History of Political Thought (Scientific Preparation)

Program Type:

Thesis

Non Thesis

Course Code:

POLS 552

P:

3

Lab:

0

Credits:

3

ECTS:

8

Course Language:

English

Course Objectives:

The history of political thought is a crucial part of understanding political theory. It attempts to answer the normative question “What do we want our political world to be?” This may be quite different from your previous forays into political science which may have focused on description, explanation, and prediction—what we call “empirical questions”. The immediate goal of this class is to push the student to think critically about the ideas and philosophies that have shaped, and will continue to guide, contemporary political systems.

Course Content:

The course content is designed around reading and discussing a variety of influential thinkers who advance competing notions of how our political world ought to be organized. The larger goal, however, is to provide the student the intellectual tools to become more informed and engaged democratic citizens, and perhaps, more thoughtful and considerate human beings.

Teaching Methods:

1: Lecture, 2: Discussion based lecture, 3: Case study, 4: Small group work, 5: Seminar, 6: Group work, 7: Research paper, 8: Oral presentation/exam, 9: Survey, 10: Panel, 11: Guest speaker, 12: Activities within a Student Body or Research Project.

Assessment Methods:

A: Exam, B: Homework, C: Oral exam or presentation, D: Discussion.

Vertical Tabs

Course Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes	Program Learning Outcomes	Teaching Methods	Assessment Methods
a. Get familiar with the political ideas of prominent political thinkers from ancient Greek to modern West	1 ,2, 4	1,2,3,12	A,B,D
b. Obtain a critical knowledge of the way in which political ideas are formed and developed in intellectual and philosophical contexts.	1, 2, 4	1,2,3,12	A,B,D
c. Relate their own thinking to the key ideas of major European political thinkers.	3, 5, 6, 7, 9	7,12	B,C,D

Course Flow

COURSE CONTENT
Week	Topics	Study Materials
1	Course introduction	syllabus
2	Idea and Ideologies	Rawls, J. “Four Roles of Political Philosophy” in Justice and Fairness Roberts, P. (2012). “Plato”in Introduction to Political Thought: A Conceptual Toolkit: A Conceptual Toolkit. pp.23-45 “Aristotle” pp. 46-68.
3	Traditional Ideologies: Liberalism	Heywood, A. (2017). Political ideologies: An introduction, pp. 24-61.
4	Traditional Ideologies: Socialism	Heywood, A. (2017). Political ideologies: An introduction, pp. 95-136.
5	Traditional Ideologies: Conservatism	Heywood, A. (2017). Political ideologies: An introduction, pp. 62-94.
6	Major Debates: Human Nature	Heywood, A. An Introduction to Political Theory Ch.2 pp16-26. Roberts, P. (2012). “Liberty and Human Nature” Introduction to Political Thought: A Conceptual Toolkit: A Conceptual Toolkit. pp. 69-102. Curtis, M. (2008) “Rousseau: Social Contract” in Great Political Theories, V2, pp.18-34
7	Major Debates: Individual and Society	Heywood, A (2015) Ch.2 pp. 26-50. Roberts, P. (2012). “Social Contract and Artifiallity of the State” Introduction to Political Thought: A Conceptual Toolkit: A Conceptual Toolkit. pp. 103-124.
8	MIDTERM EXAMINATION	--
9	Politics and Government	Heywood, A (2015) Ch.3 pp. 52-74.
10	Law, Order and Justice	Heywood, A (2015) Ch.6 pp. 153-183.
11	Rights, Obligations, Citizenship	Heywood, A (2015) Ch.7 pp. 184-218.
12	Power, Authority and Legitimacy	Aron, R. (2018). “Montesquieu” in Main Currents in Sociological Thought: Volume One: Montesquieu, Comte, Marx, De Tocqueville: The Sociologists and the Revolution of 1848. pp.17-62. Heywood, A (2015) Ch.5 pp. 121-151.
13	Democracy, and Representation	Aron, R. (2018). “Tocqueville” in Main Currents in Sociological Thought: Volume One: Montesquieu, Comte, Marx, De Tocqueville: The Sociologists and the Revolution of 1848. pp.183-232. Heywood, A (2015) Ch.8 pp. 220-241.
14	State	Aron, R. (2018). “Weber” in Main Currents in Sociological Thought: Volume 2: Durkheim, Pareto, Weber. Pp. 185-258. Heywood, A. (2015) Ch.3, pp.75-88.
15	Wrap up and Conclusions	--

