History of Political Thought

6 ECTS credits
157 h study time

Offer 2 with catalog number 1005391BER for all students in the 1st semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.

Semester

1st semester

Enrollment based on exam contract

Possible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Enrollment Requirements

Je hebt 'De grote stromingen in de wijsbegeerte van de Oudheid tot heden' gevolgd, alvorens dit opleidingsonderdeel op te nemen. Deze inschrijvingsvereiste is enkel geldig voor studenten in de bachelor politieke wetenschappen en sociologie, agogische wetenschappen en wijsbegeerte en moraalwetenschappen. Studenten TEW moeten ingeschreven of geslaagd zijn voor 'Politicologie: algemene inleiding' en geslaagd zijn voor minstens 30 ECTS-credits op bachelorniveau. Studenten in het schakel- of voorbereidingsprogramma politieke wetenschappen kunnen dit opleidingsonderdeel opnemen.

Taught in

Dutch

Partnership Agreement

Under agreement for exchange of courses

Faculty

Faculty of Social Sciences & SolvayBusinessSchool

Department

Political Science

Educational team

Eline Severs (course titular)

Activities and contact hours

39 contact hours Lecture
150 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study

Course Content

In this course we approach contemporary political theory from the perspective of 'political ideology'.
We discuss the history, the key concepts and evolution of the most important contemporary ideological systems.
We generate insights into the role and function of ideology in politics, the evolution of the concept of 'ideology', the character of ideologies, and the changing ideological playing field.

The course starts with an introductory class on the concept of ideology.
Following that, we discuss three traditional ideological families: liberalism, conservatism and socialism. We elaborate on the work of key philosophers that have shaped these ideological systems, such as Burke (conservatism), Marx (socialism), en Smith, Mill, Rawls en Nozick (liberalism).
Next, we look into less traditional ideologies, such as anarchism, feminism, ecologism, religious fundamentalism, and multiculturalism.

The course concludes with a discussion of Francis Fukuyama' thesis that we are currently experiencing the "end of ideology".
We discuss whether we are witnessing the end of ideology or, rather, the birth of new ideological juxtapositions.

Course material

Handbook (Required) : Political Ideologies, An introduction, Andrew Heywood, 7th, Palgrave Macmillan, 9781352011838, 2021
Digital course material (Required) : Slides colleges en aanvullende artikels, Canvas

Additional info

The VUB regularly organises extra-curricular lectures on political thought. Many of these lectures may be of interest to the students of this course. Depending on the schedule of lectures at the VUB, students will be asked to attend a couple of lectures. These lectures hence are an integral part of the course material. Students will be informed on these guest lectures via the students' platform Canvas. Additional study material will also be made available via Canvas.

Besides the course book of Andrew Heywood (2021, Political Ideologies), the required material of this course also consists of the power point slides and possible additional literature on ideology (academic literature, media articles).

These additional study materials will be made accessible online via Canvas.

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

Students are able to explain the core themes of political ideologies
Students know the history and central concepts of the most important political ideologies
Students can compare ideologies on the basis of their core concepts
Students are able to read and understand Dutch and English political texts
Students can deploy different ideological stances to reflect on political issues and policy developments
Students develop a critical attitude towards tendencious explanations of political phenomena and towards their own judgments and prejudices

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Written Exam with a relative weight of 100 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

Note: Kennisvragen en vragen over de interpretatie van auteurs en teksten

Additional info regarding evaluation

A written exam on topics dealt with in class and on the selected texts. More information about the exam will also be made avaible via Canvas.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context