This advanced seminar critically explores socioeconomic structures, emphasizing theoretical frameworks that examine institutions, decision-making, power dynamics, digital infrastructures, narratives, democratic governance, and sustainability. The course integrates insights from ecological economics, cybersecurity economics, neoliberal critiques, radical democratic theory, narrative theory, and social ecological transformations.

By the end of this course, participants will:

Understand and critique socioeconomic structures shaping decision-making, institutions, and behaviors.

Analyze power, neoliberalism, democratic governance, and counter-hegemonic frameworks.

Explore the significance of narratives, behavior, and practice theory within socioeconomic systems.

Link socioeconomic theories explicitly to ecological sustainability, digital infrastructures, and social change.

WU rules as per type of course

• Independent yet Guided Study: In this course, students independently read selected scholarly works. Students participate regularly in meetings or seminars guided by a supervising professor, which facilitate in-depth discussions, clarification of complex concepts, and critical evaluation of the assigned texts.

• Interdisciplinary Focus: This seminar integrates theoretical and methodological insights from institutional economics, political economy, ecological economics, sociology, and social philosophy. The assigned readings include both foundational works and current academic debates, emphasizing the interaction between economic behaviors, social contexts, institutions, and values.

• Customized and Research-oriented: This course is tailored around students' specific research interests or dissertation topics. Students collaborate closely with the professor to select texts that align precisely with their research needs and intellectual objectives.

• Critical Engagement and Analytical Development: Students critically evaluate theories, methodologies, and empirical findings presented in the readings, developing advanced analytical and evaluative skills. The seminar emphasizes synthesizing insights, identifying theoretical gaps, and recognizing opportunities for innovative research.

Every week prepare at least one article for presentation in class.

Present your research project with links to course content in final session.

Please log in with your WU account to use all functionalities of read!t. For off-campus access to our licensed electronic resources, remember to activate your VPN connection connection. In case you encounter any technical problems or have questions regarding read!t, please feel free to contact the library at readinglists@wu.ac.at.