COURSE INFORMATION Course Title: MODERN POLITICAL THOUGHT

Code	Course Type	Regular Semester	Theory	Practice	Lab	Credits	ECTS
PIR 202	B	4	4	0	0	4	5

Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature)	Dr. Avdi Smajljaj asmajljaj@epoka.edu.al
Main Course Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	Dr. Avdi Smajljaj asmajljaj@epoka.edu.al
Second Course Lecturer(s) (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:
Language:	English
Compulsory/Elective:	Compulsory
Study program: (the study for which this course is offered)	Bachelor in Political Science and International Relations (3 years)
Classroom and Meeting Time:
Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours:	Marko Meraj
Code of Ethics:	Code of Ethics of EPOKA University Regulation of EPOKA University "On Student Discipline"
Attendance Requirement:
Course Description:	-
Course Objectives:	This course aims to introduce students to the history of political ideas from modern times, starting from Hobbes to Rawls. The main issue within the the political philosophy covered in this course, but not limited to, are the followings: freedom, equality, legitimacy, political economy, liberalism, etc. Particular attention is paid to the development of political liberalism by thinkers such as Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Kant, and Mill, as well as the radical critiques of liberalism advanced by traditionalism, socialism, feminism, and critical theory. The course concludes with a look at the continuing impact of these canonical thinkers on contemporary political thought.

BASIC CONCEPTS OF THE COURSE

1	Modernism
2	Democracy
3	Liberalism
4	Conservatism

COURSE OUTLINE

Week	Topics
1	Introduction to the course
2	Hobbes, Locke
3	Montesquieu, Rousseau, Wollstonecraft
4	Tocqueville, Mill, Burke
5	Kant
6	Hegel
7	Marx, Nietzsche
8	Arendt, Popper
9	Mid-Term
10	Oakshott
11	Habermas
12	Rawls
13	Foucault
14	Course revision

Prerequisite(s):
Textbook(s):	Boucher, D. 3rd Ed. Political Thinkers: From Socrates to the Present. Oxford University Press. 2017. Alan Ryan: On Politics - A history of political thought - from Herodotus to the present, Liveright, 2012
Additional Literature:
Laboratory Work:
Computer Usage:
Others:	No

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

1	identify the main contribution of philosophers of modern and contemporary time to political thought
2	link and compare different perspectives of political philosophers of modern and contemporary time on political concepts
3	argue and discuss about political issues from philosophical perspective
4	command a critical thinking in political thought
5	apply political concepts, given by philosophers of modern and contemporary to study politics in contemporary world

COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO... PROGRAM COMPETENCIES (Blank : no contribution, 1: least contribution ... 5: highest contribution)

No	Program Competencies	Cont.
Bachelor in Political Science and International Relations (3 years) Program
1	Having and using advanced knowledge and comprehension supported by textbooks including actual knowledge in political sciences and international relations literature, materials and the other scientific resources.	5
2	Analyzing data, ideas and concepts of current political issues and international relations, determining complex events and topics, making discussions and developing new suggestions in accordance with researches.	5
3	Having knowledge and thought about actual topics and problems together with their historical, social and cultural aspects.	5
4	Introducing those who are interested in politics and international events with the topics of Political Science and IR and teaching clearly the problems and the types of solutions.	5
5	Improving skills of working together with the main social science disciplines and other disciplines which are related to Political Science and International Relations.	5
6	Improving critical thinking and skills in making research independently.	5
7	Developing solutions about the problems and conflicts which are common in national and international arena.	5
8	Improving skills for leadership and research and analyze capacity of those who is responsible with national and international ones.	5
9	Knowing any foreign language enough to communicate with colleagues and understand actual researches and articles.	5
10	Gaining IT skills to use computer and technology) in order to reach actual knowledge.	5
11	Gaining skills to follow societal, scientific and ethic values during collecting, interpreting, conducting of data related to social and political developments.	5
12	Having consciousness about human rights and environment.	5
13	Gaining the skills to follow actual developments and pursue long-life learning.	5

COURSE EVALUATION METHOD

Method	Quantity	Percentage
Midterm Exam(s)	1	30
Presentation	1	10
Project	1	10
Final Exam	1	40
Attendance		10
	Total Percent:	100%

ECTS (ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD)

Activities	Quantity	Duration(Hours)	Total Workload(Hours)
Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours)	16	3	48
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice)	14	3	42
Mid-terms	1	10	10
Assignments	1	10	10
Final examination	1	15	15
Other			0
Total Work Load:			125
Total Work Load/25(h):			5
ECTS Credit of the Course:			5

CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE COURSE LECTURER

Involving the discussion on the current developments within the course through the perspectives of political philosophers enhanced students' abilities in understanding modern political thought.