The main purpose of the course is to familiarize students with basic concepts of law which, in continuation, are necessary for the teaching and understanding of the courses ‘Spatial Planning, Urban Planning and Environmental Law I’ and ‘Spatial Planning, Urban Planning, and Environmental Law II’. These concepts are primarily linked to national law and secondarily to European Union (Community) and international law. Also, the aim of the course is to familiarize students with the function of the various levels of the public administration.

The presentation of the basic concepts of sociology and the acquisition of general knowledge of sociological theory and social research, which are a prerequisite for the study and research of socio-spatial transformation phenomena that they will study in future courses.

Successful completion of the course presupposes that students have acquired an overview of the concept of law, its basic characteristics, as well as its role in the institutional organization of the citizens’ relations, on the one hand with the state in its various manifestations, and on the other with each other as citizens.

Upon completion of the course, students have acquired the ability to understand the character of the legal relationships that citizens develop either with the Administration or with each other and the corresponding rights and obligations that these relationships entail.

Students have the ability to understand the role and importance primarily of public law and secondarily of private law in the organization of the citizens’ relations with institutions, public and private, as well as the character and level of commitment that legislation imposes on them (citizens and institutions) as shown in particular examples.

Introduction to Law: thematic units:

1. The concept of law, historical origins of law, theoretical approaches and functions.
2. Sources of law, Rules of law, Principles of law – Conceptual approach
3. Distinctions / branches of law (public and private law and sub-branches of law).
4. Interpretation and Application of law (methods of interpretation: grammatical, historical, teleological, etc.)
5. The concept of a legal relationship (e.g. a contractual relationship, a real relationship, etc.), the concept of the subject of law, persons (natural and legal) from the point of view of public and private law.
6. The concept of the Right (Constitutionally guaranteed rights: [civil, social and political rights]).
7. Rights and related concepts (e.g. claim, institution, etc.), other forms of rights (private and public law rights, contractual rights, property, inheritance, etc.), conflict of rights and ways of removing conflict between them.
8. The fundamental concepts of Transaction (in private law) and the Administrative Act (in public law) – Types of transactions and administrative acts – Basic concepts of property law.
9. Types of Courts (civil, administrative, criminal). Forms of judicial protection of the citizen.
10. The concept of Jurisprudence – Action of the Administration and judicial review of the legality of administrative acts (cancellation, effective control).
11. Key elements of European Union (Community) law (primary, secondary law, Directives, Regulations, etc.
12. The institutional organisation of the European Union (European Council, Commission, Court of Justice, etc.)
13. Basic elements of international law (principles, conventions, protocols, etc.).

Introduction to Sociology: thematic units:

1. Natural and Social sciences: differences and convergences
2. Analysis – interpretation – ‘forecast’ in the social sciences
3. Social, economic and cultural conditions of the emergence of Sociology as a separate field of knowledge
4. Dominant philosophical / methodological currents in the development of Sociological Thinking: Empiricism / Positivism (Comte, Spencer)
5. Dominant philosophical / methodological currents in the development of Sociological Thinking: Dialectics (Marx)
6. Key Sociological elements in the Marxist approach: class stratification and social conflicts – the theory of transition and evolution of socio-economic formations – labour as exclusive producer of value
7. Sociology establishing itself as a distinct scientific field: insights and method in the Sociology of Emile Durkheim
8. The imperative of interpretation in the Sociology by Max Weber
9. Sociological thinking in the 20th century: the Functional School, the main exponents (T. Parsons and K. Merton) and its critics (S. Wright Mills and A. Gouldner)
10. The Sociology of the School of Social Conflict
11. Structure and phenomenology – dialectical dual of sociological theory
12. Contemporary thinkers: Touraine, Bourdieu, Giddens, Beck
13. Sociological Research Methods and Tools

For Law:

The assessment of the students consists of a written end of Semester examination (in Greek) which includes:

• Development of essay-type themes
• Short answer questions

For Sociology:

Short exercises (in A5 sheets) carried out during weekly classes (continuous assessment) and written examination at the end of the Semester

Assessment seeks to establish whether students have a clear and practical understanding of the role of law in matters of spatial management and environmental protection. Particular emphasis is placed on their ability to solve practical issues and problems. Students are informed of the conditions and criteria of their assessment, which ensures objectivity and equal treatment.

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