Description
This compulsory course in the MA Political Science programme aims to provide an overview of the current approaches and theories in the main sub-disciplines of political science, and addresses the extent to which new insights or paradigms may be replacing more traditional concerns. For each theme an overview of recent developments and key issues and debates provided, as well as some of the newer concepts that are to be found in the international literature, such as governance and globalization, and which appear to cut across sub-disciplinary boundaries. During class attention will be paid to exploring the relationship between theory and research in the subfields under examination and offering examples of the issues from empirical research.
Methods of instruction
This is a graduate level course. Students taking this course should attend all classes and will be expected to do a great deal of reading and writing. Seven essays are required; the grade for the course will be determined by the grades of the best five of these. The essays should be about 800 words, in Times New Roman 12 pts, with 1½ line spacing and with correct referencing.
Study material
Sources for the readings are:
On line: the majority of the articles are available as e-journal. For a full list of all the articles, please check the reader and/or blackboard.
Chapters from books and articles not on line. They will be available in a reader at the beginning of the course.
For two classes (rational choice and political theory) there is a set book:
Laver, Michael (1997). Private Desires, Political Action. An Invitation to the Politics of Rational Choice. London: Sage, pp. 18-134 (Chapters 2-6). ISBN 0-7619-5115-6.
Kymlicka, Will. 1995. Multicultural Citizenship: A Liberal Theory of Minority Rights, Oxford: Clarendon Press. (First issued in paperback 1996). ISBN 0-19-829091-8.
These are available in the Faculty Library.
Time table
Thursday September 4, till October 23, from 15.00-17.00 p.m. in Ch12 (except 11/9) and
Wednesday September 10, from 15.00-17.00 p.m. in Ch12