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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PL 210-1"
COURSE NAME: "Introduction to Political Theory"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2014
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Tom Bailey
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 8:30 AM 9:45 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9.45-11 am and 2-4 pm, or by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course introduces you to the fundamental ideas and arguments of modern political theorists and shows you how they can be used to engage with contemporary political issues. In the first part of the course, we will study the fascinating political visions of six modern theorists – Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Kant, and Marx. We will focus particularly on their views and debates regarding freedom, authority, and equality in politics, and the roles of such ideas as human nature, democracy, rights, and cosmopolitanism in them. Then, in the second part of the course, we will explore a series of contemporary political issues related to these modern themes, ranging from abortion, gun control, and healthcare reform to climate change, the Occupy movement, and war in Syria and Iran. Our focus here will be on developing your understanding of the theoretical questions raised by these issues and how they illuminate, and are illuminated by, the modern visions studied in the first part of the course. By reading extracts from modern and contemporary theorists’ writings, supported by various secondary materials, and discussing them extensively in class, online, and in written assignments, we will develop your familiarity with the ideas and arguments involved and your ability to discuss, reflect on, and defend your own views of these fascinating political issues and ideas.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

Please see 'Course aims' above and 'Course schedule' below.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of the course, you will be able to:
• glean meaning from canonical texts in modern political theory and relevant contemporary readings;
• explain the theoretical positions and arguments involved;
• discuss the interpretation and evaluation of these positions and arguments;
• explain and analyze relevant political issues, along with specific positions and arguments regarding them;
• develop your own reasoned views of the theoretical and political issues raised;
• make appropriate use of secondary academic resources and do guided research work;
• do all this in appropriately academic oral and written forms and in individual and group contexts.
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Class participationClasses will involve a mixture of lecturing, seminar discussions, group presentations, and other activities. The emphasis will be on helping you to develop your own and others’ opinions and arguments and your ability to discuss them with others, as well as your understanding of the readings and the positions and arguments presented in them. Your active involvement in discussions and other class activities, based on adequate preparation outside class, is therefore essential. I will give you a percentage grade for each class, and the average of these grades will constitute your final participation grade. Your grades will be based on how sophisticated an understanding and analysis of the relevant materials you display, how clearly and attentively you respond to what I and others say, and how critically and thoroughly you show that you reflect on the issues raised. So, if you show an understanding of and engagement with the materials, contribute actively and collaboratively to class activities, and reflect actively on the issues raised, then you will receive an ‘A’ grade for the class. You will receive a ‘B’ grade if you show an understanding of the basics of the materials, while contributing rarely or only when called upon and providing little thoughtful analysis. A ‘C’ grade or lower will indicate an unsatisfactory lack of preparation, attention and/or thought. 20%
Forum contributionsSince the online class forum is intended to allow for free discussion, I will not assess the content of your posts. Your grade for this assessment will be simply the percentage of times that you post on time, out of the possible total posts. You may also miss up to two posts unexcused without this affecting your grade – I will just reduce the number of possible total posts accordingly when calculating your grade. 10%
Mid-term assignment The mid-term written assignment will be a ‘take-home’ assignment of 1800-2000 words, based on the first part of the course. I will give you a set of questions from which to choose on Thursday of week 6, although you may agree an alternative question with me. The assignment will be due a week later, after the review classes. 20%
Research assignment The research assignment will be based on your research work in the second part of the course. This will concern a topic either chosen from among those suggested by me or developed from your own particular interests. After undertaking and presenting this research work in a small group (see ‘Research presentation’ below), you will develop it into your final written assignment, in response to a question agreed with me. This assignment will be 1800-2000 words in length and should be submitted within two weeks of the group presentation.20%
Research presentation Your research work on a topic in the second part of the course will be done initially in a small group, which will present its findings to the class. These group presentations will be evaluated according to the research, understanding and analytical and critical thinking displayed and the structure, supports and delivery of the presentation. Each member of the group will receive the same presentation grade. 10%
End-of-course written examination The examination will consist of an essay written over an hour and a half under examination conditions. The examination questions will be distributed on Thursday of week 13 and at the examination, to take place in week 15, students will be given three of these questions to choose from. 20%

-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:

A maximum of two unexcused absences from class will be accepted. Beyond this, a zero grade will be given for each unexcused absence, bringing your average grade down. It is your responsibility to inform me if you miss or cannot participate fully in a class for a good reason. Good reasons include illness, unavoidable appointments and transport strikes, but not trips, guests and malfunctioning alarm clocks. Note that arriving late to class, leaving for lengthy ‘toilet breaks’ and using a laptop or mobile phone in class also count as ‘unexcused absences’.
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.
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.
SCHEDULE

Week 1:           Introduction to the course                                                                                                          

Week 2:           Machiavelli                                                                               Modern political theory

                        Tuesday: Morality in politics?             

                        Thursday: Liberty and democratic citizenship

Week 3:          Hobbes vs. Locke on political authority                                      

                        Tuesday: The state of nature                                                

                        Thursday: Two alternative contracts

Week 4:           Rousseau’s democratic contract

                        Tuesday: Inequality and power                      

                        Thursday: Democracy and the ‘general will’

Week 5:           Kant and cosmopolitanism                                                               

                        Tuesday: Property and progress

                        Thursday: The federation of states

Week 6:           Marx’s socialism

                        Tuesday: Against liberalism

                        Thursday: What is socialism? 

Week 7:           Preparation of mid-term assignment

Week 8:           Freedom                                                                                       Contemporary issues

                        Tuesday: ‘Negative’ vs. ‘positive’ freedom

                        Thursday: Free markets

Week 9:           Life and death

                        Tuesday: Abortion and euthanasia

                        Thursday: Guns and drugs

Week 10:        Equality

                        Tuesday: Equality of what?

                        Thursday: Healthcare reform and equality

Week 11:         Global justice

                        Tuesday: Immigration in the U.S.

                        Thursday: Climate change

Week 12:         Democracy

                        Tuesday: Democratic decision-making

                        Thursday: Occupy and political reform

Week 13:         Conflict

                        Tuesday: Religion in politics

                        Thursday: Syria, Iran and terrorism

Week 14:         Preparation for final exam