Political Theory / Political Theory

Academic Study Board of Political Science, Journalism, Sociology and European Studies, Sønderborg
Teaching activity id: 9068501.
Teaching language: English.ECTS / weighting: 5 ECTS / 0.083 full-time equivalent.
Examination language: English.
Exam activity id: 9068512, 9068502.Approved: 19-09-17.
Period: Spring 2018.
Grading: Internal grading.
Assessment: 7-point scale.
Offered in: Sønderborg.

Subject director:
Associate Professor Katarzyna Stoklosa, Institut for Grænseregionsforskning.

Prerequisites:
Students are expected to have knowledge about basic political ideologies, including conservatism, liberalism and socialism.
Knowledge of relevant and reliable information about political systems.

Purpose:
The course aims to enable the student to analyse political systems and the history of political ideas, which is important in relation to European Studies and understanding of today’s Europe.

The course provides knowledge and competences to work for European institutions, both research institutions as well as institutions dealing with practical programmes.

Content - Key areas:
The course contains the following academic main areas:
a) European history of political ideas (from old Athens to 21st Century)
b) Development of political ideas
c) Political theories
d) Analysis of diverse political systems using primary sources
e) Comparison of political systems, finding out similarities and differences between them as well as explanation.

Goals description (SOLO taxonomy):
In order to attain the course objective, students are expected to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of political systems, so that they are able to:
  • Describe, analyse, compare and criticize different political systems.
  • Students should be able to hypothesize political ideas and systems in different countries.

Literature:
The following literature is used as a starting point at the course:
  • Bruce Haddock, A History of Political Thought. From Antiquity to the Present (Polity, 2008).
  • Handbook of Political Theory, eds. Gerald F. Gaus & Chandran Kukathas, London 2004.
  • Political Ideologies. A Reader and Guide, eds. Matthew Festenstein and Michael Kenny, Oxford 2005.
  • Andrew Heywood, Politics, New York 2007.
  • Michael Curtis, The Great Political Theories. Vol. 2, New York 2008.
  • Andrew Heywood, Political Theory. An Introduction, London-New York: Palgrave 2015
  • John Hoffman/Paul Graham, Introduction to Political Theory, London/New York 2015.

Specific class readings will be provided later in a detailed outline of the course.


Time of classes:
Spring.
Form of instruction:
Preparation before class (reading textbooks, working groups). 2 hrs class per week in 15 weeks. Lectures, class-room discussions, student presentations, group projects. Students are expected to contribute actively through their own presentations and final discussions.

Time of examination:
Ordinary examination in June. Reexam in August.

Registration for the course is automatically a registration for the ordinary examination of the course. Cancellation is not possible. If the student does not participate in the examination, the student will use an examination attempt.
The university may grant an exemption from the rules in case of exceptional circumstances.

Please note that the type and form of the re-examination may differ from that of the ordinary examination.

Examination conditions:
To take the examination, a presentation and a mid-term paper must be passed (9068512). Passed/not passed.

Fulfillment of the examination condition is only possible prior to the ordinary examination.
Participation in the re-exam thus requires that the examination condition is met prior to the ordinary examination.

Form of examination for the certificate:
Take-home assignment.

Supplemental information for the form of examination:
The goal of the examination is to show that the student has read literature ref. the taught topics and is able to analyse critically. The student's achievement of the learning goals will be tested by a written take-home assignment (4 weeks). Max. 15 pages à 2.400 units. Electronic hand-in via SDU-Assignment in Blackboard

Comments:
The number of students enrolled may be restricted by the Study Board.  If the enrolment limit is exceeded preference is granted to full degree students following a compulsory course on a SDU programme. Within the limit, full degree students having selected the course as an elective, guest and exchange students are offered enrolment on a first come first served basis. 
Exchange students, if any: Internal grading. Assessment as for ordinary students.

Programmes:
BSc in European Studies
2nd semester, mandatory. Offered in: Sønderborg