POL6010 Political TheoryBahçeşehir UniversityDegree Programs SOCIOLOGYGeneral Information For StudentsDiploma SupplementErasmus Policy StatementNational QualificationsBologna Commission
SOCIOLOGY
Bachelor TR-NQF-HE: Level 6 QF-EHEA: First Cycle EQF-LLL: Level 6

Course Introduction and Application Information

Course Code Course Name Semester Theoretical Practical Credit ECTS
POL6010 Political Theory Fall 3 0 3 12
This catalog is for information purposes. Course status is determined by the relevant department at the beginning of semester.

Basic information

Language of instruction: English
Type of course: Non-Departmental Elective
Course Level: Bachelor’s Degree (First Cycle)
Mode of Delivery: Face to face
Course Coordinator : Dr. Öğr. Üyesi GAYE İLHAN DEMİRYOL
Recommended Optional Program Components: none
Course Objectives: The aim of the course is to familiarize the student with core concepts in the history and contemporary political theory and grasp the path through which political theory evolved.

Learning Outcomes

The students who have succeeded in this course;
The student will be exposed to philosophical and social scientific endeavors to explain and evaluate political institutions and behavior.
The student will learn how to analyze and systematize various systems of ideas by examining primary as well as secondary sources. The student will thereby become better equipped to understand, participate in, and evaluate political processes.

Course Content

An application of methodological individualism to the study of collective decision making. The behavior of voters, bureaucrats and elected political agents will be examined. Special attention will be given to group theory, constitutional theory, and the economic reasons for limiting the size and growth of government.

Weekly Detailed Course Contents

Week Subject Related Preparation
1) Introduction: Political thinking in context
2) Anciend and Medieval Political Thought
3) Modern Political Thought
4) Politics: Social Science and Ideology
5) Classical Liberalism and Conservatism
6) Anarchism and Marxism
7) Political Economy: Individualist Perspectives
8) Political Economy: Collectivist Perspectives
9) Progressive Liberalism
10) Varieties of Leftism
11) Contemporary Social Movements
12) Varieties of Conservatism
13) Presentations and discussion
14) Review of the course

Sources

Course Notes / Textbooks: Bastiat, Frederic. The Law
Minogue, Kenneth. Politics: A Very Short Introduction [M]
Schall, James V. AStudent's Guide to Liberal Learning
Schumaker, Paul, et al. Great Ideas/Grand Schemes
Budziszewski, J. "Politics of Virtues, Government of Knaves"
Hayek, Friedrich. The Road to Serfdom [abridged]
Hughes, Jonathan. "Regulatory Legerdemain"
Kirk, Russell. "The Idea of Conservatism," from The Conservative Mind.
"Three Types of Imagination," from "Introduction" to Irving Babbitt, •
Literature and the American College Kuehnelt-Leddihn, Erik von. Leftism Revisited, Introduction, chs. 1-4.
Locke, John. Second Treatise on Civil Government (excerpts)
Lieber, Francis. "The Ancient and Modern Teacher of Politics," from Miscellaneous Writings
Mitchell, William C., and Randy T. Simmons. "Political Pursuit of Private Gain: Coercive Redistribution" Portland Declaration
Rahe, Paul. "Don Corleone, Multiculturalist"
Rushdoony, Rousas John. Politics of Guilt and Pity, ch. 11:6
Samson, Steven Alan. "Models of Historical Interpretation," Contra Mundum
Sumner, William Graham. "What Social Classes Owe Each Other."
References: Bronner, Stephen Eric. Twentieth Century Political Theory: A Reader
Curtis, Michael, ed. The Nature of Politics
Panichas, George A., ed. Modern Age: The First Twenty-Five Years
Rothbard, Murray N. For a New Liberty: The Libertarian Manifesto
Rushdoony, Rousas John. The One and the Many. Politics of Guilt and Pity
Schumaker, Paul, et al. Ideological Voices: An Anthology
Sorokin, Pitirim. The Crisis of Our Age
Vasquez, John A. Classics of International Relations

Evaluation System

Semester Requirements Number of Activities Level of Contribution
Attendance 14 % 10
Homework Assignments 5 % 25
Presentation 1 % 25
Final 1 % 40
Total % 100
PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK % 60
PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK % 40
Total % 100

ECTS / Workload Table

Activities Number of Activities Workload
Course Hours 14 42
Application 14 56
Study Hours Out of Class 14 74
Final 1 3
Total Workload 175

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

No Effect 1 Lowest 2 Low 3 Average 4 High 5 Highest
           
Program Outcomes Level of Contribution
1) To learn and compare major sociology perspectives, both classical and contemporary, and apply all of them to analysis of social conditions.
2) To be able to identify the basic methodological approaches in building sociological and anthropological knowledge at local and global levels
3) To be able to use theoretical and applied knowledge acquired in the fields of statistics in social sciences.
4) To have a basic knowledge of other disciplines (including psychology, history, political science, communication studies and literature) that can contribute to sociology and to be able to make use of this knowledge in analyzing sociological processes
5) To have a knowledge and practice of scientific and ethical principles in collecting, interpreting and publishing sociological data also develop ability how to share this data with experts and lay people, using effective communication skills
6) To develop competence in analyzing and publishing sociological knowledge by using computer software for quantitative and qualitative analysis; and develop an attitute for learning new techniques in these fields.
7) To identify and to have a knowledge of the theories related to urban and rural sociology and demography, and political sociology, sociology of gender, sociology of body, visual sociology, sociology of work, sociology of religion, sociology of knowledge and sociology of crime.
8) To have knowledge of how sociology is positioned as a scientific discipline from a philosophical and historical perspective
9) To have the awareness of social issues in Turkish society, to develop critical perspective in analysing these issues and to have a knowledge of the works of Turkish sociologists and to be able to transfer this knowledge
10) To have the awareness of social issues and global societal processes and to apply sociological analysis to development and social responsibility projects
11) To have the ability to define a research question, design a research project and complete a written report for various fields of sociology, either as an individual or as a team member.
12) To be able to transfer the knowledge gained in the areas of sociology to the level of secondary school.