COURSE INFORMATION
Course Title: POLITICAL IDEOLOGY
Code Course Type Regular Semester Theory Practice Lab Credits ECTS
PIR 511 B 3 3 0 0 3 7.5
Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) NA
Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours: Gjergji Sinani , Tuesdays 14:30-17:30 hours
Second Lecturer(s) (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours: NA
Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours: NA
Language: English
Compulsory/Elective: Elective
Classroom and Meeting Time: E 310
Course Description: This master level course is conceived as a study in two distinct disciplines: political philosophy and history. This course explores the ideologies of various political systems in the contemporary world from both theoretical and practical perspectives. This course focuses on the four primary types of political ideology prevalent in the twentieth century: liberal democracy, socialist democracy, fascism, and communism. The aim of this course is enable students to reach a critical understanding of each system on its own merits rather than attempting to prove the inherent "superiority" of any one system.
Course Objectives: By the end of the module, students should be able to demonstrate i) an understanding of the notion of ideology, and of the key political ideologies discussed, and ii) ii) an ability to engage with and analyse the main debates and arguments discussed in the course. The lectures will focus on the main ideologies that have helped shape the modern world, together with more methodological debates surrounding the study of ideology.
COURSE OUTLINE
Week Topics
1 Introduction to Ideology
2 Classical Liberalism: Locke to Mill
3 Liberalism in the Twentieth Century
4 Marxism
5 Nationalism
6 Socialism and Social Democracy
7 Conservatism
8 Ecologism/ environmentalism
9 Feminism
10 Populist politics and the end of Ideology?
11 New left
12 New right
13 Non-Western civilizations: Islam, India, East Asia.
14 Third Way (Political)
Prerequisite(s): 60 % Attendance is compulsory and therefore will be monitored. Students are expected to prepare for the classes and to take active participation in the discussions.
Textbook: Matthew Festenstein and Michael Kenny (2005); Political Ideologies, Oxford, 1st edition; ISBN: 9780199248377. Mostafa Rejai (1995); Political Ideologies; A Comparative Approach; Published by Routledge/ USA; ISBN-13: 9781563241420. Shop Textbooks Andrew Heywood (2012); Political Ideologies: An Introduction / Edition 5/ published by Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN-13: 9780230367258.
Other References: There are various books for this module. However I do not want to suggest any of in here. Students are advised to follow the weekly hand out about the relevant resources.
Laboratory Work: N/A
Computer Usage: N/A
Others: No
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
1 To help students to understand today’s political terms and system
2 To help students to understand political parties, policies and their historical bacground
3 To help students to make sound political judgement on today’s political problems
COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO... PROGRAM COMPETENCIES
(Blank : no contribution, 1: least contribution ... 5: highest contribution)
No Program Competencies Cont.
Master of Science in Political Science and International Relations 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. 3
11 Gaining skills to follow societal, scientific and ethic values during collecting, interpreting, conducting of data related to social and political developments. 1
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
Presentation
1
35
Project
1
50
Other
1
15
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) 16 3 48
Mid-terms 0
Assignments 2 38 76
Final examination 0
Other 1 15.5 15.5
Total Work Load:
187.5
Total Work Load/25(h):
7.5
ECTS Credit of the Course:
7.5