Gesselschaft types of communities. (1999)
“Not all facts about human behavior are necessarily social facts.” State the meanings ‘social facts’ and the methods of studying them with reference to this statement. (1999)
Write short note : Division of labour and the differentiation of social structure. (1999)
Write short note: Anomie. (1997)
Write short note : Social fact. (1995)
Write short note : Organic analogy. (1994)
Write short note : Pathological form of division of labour. (1994)
Describe the functional analysis of religion given by Durkheim. Is this analysis applicable to the modern industrialized societies (1993)
What are the basic questions which inspired Durkheim to study the division of labour in society? Critically comment on his conclusions. (1992)
Write short note : Concept of social structure (1992)
‘Why does the individual, while becoming more autonomous, depend more upon society’? (Durkheim). How has the author tried to answer this question? (1991)
Write short note : The sacred and the profane (1991)
Is the Durkheimian concept of religion entirely different from that of his predecessors ? Why and how ? (1989)
In what respects do you think Weber’s conception of sociology differs from that of Durkheim? Which one of the two is more satisfactory? Substantiate your answer. (1988)
Write short note : Collective Representations. (1987)
Discuss Durkheim’s concept of Division of Labour. In what way does it differ from that of classical and neoclassical economists? (1986)
Discuss the contributions of Durkheim to sociology. How far did his methodology influence sociological traditions? (1985)
Max Weber
Describe the main idea of Max Weber’s book, ‘The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism’ as a critique of Marxism. (2024)
Do you agree with Max Weber’s idea that bureaucracy has the potential to become an iron cage? Justify your answer. (2021)
‘Ideal Types’ of Marx Weber are mental constructs; they do not correspond to the reality. Give your views. (2020)
Discuss the importance of interpretative understanding of social phenomena and explain its limitations. (2019)
Distinguish between fact and value in Weber’s Protestant Ethic and spirit of Capitalism. (2018)
Examine Max Weber’s method of maintaining objectivity in social research. (2016)
Which concept did Weber use to analyse the forms of legitimate domination? (2015)
Discuss the role of Calvinist ethic in the development of Capitalism? (2015)
How does Weber use the notion of ‘ideal types’ in his theory of bureaucracy? (2014)
Examine the salient features of Weberian bureaucracy. (2013)
‘ Power and authority go together.’ Examine. Explain the various types of authority also. (2012)
Explain how Weber’s characterisation of capitalism is different from those of Marx. (2012)
Write short note on The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, keeping sociological perspective in view. In about 150 words (2011)
Define Ideal Type and explain Weber’s concept of ‘Verstehen’ for understanding social phenomena. (2011)
What, according to Maw Weber, is the role of “particular religious ideas” in the emergence of modern capitalism? (2009)
Using Max Weber’s theory, discuss what ethical and religious ideas produced capitalism in certain societies and how? (2008)
What is the subject-matter of Sociology according to Max Weber? Which major methods did he suggest for social science research? Illustrate your answer with his sociological contributions. (2007)
Write short note: Concept of ideal type and its limitations. (2006)
Discuss Max Weber’s ideal types and the role of authority in bureaucracy. (2005)
Critically examine Max Weber’s theory of the Protestant ethics and the spirit of the Capitalism.’ Could it be the otherwise possibility that the tenets of the Capitalism must also have effected the emergence of the Protestant ethics? Comment with suitable examples. (2003)
Critically examine Webers theory of Protestant Ethic and Spirit of Capitalism. (2002)
State the meaning and characteristics of an ideal type. What, according to Max Weber, is the use and significance of the ‘ideal type’ in social science research? (2001)
Critically examine Max Weber’s theory of social action and its limitations. (1997)
Explain the origin and characteristics of bureaucracy according to Max Weber. Illustrate the structural sources of dysfunctions of bureaucracy. (1996)
Critically examine the role of formal and informal structures of bureaucracy in economic and social reconstruction of the developing societies. (1995)
What did Max Weber mean by Interpretative understanding? Why did he believe that to model sociological researches exclusively on strategies and ambitions of natural sciences was a serious mistake? (1994)
Write short note: Ideal types. (1994)
Write short note: Authority. (1994)
Write short note: Methods of Sociology according to Max Weber. (1993)
Write short note: Protestant Ethic. (1991)
What does Weber mean by ideal types? How is the concept relevant in sociology? (1989)
In what respects do you think Weber’s conception of sociology differs from that o Durkheim? Which one of the two is more satisfactory? Substantiate your answer. (1988)
Attempt a comparative analysis of the Weberian and Marxian theories of social change. Which do you think is more relevant to the Indian society at present? Give reasons for your answer. (1988)
Do you agree with Max Weber that the Protestant Ethics and the Spirit of Capitalism are correlated ? What are the alternative theories suggested by other academies? (1987)
Write short note: Ideal Types. (1987)
Write short note: Ideal types and social analysis. (1984)
Talcott Parsons
According to Mead the idea of self develops when the individual becomes self-conscious. Explain. (2022)
Critically analyse Parsons views on society as a social system. (2022)
Analyse the relevance of ‘Pattern Variables’ in the study of Social change. (2020)
How can Parsons AGIL framework be used to analyse key problems in a society? Discuss (2018)
Critically analyse Talcott Parsons’ conception of ‘Pattern Variables’. (2017)
Describe the functional prerequisites of social system as given by Talcott Parsons. Examine in the context of a university as a social system. (2016)
