50139 Political Theory

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences: Social Inquiry
Credit points: 8 cp
Result Type: Grade, no marks

Handbook description

Political theory concerns ideas about how human societies and states can be organised or disorganised through political activity. This subject explores the major traditions in Western thought, which may be drawn from anarchism, liberalism, conservatism, socialism, fascism and feminism. It also considers non-Western systems such as Confucianism and Islam. Particular theories and theorists are used to consider major themes and debates in the political realm. These may be drawn from topics such as democracy, justice, the state, and liberty. Students undertake analyses of real-world states and politics, in Western and Non-Western societies.

Subject objectives/outcomes

On completion of this subject students are expected to be able to:

Possess a broad understanding of Political Theory as a central element in political change and conflict.
Understand the methodologies of political theorists, their assumptions, and the logic of their arguments.
Understand the cultural framework of political theory, and the tension between universal and particular claims about power in the social realm.
Have the capacity to apply different theoretical approaches to the analysis of specific societies in political crisis.
Be skilled in communicating their ideas on complex political issues in a sophisticated and rational form.

Contribution to graduate profile

This subject will contribute to the development of:

theoretical knowledge in social inquiry;
research and analytical skills in politics;
critical analytical skills in time and space, in cross-cultural and global contexts;
sensitivity to the multiple dimensions of social difference;
critical understanding of the political and public policy processes;
ethical behaviour and practice, especially in research into political events;
a reflective appreciation of the role of theory in social understanding, and a commitment to lifelong learning and new perspectives on political life.

Teaching and learning strategies

This class is taught on a lecture and tutorial basis. It includes lectures; tutorial discussions based on in-class student presentations; online discussions sustaining collaborative investigations and debates, and group problem solving.

Content

Political theory concerns the consideration of how human societies can be organised, and the insights about societies that can be drawn from such debates. This subject explores the major traditions in western thought, which may be drawn from anarchism, liberalism, conservatism, socialism, fascism, and feminism,. It will also consider non-western systems such as Confucianism and Islam. Particular theories and theorists will be used to consider major themes in the political realm. These may be drawn from topics such as "democracy", "justice", the state", and "liberty". Students will undertake analyses of real-world states and politics, in western and non-western societies.

Political theory as political practice
Traditions in political thought
Exploring a theme: theorists and theory
Theorising political crises in time and space
Political practice as political theory.

Assessment

Assessment item 1: Two seminar presentations and one seminar facilitation report

Objectives	a, b, c, d
Value	3 x 10%
Due	To be advised
Word Limit	350 words
Task Summary	Tutorials are devoted to discussion of the lecture and readings. You are required to attend the lectures and do the weekly readings.
Further Information	In Week 1 your tutor will divide the tutorial group into several small discussion groups of equal size. Each student in a discussion group chooses a topic to facilitate for Weeks 2-6. All students must read the readings for each week; the Facilitator reads additional material and prepares a one-page statement of the key issues in the readings, citing ONE contemporary or historical case study which can be explained/theorised by drawing on the readings/political theory for that week. The statement should contain a set of focus points or questions to provoke discussion and comment about issues arising from the set reading. The case study must relate to these issues and centre on an issue or event outside Australia. It may draw on information from newspaper articles, magazine articles, academic articles or books; it must contain details of sources. The Facilitator brings this statement to the tutorial, using it as the basis for discussion. At the tutorial the Facilitator leads a debate in their discussion group about the tutorial readings, guided by the tutorial questions, and drawing on the case study, for about half an hour. During this time your tutorial leader will in-turn join each group for 5 minutes to ensure that discussion is proceeding well and that everyone in the group is participating. After 20 minutes of discussion, the Facilitator for each group prepares a brief report of the discussion (disagreements, further questions, conclusions, etc) and presents this to the tutorial as a whole. After presentations from each of the Facilitators for that week, the tutorial moves a general discussion, comparing the case studies, and discussing the broader issues. Following the tutorial each Facilitator must hand their tutorial leader a hard copy of their Statement and also post a copy of this onto the UTS Online site for the unit as a record of class discussion and debate. The weekly Facilitation process can change in Week 9. The tutorial may decide to adopt non-traditional forms of presentation and facilitation, using visual aids, such as posters, videos, or performances to illustrate of the week's themes. Presentations may be collaborative efforts, involving a whole discussion group, or pairs of presenters for instance. Again, as with the first half of the semester, presentations should develop a case study of the week's themes. The whole tutorial group, assisted by the tutorial leader, should decide in Week 7 how this second half of the facilitations will be run. Criteria for assessment of seminar facilitations and online posting: Evidence of having read the set readings carefully and thoughtfully Identification of the issues raised by political theory and the ability to use this theory to explain current and historical issues in politics Salient focus points/questions for discussion In-class presentation with hard-copy of report of discussion to be handed in to tutor and copy to be posted online.
Assessment criteria	Evidence of thoughtful and thorough reading of set texts and other sources that contribute to understanding of the issues, debates and ideas raised by each topic. Presenting salient focus points/questions for discussion and response. Quality of written exposition.

