The construction of entrepreneurial agency on farms

The course meets on Mondays from 10 a.m. untill 2 p.m. from March 15th until April 26th, 2010, at Unioninkatu 38, hall A205.

Compensations

Study units sp 54e,sp 55b or sp 61 or REMS courses.

Target group/Course level

Priority is given to REMS and master students majoring in Social Psychology.

Objectives

The course examines the cultural processes of constructing agents in modern society by considering entrepreneurship discourses as evolving, but controversial, frames for experience, action and policy in working life. Social psychology of entrepreneurship and a relational conception of agency are introduced as analytical perspectives. Special attention will be paid to the ongoing changes in the farm context. There the traditional model of state protected production on family farms has been seriously challenged particularly by neo-liberal politics. There is a continuous change going on towards a more market driven and competitive business. The course will introduce recent research on the changing patterns of farm business practices and the issues of self-identity, values and skills of farmers, and also provide insights on how these issues can be related to the construction of entrepreneurial agency.

Content

Program (tentative):

• 15.3. Introduction to the course; Social psychology of entrepreneurship
• 22.3. Discourses of entrepreneurship; Construction of agency
• 29.3. Entrepreneurship and farms
• 12.4. Thematic excursions (visiting lecturers)
• 19.4. Thematic excursions (visiting lecturers)
• 26.4. Thematic excursions (visiting lecturers

Completion

Active participation (24 h), regular readings (4-6 articles), and an essay (based on the lecturs and readings). The introductory article (Dudley: The Entrepreneurial self. Identity and morality in a Midwestern Farming community, 2003) should be read for the first lecture. The article is available for copying in the course folder to be found at Unioninkatu 37, second floor, shelf opposite room 2041.

Absence policy: Extra work will be required in case of absence from more than one lecture.