Gwybodaeth Modiwlau
Module Identifier
IP32220
Module Title
POLITICAL THEORY
Academic Year
2011/2012
Co-ordinator
Semester
Intended for use in future years
Other Staff
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 15 Hours. (15 x 1 hour) |
| Seminars / Tutorials | 9 Hours. (9 x 1 hour) |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Seminar Performance | 10% |
| Semester Exam | 3 Hours Exam | 90% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
- have a grasp of the main themes of the history of political thought
- be acquainted with three or more political ideologies.
- be able to evaluate an original text in political theory.
- be capable of putting forward and appraising a political argument.
Brief description
This module provides an introduction to the history of political theory and a close analysis of specific ideas and thinkers.
Content
These are the anticipated lecture topics:
1. Political Theory and its history
2. Machiavelli's The Prince
3. Modern political theory - Hobbes and sovereign power
4. John Locke and liberal political theory
4. Rousseau - the social contract theory continued
6. Liberalism and Utilitarianism - John Stuart Mill, James Mill & Bentham
7. Conservatism ? Edmund Burke and Michael Oakeshott
8. Fascism - is there a coherent ideology as exemplified in the work of Carl Schmitt?
9. Anarchism - Bakunin, Godwin and Kropotkin
10. Feminism ? Mary Wollstonecraft, Susan Moller Okin and Judith Butler.
11. Socialism ? the Kantian socialists versus Marx
1. Political Theory and its history
2. Machiavelli's The Prince
3. Modern political theory - Hobbes and sovereign power
4. John Locke and liberal political theory
4. Rousseau - the social contract theory continued
6. Liberalism and Utilitarianism - John Stuart Mill, James Mill & Bentham
7. Conservatism ? Edmund Burke and Michael Oakeshott
8. Fascism - is there a coherent ideology as exemplified in the work of Carl Schmitt?
9. Anarchism - Bakunin, Godwin and Kropotkin
10. Feminism ? Mary Wollstonecraft, Susan Moller Okin and Judith Butler.
11. Socialism ? the Kantian socialists versus Marx
Aims
The aims of this course are to introduce the student to the use and critical appraisal of some of the principal texts in the history of political thought. This will be done through the study of key classical writers and the investigation of a number of ideologies such as liberalism, nationalism, conservatism, fascism, socialism, feminism and anarchism.
Transferable skills
This module will provide the opportunity for students to develop their oral, intellectual and communication skills. In the lectures emphasis will be placed on understanding, following the argument and summarizing it concisely. In the seminars emphasis will be placed on developing clear, cogent and persuasive arguments. The seminars offer the opportunity for students to show independent reasoning and judgment. Essay writing will encourage students to carry out research on their own initiative and to develop their IT presentation skills. The examination will test knowledge retention, comprehension and skills of analysis under conditions of time constraint.
10 ECTS credits
10 ECTS credits
Reading List
Goodwin, Barbara. (c2007.) Using political ideas /Barbara Goodwin. 5th ed. Wiley Primo search Hoffman, John (2006.) Introduction to political theory /John Hoffman, Paul Graham. Pearson Longman Primo search Williams, Howard (1992.) International relations in political theory /Howard Williams. Open University Press Primo search
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6