From Diversity to Inequality – A social science perspective

Aim

After completing the course, the student will be able to:

• describe and review social science concepts of diversity and inequality in changing contemporary societies in a Swedish, European and global perspective with a specific focus on age, cohort and generational structures.

• critically reflect on the relevance of diversity and inequality dynamics in ageing societies and corresponding problems for national, European and global policies.

• discuss and critically consider scenarios for future developments of diversity, inequality and exclusion patterns and their policy implications on the national, European and global level.

• contribute own research questions and to discuss analytical designs.

Content

Two features more than any other define the world we live in at the start of the twenty-first century: rising economic inequality and population aging. In this course the interconnections between these two defining features – rising inequalities and populations ageing – will be examined, especially how ageing defines and affect trends and patterns of inequality. It will first introduce into classical and contemporary approaches on diversity and inequality. Second it intends to consider the interplay between diversity, inequality and social change. Third, evidence from Sweden, Europe and Global analyses is discussed, before, fourth, research on diversity and inequality in times of accelerated social and demographic change is analysed. The interdisciplinary and intersectional correspondences of the issue will be emphasized.