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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "PL 430"
COURSE NAME: "Revolutionary Politics and the Modern World"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2024
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Camil Roman
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MW 1:30 PM 2:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisites: Senior standing or permission of the instructor
OFFICE HOURS:
MW: 4.15 - 5.15 pm, or by appointment
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Political revolutions made the modern world, but their importance has been often forgotten and their proper meaning is now difficult to establish. Ranging from politics and economics, to technology, society and science, revolutionary transformations have created new ways of living and new human beings and societies. This advanced, writing-focused course will examine revolutions as political phenomena, as a specific range of the human experience of politics. It will use a conceptual, multidisciplinary and non-normative approach to the study of revolutionary politics and their impact on the modern world, exploring the complexities, debates and limits to the pursuit of scientific objectivity. The course is designed for advanced undergraduates from any of the political, social and human sciences with an interest in political revolutions and the historical, cultural, philosophical and anthropological constitution of the contemporary world.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This course offers an advanced investigation of political revolutions and their role in shaping the modern and contemporary world, making use of knowledge from various disciplines such as social and political theory, social and political science, anthropology, philosophy, history or literature. The discussions will be thoroughly conceptual and theoretical, applied to major modern revolutionary examples, and will expose the student to the array of experiential, ethical, analytical, interpretative and meta-/methodological issues involved in the study of the subject matter. In the first part, the seminar delineates the field and establishes the vital significance of political revolutions as constitutive of modern politics. The second part familiarizes the students with the historical beginnings of the revolutionary phenomenon, touching on paradigmatic cases in the political iconography of the modern world. In the third part, the course explores various scientific approaches and problems to the study of modern revolutions. The last part covers some of the dimensions of the revolutionary experience, applying and enriching the gained knowledge by approaching a range of themes that may include sacrifice, terror, totalitarianism, ideology, secularization, leadership etc.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
The students will:
1) develop essential theoretical and conceptual tools to comprehend modern political revolutions and their relation to various phenomena, such as democracy, totalitarianism, terror, violence, war etc.
2) acquire a deep philosophical, historical and cultural understanding of the way in which modern political revolutions have shaped the birth, rise and development of the modern, contemporary world and vice versa
3) obtain the scientific and philosophical skills to evaluate critically and meaningfully any theory, analysis and interpretation of modern political revolutions
4) grow ethical awareness and richness in relation to the problem fields opened up by the experience of political revolutions and their consequences
5) develop analytical, critical and interpretative thinking and writing skills through the writing of a long research paper
6) attain a deep sense of the limits of human knowledge and science, of the imbrications of science with ideology, values, ideals, human emotions and desires, of the philosophical, religious and anthropological presuppositions involved in empirical truth-claims.
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TEXTBOOK:
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Readings, Presentations and Participation | Reading and participating are an absolutely vital part of the student’s growth and experience in this course. You will be graded based on how well prepared you come to class. Any student must expect at any time randomized verification of the assigned readings. Lectures will be alternated with seminars that will be dedicated to student presentations and discussions. During the seminars and lectures, students will have to demonstrate their knowledge of the texts and their ability to engage meaningfully (depth and breadth of thought) with the problems and questions that emerge from the texts. You are expected to bring the reading material for discussion in class and take questions or notes from them. Composition of grade: presentations (5%), written questions (5%), class contributions (5%). | 15% |
| Presence | Presence in class is mandatory and excused absences are to be avoided as much as possible. There are 3 allowed unexcused absences. More than 7 unexcused absences may result in a failing grade. | 5% |
| Reading reflection | Students have to submit 1 reading reflection of 2-3 pages on assigned readings, to be submitted by class 8. More instructions in class. Format of reading reflection: Times New Roman, double-spaced, size 12. | 20% |
| Research paper | Students are required to write a 5000-word research paper, in consultation with the professor, on any aspect of the analysis and interpretation of political revolutions and/or their relation to the modern and contemporary world. Students will submit (a) a one-paragraph paper proposal with title and research question (5%) by class 12; (b) a two-page outline which introduces the argument and the paper’s parts, including a running bibliography (15%) by class 18; (c) a short in-class presentation of the research (5%) in class 20 and 21; (d) and the final paper (35%) by Friday 5pm of week 15, electronically AND in printed form. Students will receive feedback from the professor on every part of their submitted work. More instructions in class. Format of research paper: Times New Roman, double-spaced, size 12. | 60% |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
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STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
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SCHEDULE
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ALL DETAILS TO BE FOUND IN THE SYLLABUS ON MOODLE, ONCE THE COURSE WILL BE AVAILABLE/VISIBLE ONLINE
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