SFS20207 Political Science Extension Course: Comparative Politics/Political Theory (Autumn 2011)

The course is connected to the following study programs

Obligatory subject within the Political Science Extension Course.
May be taken as part of the Bachelor of Arts in Society, Language and Culture.

Lecture Semester

1st Semester (Autumn).

The student's learning outcomes after completing the course

KNOWLEDGE
The students are aware of current debates about liberty, justice and consent in political philosophy. In additon there is a focus on normative justification in political thought.
The students also know how social conflicts about democracy, industrialism and market economy have contributed to democracy.

SKILLS
The students are able to describe social integration, the moral foundation for the limited state, political identity and the constitutional and political system in different countries.

GENERAL COMPETENCE
The students have obtained a general analytical competence. 

Content

The course consists of a block with one part Political Theory and one part Comparative Politics.

Polititcal Theory
Political Theory deals with

• Liberty
• Justice
• Liberalism

Comparative Politics
This part of the course deals with some of the main issues in comparative politics. It has three components:

• Political systems, structures and functions
• Forms of democracy
• Challenges to representative democracy

Forms of teaching and learning

Lectures, seminars and discussions. The lectures are given in blocks. The Political Theory block consists of two weeks with lectures, seminars and discussions. The third week is allocated to the obligatory writing of a paper. The Comparative Politics block follows the same outline.

Coursework requirements - conditions for taking the exam

None.

Examination

Portfolio
The exam is made up of a portfolio containing two individual papers, one on Political Theory and one on Comparative Politics.  Each papier shall be from four to six pages.

The papers can be written in English or Norwegian. A final mark is given according to a five-point scale, A to F.

Course evaluation

The course is evaluated by the students in the middle of the semester and in the end of the semester.
The oral midterm evaluation is organized as a conversation between the students and the study coordinator or the head of studies.
The final evaluation is a written evaluation.

Literature

Political theory:
F.A. von Hayek (1959/2009): The Constitution of Liberty (1959/2009) (part 1 and 2, part 3 is left out ), Routledge
John Rawls (2000): Justice as fairness , Harvard University Press.

Komparativ politikk:
Hague, R. and M. Harrop (2010): Comparative Government and Politics. An Introduction. Houndmills: Palgrave. Alle kapitler unntatt 2-4 og 17-19.

Compilations of articles on political theory and comparative politics.

Adjustments may happen. Information about changes of textbooks is given by the start of the semester. The last edition of a book will always be in force.