Recommended Sources

RECOMMENDED SOURCES

Textbook

Heywood, A. (2015). Political theory: An introduction. Macmillan International Higher Education.

Additional Resources

Roberts, P. (2012). Introduction to Political Thought: A Conceptual Toolkit: A Conceptual Toolkit. Edinburgh university press.

Curtis, M., & Curtis, M. (2008). Great Political Theories V. 2: A

Comprehensive Selection of the Crucial Ideas in Political Philosophy

from the French Revolution to Modern Times (Vol. 2). Harper Collins.

Aron, R. (2018). Main Currents in Sociological Thought: Volume

One: Montesquieu, Comte, Marx, De Tocqueville: The Sociologists

and the Revolution of 1848. Routledge.

Aron, R. (2018). Main Currents in Sociological Thought: Volume 2:

Durkheim, Pareto, Weber. Routledge.

Material Sharing

MATERIAL SHARING
Documents
Assignments	Weekly readings
Exams	Midterm, Final

Assessment

ASSESSMENT
IN-TERM STUDIES	NUMBER	PERCENTAGE
Mid-term 1	1	35
Mid-term 2	1	35
Total		70
CONTRIBUTION OF FINAL EXAMINATION TO OVERALL GRADE	1	30
CONTRIBUTION OF IN-TERM STUDIES TO OVERALL GRADE		70
Total		100

Course’s Contribution to Program

COURSE'S CONTRIBUTION TO PROGRAM
No	Program Learning Outcomes	Contribution
No	Program Learning Outcomes	1	2	3	4	5
1	To demonstrate the ability to specialize and expand knowledge in the fields of political science, international relations, comparative politics, Turkish politics and foreign policy.					x
2	The ability to comprehend the interdisciplinary quality of the political science and international relations discipline.					x
3	A command of basic research models and approaches of political science and international relations discipline and the ability to apply them in academic research and project design.			x
4	Having the ability to assess and interpret the different political and societal systems with an interdisciplinary approach.					x
5	Having a command of qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methods and abiding by the highest levels of academic and research ethics.	x
6	The ability to present and debate an issue that requires specialization in the field of political science and international relations. The ability to discuss this issue within an intellectual framework, and the ability to express oneself in a professional and academic manner.				x
7	The ability to analyze and critically evaluate basic research models, approaches and intellectual traditions in the field of political science, international relations.			x
8	The ability to utilize academic writing and presentation skills to projects, dissertations and articles.			x
9	Having advanced reading, writing, comprehension and speaking skills in the English language.				x
10	Having the ability to apply knowledge of political science and international relations discipline to information technologies and traditional tools so as to produce sound solutions to problems.	x
11	Possessing experience and social skills necessary for employment in the public and private sectors and/or being admitted to a competitive Ph.D. program.		x
12	Having empathy towards diverse and differing communities, which will facilitate conducing teamwork at local as well as global platforms.					x
13	Having competency of comprehending and interpreting local and global issues through information exchange with international academics and students.			x

ECTS

ECTS ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD BY THE COURSE DESCRIPTION
Activities	Quantity	Duration (Hour)	Total Workload (Hour)
Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours)	16	3	48
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice)	16	5	80
Mid-terms	1	20	20
Homework	16	2	32
Final examination	1	20	20
Total Workload			200
Total Workload / 25 (h)			8
ECTS Credit of the Course			8

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