How is social equilibrium maintained in Parsonian framework ? (2015)
Examine the relevance of Parsonian Social System in the present society. (2015)
Write short note on the following, keeping sociological perspective in view : Universalism vs.Particularism (2012)
Give conceptual meaning of social system What is cognitive consonance between ‘pattern variables’ and ‘paradigm’ ? (2011)
Write short note on Cybernetic Hierarchy of Control. (2010)
Write short note on Talcott Parsons’ idea of ‘moving equilibrium’. (2009)
Write short note : Relevance of pattern variables in the study of social change. (2008)
Write short note : Talcott Parsons’ concept of social system. (2007)
Bring out a comparative analysis of Marxian and Parsonian views of social change and examine the relevance of each view for social development in the contemporary India. (2004)
Write short note : Social system and the Pattern Variables. (2003)
Write short note : Functional problems of the social system. (1999)
Discuss Talcott Parsons’ contribution to the analysis of social system. (1997)
Discuss Talcott Parsons’ contribution to the analysis of social change. (1996)
Write short note : The idea of functional indispensability. (1996)
State Talcott Parson’s contribution to theory of social action. What are the limitations of this theory? (1994)
Critically examine AGIL model of Talcott Parsons. How far is this model capable of explaining social changes in society ? (1993)
Write short note : Concept of functional alternatives. (1993)
Write short note : Social determinants of economic development (1993)
Write short note : Parson’s idea of equilibrium. (1992)
How does Parsons defend the nuclear family in promoting industrialisation? Is his thesis universally valid ? (1991)
Talcott Parson’s theory of social system has been criticised as a veiled status quoist ideology. Critically examine how valid and justified is this criticism. (1990)
Do you think that in T. Parsons there has been a ‘transition from the analysis of the structure of social action as such to the structural- functional analysis of social systems’ ? Discuss in detail. (1987)
What is ‘social action’ ? What is its place in the analytical frameworks of Max Weber and Talcott parsons (1986)
Robert K. Merton
Is reference group theory a universally applicable model? Elucidate. (2023)
With suitable examples, explain how conformity and deviance coexist in a society as propounded by R.K. Merton. (2021)
What are the reactions of R.K Merton to the functionalism of social anthropologists? Bring on the limitations of latent functions. (2020)
What according to Merton, is the different between ‘unanticipated consequences’ and ‘latent functions? Give examples to elaborate. (2019)
How according to Merton, are deviant subcultures generated? (2019)
What is the Difference between the anomia in Merton and Durkheim? Explain. (2018)
Analyze the manifest and latent functions of ‘security of the tenure of the bureaucrats’ in the light of Merton’s theory. (2016)
“Anomie is rooted in social structure.” Explain with reference to R.K. Merton’s contribution (2015)
How can we use reference group theory to understand fashion in society ? (2014)
How could one use Merton’s concept of deviance to understand the traffic problem in urban India ? (2014)
Using Merton’s concepts of ‘manifest’ and ‘latent’ functions, explain the persistence of corruption in Indian society. (2014)
To Robert Merton, deviant behaviour is a result of anomie. Analyse his sociological theory of deviant behaviour, with a special reference to his formulation of types of deviance. (2009)
What is Merton’s view of relationship between social structure and deviance ? In what sense is a deviant also a conformist ? (2008)
Write short note : Robert Mertons’ views on manifest & latent functions. (2007)
What are the reactions of Robert Merton to the functionalism pioneered by social anthropologists ? Indicate the limitations of his idea of latent functions. (2006)
Write short note : Primary and Reference groups. (2003)
Critically analyse the concept of Anomie. Elaborate, with suitable examples, the theoretical relationship between nature of Anomie and types of Social Deviations as have been formulated by R.K. Merton. (2003 )
Write short note : Manifest and latent functions. (2001)
How does social structure produce a strain toward anomie and deviant behaviour? Examine it with reference to Robert K. Merton’s contribution to this field of study. (2000)
Write short note : Relative Deprivation. (2000)
Write short note : Social structure and Anomie. (1999)
Write short note : Pattern variables. (1998)
Write short note : Middle-range theories. (1995)
Bring out the strength and the weakness of Robert Merton’s advancement over the classical functionalism. (1995)
In modern structural-functionalism, Merton’s effort to develop a “Paradigm” for functional analysis in the most significant one. Evaluate this statement. (1994)
What is the importance of Merton’s ‘Middle Range Theory’ in sociology? Discuss critically. (1991)
What does R. K. Merton mean when he admits that not everything works out for the best of everyone in society ? What is his improvement on functional theory ? (1990)
Write short note : Conformity and deviance. (1990)
Discuss the relation between social structure and anomie as presented by R. K. Merton. Attempt a critical appraisal of this analysis. (1988)
Critically assess R. K. Merton’s views on the contributions of research to the development of sociological theory. (1986)
G.H. Mead
Explain G.H. Mead’s idea of development of ‘self’ through the ‘generalised other’. (2024)
According to Mead the idea of self develops when the individual becomes self-conscious. Explain. (2022)
According to Mead, “We play a key role in our own socialisation.” Explain. (2019)
Do you think ‘I’ and ‘Me’ are central terms in Mead’s work? (2018)
“Self and Society are twin – born”. Examine the statement of Mead. (2015)
Using Mead’s theory of symbolic interactionism, discuss the stages in the formation of gender identity. (2014)
Critically analyse the contributions of G.H Mead to ‘symbolic interactionism’. (2013)
Critically analyse the contributions of G. H. Mead to ‘symbolic interactionism’. (2010)
