Module:                     SPT102 Introduction to Political science

Programme:              B.A Political Science and Sociology

Credit value:             12

Module:                    

1. General objective

This is a foundation module that introduces students to the basic concepts of political science, prior to future specialization. The module examines the main features of political organization on national and supra-national level, for example the distribution of power, types of state, political concepts and political systems. Many of the themes of this module will recur in a more detailed form at later stages of the module, and so the module provides an important and necessary introduction.

2. Learning outcomes

On completion of the module, learners will be able to:

• Critically examine the basic differences amongst political science, political philosophy and political theory.
• Trace the origins of the different political concepts
• Evaluate insight into various theories about the origin and nature of the state.
• Explain the link between the concepts like liberty, equality and fraternity
• Examine the evolution and nature of the concept of democracy with a special reference to developing countries.
• Express understanding of sovereignty of states and challenges to sovereignty
• Identify different political regimes
• Examine different types of power relation in political institutions

3. Learning and teaching approach:

This module counts for 12 credits and is divided over a period of 15 weeks. With a maximum of 8 hours per week, the number of teaching hours is four per week.

4. 
   Assessment

Assessment will be carried out both on continuous bases as well as theoretical examination (mid-semester and end semester):

For continuous assessment learner will have to submit;

A. Written Assignment: -portion of final mark -20%

Student will have to write one essay for this module. Essay font theme should be new times roman with font size 12. Word limit: 1000-1500

10% Content

5% Organization of the essay – introduction – how well the topic is introduced, with thesis statement. Body – argument made to support the thesis

statement, and conclusion – summering the entire essay with essential ideas

on the topic.

2.5% Referencing

2.5% Language

B. Oral presentation: portion of final mark - 10%

Students will choose a topic for class presentation related to the module. Presentation should not be more than 10 minutes. Presenters will be graded on the following criteria:

2.5% Organization

5% Content

2.5% Presentation

C. Pop Quiz: portion of final mark - 10%

A total of five pop quizzes will be conducted throughout the semester and out of which best of four will be considered. Each quiz will be worth 10 marks and should

not take more than 10 minutes to complete. Quiz will be conducted during the regular class hours.

Theoretical assessment will be done twice in a semester in the form of examination:

D. Mid Semester Examination: portion of final mark - 20%

Midterm will be conducted when 70% of the module is completed. It will be conducted for 90 minutes and the question sample will be similar to the end semester examination.

10% - Objective/short answer questions

10% - Long answer questions

E. End Semester Examination: portion of final marks - 40%

End semester will be conducted after the completion of Week 15. Questions will cover all the subject matter of the modules. Questions will be divided into three sections - A, B and C separating objective-short answer question and long answer questions. The examination will be conducted for three hours for a total of 100 marks.

20% - Objective/short answer questions

20% - Long answer questions

Overview of the assessment approaches and weighting

5. 
   Subject matter

5.1.           Unit I: Introduction to Politics:

5.1.1.       Defining   politics   and   political   concepts,   defining   political science.

5.1.2.       Why we study politics and evolution of Political Science as a discipline.

5.1.3.       Differentiating  between  political  science,  political  philosophy and political theory.

5.1.4.       Unit II: State:

5.1.5.     Origins and Development – three approaches – Idealist, Functionalist and Organizational.

5.1.6.       Theories   of   State   –   Pluralist,   Capitalist,   leviathan   and Patriarchal

5.1.7.       Elements of State- key feature and role of state

5.2.           Unit III: Sovereignty:

5.2.1.       Concept and its Evolution – from medieval and until concept of modern sovereignty

5.2.2.       Theories  of  Sovereignty:  Traditional,  Pluralist,  External  and Internal

5.2.3.       Globalization and challenges to Sovereignty- consequence of cold war, hegemony power in International politics

5.3.           Unit IV:  Political Concepts

5.3.1.       Liberty-  defining,  liberty  vs.  license,  Negative  freedom  and positive freedom

5.3.2.       Equality – Defining, Formal equality, Equality of opportunity vs. equality of outcome

5.3.3.       Fraternity  –  defining  –  moral  vs.  normative  concept,  Legal justice – Procedural and Substantive justice

5.3.4.       Rights  and  Duties  –  legal  vs.  moral  right,  types  of  rights, human rights. Legal, moral and political obligation, natural duty vs. contractual obligation, limits of obligation.

5.3.5.       Civil Society- defining, key features, origins of civil society and criticism.

5.3.6.       Multiculturalism-origins, defining, C. Taylors and W. Kymalica's theory

5.3.7.       Gender- sex vs. gender, learning to be gendered, conventions and ideologies, waves of feminism

5.3.8.       Citizenship- defining, elements of citizenship, T.H. Marshall's theory, multiculturalism and citizenship

5.4.           Unit V: Democracy

5.4.1.       Conceptual  Understanding   of  Democracy   -  defining   and problems

5.4.2.       Historical Evolution of Democracy- origins

5.4.3.       Theories    of    Democracy    –    liberals,    Pluralism,    Elitist, Corporatist, New Right and Marxist

5.4.4.       Electoral  Systems  –types  majority,  proportional  and  mix, Advantages and drawbacks

5.4.5.       Critical evaluation – Democracy and globalization, North south gap

5.5.           Unit VI: Political Regimes

5.5.1.       Liberal democracy -defining and key features

5.5.2.       Monarchy- divine right and key features

5.5.3.       Authoritarianism – defining and features

5.5.4.       Theocracy – defining and features

5.5.5.       Communism- defining and features

6. Reading List

6.1.           Essential Reading

Gauba, O. P (2008) An Introduction to Political Theory (fourth Edi…), Macmillan India Press, Chennai.

Heywood, A. (2007). Politics, Palgrave Foundations Series, New York.

Haywood,  A  (2006),  Political  Theory:  an  introduction,  Palgrave  Foundations Series, New York.

6.2.           Additional  Reading

Ball, A and Guy Peters (2000) Modern Politics and Government, Palgrave, New York.

Ball, T., Dagger, R. (2003) Ideals and Ideologies: A Reader, Longman, London. Gaus,  G.F.,  Kukathas,  C.  (eds.),  (2004),  Handbook  of  political  theory.  Sage Publications Ltd, London.

Date: August 2015