Course : Political Philosophy and Theory

Course Syllabus

I. Platonic Republic
II. Perceptions of the social contract (Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau)
III. Ethical, political, economic liberalism
IV. Socialism (Basic principles)
V. Marx
VI. Marxisms and Marxist socialism
VII. Conservative political philosophy
VIII. Issues in modern and contemporary political philosophy
IX. Rights and rights-based theories

Course Objectives/Goals

• Understanding of Theories: Understanding and analyzing classical and contemporary political theories.
• Critical Analysis: Critically examining political texts and theories, identifying assumptions and implications.
• Comparative Analysis: Comparative study of different political theories and philosophies.
• Theory Application: Using theory to analyze and interpret contemporary political issues.
• Argument Development: Creating and supporting strong, logically structured arguments.
• Autonomous Research: Ability to conduct autonomous research and develop new perspectives in political philosophy.

Instructional Methods

This course employs a dynamic blend of instructional methods to ensure a comprehensive learning experience. With a focus on engagement and flexibility, the instructional approach comprises 75% face-to-face teaching, fostering direct interaction between instructors and students in a traditional classroom setting. Additionally, 25% of the course involves distant teaching, which can be delivered either synchronously or asynchronously. This remote component allows students to access course materials, participate in discussions, and engage with learning activities at their own pace, leveraging online platforms and resources. By combining face-to-face interaction with remote learning opportunities, the course aims to cater to diverse learning styles and preferences, facilitating deeper understanding and collaboration among students while accommodating individual schedules and needs.

Assessment Methods

• 20%: Participation
• 20%: Oral presentation
• 60%: Written assignment

Prerequisites/Prior Knowledge

This module has no prerequisites in the curriculum or prior knowledge requirements.

Instructors

Instructors for the course will be announced shortly.

Textbooks

To be added soon.

Bibliography

• Aristotle, Politics
• Franěk, J. (2014). Arendt and Foucault on power, resistance, and critique. Acta Politologica, 6(3), 294-309.
• Boucher, D., & Kelly, P. (2003). The social contract and its critics. In The social contract from Hobbes to Rawls (pp. 11-44). Routledge.
• Franěk, J. (2014). Arendt and Foucault on power, resistance, and critique. Acta Politologica, 6(3), 294-309.
• Frank Jr, S., & Moore, S. H. (2010). Reading, study, and discussion of the “great texts” of literature, philosophy, and politics as a complement to contemporary leadership education literature. Journal of Leadership Studies, 3(4), 71-80.
• Masciulli, J., Molchanov, M. A., & Knight, W. A. (2016). Political leadership in context. In The Ashgate research companion to political leadership (pp. 3-27). Routledge.
• Neidleman, J. A. (2012). The social contract theory in a global context. E-International Relations.
• Plato, Republic
• Rawls, J. (1971). A Theory of Justice. Harvard University Press.
• Uhr, J. (2021). Political Leadership. The Oxford Handbook of Politics and Performance, 421.