Assessment item 2: Media diary

Objectives	a, c, e
Value	30%
Due	To be advised
Word Limit	1,500 words
Task	Select 3 newspaper articles (these can be about either national or international political events, circumstances, issues, processes) that raise issues covered in the unit, in other words, the ways in which any of the traditions in political theory inform understanding of the events, circumstances, issues, etc, described in each article or, the ways in which those events, etc, are themselves examples of political theory in practice. Similarly, you might choose an article because it raises a question of political values, e.g. democracy, justice, freedom, etc. The newspaper articles that you select must be clipped from the hard copy of the relevant newspapers. Prints of the online versions of newspaper articles are not acceptable.
Assessment criteria	Ability to use political theory in analysis of contemporary politics. Evidence of reflection on the ideas, debates and frameworks presented in lectures, seminars and readings. Quality of critical reflection on both the theoretical issues and empirical material /news articles.

Assessment item 3: Analytical case study essay

Objectives	a, b, c, d, e
Value	40%
Due	To be advised
Word Limit	3,000 words
Task	An extended written analysis based on set research questions (to be posted on UTS Online in Week 6) relating to issues treated in the lectures and tutorials.
Assessment criteria	clear focus appropriate depth and breadth of research analysis (ideas, insights, originality where appropriate) sound structure clearly developed argument/answer in response to the question correct and consistent referencing and acknowledgements where appropriate of all sources used stylistically consistent.

Minimum requirements

Students are expected to read the subject outline to ensure they are familiar with the subject requirements. Since class discussion and participation in activities form an integral part of this subject, you are expected to attend, arrive punctually and actively participate in classes. If you experience difficulties meeting this requirement, please contact your lecturer. Students who have a reason for extended absence (e.g., illness) may be required to complete additional work to ensure they achieve the subject objectives.

Required text(s)

A Subject Reader containing all the required readings for the course is available from the UTS Union Bookshop Level 3, Building 1 (Tower); it is also available at the City Campus Library on Closed Reserve. The Guide to Further Reading contained in this unit outline also lists readings held at the City Campus Library on Closed Reserve. You can access these readings by going to 'electronic reserve' on the library's website, click on 'shortcut to closed reserve by subject' and type in 'political theory'. All the materials that are held on closed reserve for the subject are listed under 'Political Theory – 50139'.

Recommended text(s)

Additional reading (particularly in preparation for assessments).

To identify books on your topic of interests use the 'keyword' search facility on the Library's catalogue and search on appropriate terms (eg, 'liberalism', 'fascism', 'state formation' etc). To identify journal articles on your topic of interest search the database Expanded Academic Index. For specifically Australian material search the database APAIS.

Other useful online sources in political theory include: the home page of the 'Foundations of Political Theory' section of the American Political Science Association (www.political-theory.org). The home page of the American Society for Political and Legal Philosophy (www.political-theory.org/asplp.html) is also quite useful.

Indicative references

(2006).The Oxford handbook of political theory, Oxford : Oxford University Press,

Farrelly, Colin (2004.) Introduction to contemporary political theory, London: Sage. Vincent, Andrew (2004) The Nature of Political Theory, Oxford : Oxford University Press.

(2004) Handbook of political theory London : Sage.

Heywood, Andrew (2004) Political theory : an introduction, New York : Palgrave Macmillan.

(2004) What is political theory? London ; Thousand Oaks, Calif. : Sage Publications.

Sparks, Christopher (2003) Political theory in context, London : Routledge.

Ivison, D. and Patton, P. (2000) (eds.) Political theory and the rights of indigenous peoples Cambridge ; Oakleigh : Cambridge University Press,

(2000) Political theory in transition London ; New York : Routledge.

Freeden, Michael (1998) Ideologies and political theory : a conceptual approach, Oxford : Clarendon Press.

