GV100
Introduction to Political Theory
This information is for the 2020/21 session.
Teacher responsible
Prof Paul Kelly
Availability
This course is compulsory on the BSc in International Social and Public Policy with Politics, BSc in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, BSc in Politics, BSc in Politics and Economics, BSc in Politics and History, BSc in Politics and International Relations, BSc in Politics and Philosophy and BSc in Social Policy with Government. This course is available on the BA in Social Anthropology, BSc in Environment and Development, BSc in Social Anthropology and BSc in Social Policy. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit and to General Course students.
Course content
An introduction to political theory through the thought and texts of some of the most important political theorists. A study of the ideas of some of the major political theorists from the ancient Greeks to the 20th Century. Topics will include theories of human nature, the origin of government and law, man's relation to society and the state, the basis of political obligation, the idea of social contract, the idea of social progress, the critique of capitalism, and questions about race and gender. The thinkers discussed this year will include Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Kant, J S Mill, Marx, Nkrumah, Arendt, Fanon.
Teaching
This course provides a combination of classes and lectures totalling 29 hours in the Michaelmas term, 30 hours in the Lent term, and 3 hours in the Summer term. This year, some or all of this teaching will be delivered through a combination of online and on-campus lectures and classes. There will be a reading week in Week 6 of both Michaelmas and Lent terms.
The lecture in ST1 will be a revision lecture and the class in ST1 will be a revision class.
Formative coursework
Students will be expected to produce 1 essay in the MT.
Indicative reading
D. Boucher and P. Kelly, Political Thinkers: From Socrates to the Present (Oxford 2009); Plato, Republic; Aristotle, Politics; Cicero, The Republic and On Duties; Machiavelli, The Prince; Hobbes, Leviathan; Locke, 2nd Treatise of Government; Rousseau, Discourse on the Origins of Inequality and The Social Contract; J S Mill, Utilitarianism, The Subjection of Women, and On Liberty; Marx, Selected Writings (Ed D McLellan); Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism; Fanon, Black Skins, White Masks.
Assessment
Essay (33%, 2000 words) in the MT.
Essay (33%, 2000 words) and essay (34%, 2000 words) in the LT.
The summative assessment will be 3 essays for whole course. Effectively this means 1 summative assessment in MT and 2 for LT. However, in the event of the first, formative MT essay being 'best', students will be allowed to count that as one of their summative essays (so the best 3 out of 4 essays will form the summative assessment for this course).
GENERAL COURSE STUDENTS ONLY:
The Class Summary Grade for General Course students will be calculated as follows: 80% class participation and 20% attendance.
Student performance results
(2017/18 - 2019/20 combined)
| Classification | % of students |
|---|---|
| First | 10.5 |
| 2:1 | 72.3 |
| 2:2 | 15.7 |
| Third | 0.4 |
| Fail | 1.1 |
Important information in response to COVID-19
Please note that during 2020/21 academic year some variation to teaching and learning activities may be required to respond to changes in public health advice and/or to account for the situation of students in attendance on campus and those studying online during the early part of the academic year. For assessment, this may involve changes to mode of delivery and/or the format or weighting of assessments. Changes will only be made if required and students will be notified about any changes to teaching or assessment plans at the earliest opportunity.
Key facts
Department: Government
Total students 2019/20: 239
Average class size 2019/20: 12
Capped 2019/20: No
Value: One Unit
Personal development skills
- Self-management
- Problem solving
- Application of information skills
- Communication