A. Vincent (1997) (ed.) Political theory : tradition and diversity New York : Cambridge University Press.

DeLue, Steven (1997) Political thinking, political theory, and civil society, Boston : Allyn and Bacon.

(1997) Twentieth century political theory : a reader New York : Routledge.

Ball, Terence (1994) Reappraising Political Theory Revisionist Studies in the History of Political Thought, Oxford : Oxford University Press.

Carnoy, Martin (1984) The state and political theory, Princeton, N.J : Princeton University Press.

Galston, William (2002) Liberal pluralism the implications of value pluralism for political theory and practice, Cambridge, UK ; New York : Cambridge University Press.

Goodin, Robert (1998) Reasons for welfare : the political theory of the welfare state, Princeton, N.J : Princeton University Press.
Ball, Terence (1998) Transforming political discourse : political theory and critical conceptual history, Oxford, England : Basil Blackwell.

Neumann, Franz, (1986) The rule of law : political theory and the legal system in modern society, Dover, N.H. : Berg.

Dallmayr, Fred (1984) Polis and praxis : exercises in contemporary political theory, Cambridge, Mass : MIT Press.

Kymlicka, Will. (2002) Contemporary political philosophy : an introduction, Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press.

Dagger, Richard (1997) Civic virtues rights, citizenship, and republican liberalism, New York : Oxford University Press.

Jones, Peter (1994) Rights, Basingstoke: Macmillan.

Beetham, David (1991) The legitimation of power, Basingstoke : Macmillan Education.

(1990) Social contract theory, Oxford : Basil Blackwell, 1990

Lindley, Richard (1986) Autonomy, Basingstoke : Macmillan.

W. Connolly (1984) (ed.) Legitimacy and the state, Oxford : Blackwell, New York: Harper & Row.

Carter, April (1971) The political theory of anarchism, New York: Harper and Row.

Gupta, Dipak (2007) Understanding terrorism and political violence : theory and policy, London : Routledge.

Gilbert, Margaret (2006) A Theory of Political Obligation Membership, Commitment, and the Bonds of Society, Oxford : Oxford University Press,

Milward, Bob (2000) Marxian political economy : theory, history and contemporary relevance, Basingstoke : Macmillan.

Pilbeam, Bruce (2003) Conservatism in crisis? : Anglo-American conservative ideology after the Cold War, New York : Palgrave Macmillan.

Meyer, Frank S. (1992) Freedom, tradition, conservatism, St. Leonards, N.S.W : Centre for Independent Studies, 1992

Fukuyama, Francis.(2006) America at the crossroads : democracy, power, and the neoconservative legacy, New Haven, Conn. : Yale University Press.

Shapiro, Ian.(2003) The state of democratic theory, Princeton, N.J. : Princeton University Press.

Locke, John, 1632-1704 Two treatises of government and a letter concerning toleration, New Haven, Conn. ; London : Yale University Press, c2003

Sunstein, Cass R (2001) Designing democracy : what constitutions do New York : Oxford University Press.

Szalai, Erzsébet(2005) Socialism an analysis of its past and future Budapest ; New York : Central European University Press.

Engels, Friedrich, 1820-1895 Socialism utopian or scientific London : Electric Book Co., c2001

Buchli, Victor (2000) An archaeology of socialism, Oxford : Berg, 2000.

Tim Battin and Graham Maddox. (1996) (eds.) Socialism in contemporary Australia, South Melbourne : Addison Wesley Longman.

Michael S. Neiberg. (2006) (ed.) Fascism, Aldershot : Ashgate, 2006.

Eatwell, Roger.(2004) Fascism and the extreme right, London : Routledge.

Renton, Dave (1991) Fascism: theory and practice, London ; Sterling, Va. : Pluto Press.

O'Kane, Rosemary H. T.(2004) Paths to democracy : revolution and totalitarianism, London ; New York : Routledge, 2004.

Llobera, Joseph R (2003) Making of totalitarian thought, New York: Berg.

Matthew Miskelly and Jaime Noce (2002) (eds.) Political theories for students, Detroit, Mich: Gale Group.

Buck-Morss, Susan (2003) Thinking past terror : Islamism and critical theory on the left, London ; New York : Verso.

Nasr, Seyyed Vali Reza (2006) The Shia revival : how conflicts within Islam will shape the future, New York : Norton.

Demant, Peter R. (2006) Islam vs. Islamism : the dilemma of the Muslim world, Westport, Conn. ; London : Praeger.