POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
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
POL3316 Political Thought II Spring 3 0 3 7
The course opens with the approval of the Department at the beginning of each semester

Basic information

Language of instruction: En
Type of course: Must Course
Course Level: Bachelor
Mode of Delivery: Hybrid
Course Coordinator : Assoc. Prof. ESRA ALBAYRAKOĞLU
Course Objectives: This course is the second part of the investigation into the history of Western political thought. Since the time of Socrates, philosophers have asked fundamental questions regarding the nature of justice, the good life, the role of the state, political regimes, citizenship, freedom, law, and the relationship between these concepts. In this second part of the course, the emergence of modern political concepts, such as the state, the nation, individual rights, civil society, etc will be examined. The controversies and shifts in the understanding and reception of these political concepts will be discussed through a close reading of the seminal texts of the modern Western political philosophy by, among others, Locke, Kant, and Marx with the aim of situating them in the context of Western canon.

Learning Outputs

The students who have succeeded in this course;
The students who have succeeded in this course;
1. Identify the fundamental questions and concepts of political thought such as justice, state, freedom, and law;
2. Understand and explain the answers provided to these questions by the modern thinkers;
3. Discuss the continuity and change in the definition of these concepts over time;
4. Consider critical perspectives on the Global North-centric and androcentric perspectives while assessing ongoing approaches in the history of political thought;
5. Evaluate the impact of these questions in contemporary debates

Course Content

Modern European political theorists (Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill, Mary Wollstonecraft, Alexis de Tocqueville, Immanuel Kant, Georg Willhelm Friedrich Hegel Karl Marx) and 20th century political thought (Max Weber, Hannah Arendt, Michel Foucault, Edward Said, John Rawls & Jürgen Habermas).

Weekly Detailed Course Contents

Week Subject Related Preparation
1) Introduction
2) Alexis de Tocqeuville De Tocqueville, A. (1840) “The Author’s Preface” & “Unlimited Power of the Majority in the United States, and its Consequences” in Democracy in America. Available at https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/de-tocqueville/democracy-america/
3) Jeremy Bentham & John Stuart Mill Bentham, J. (1789) “Of the Principle of Utility”, in An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation. Mill, J. S. (1859) Selection from On Liberty.
4) Mary Wollstonecraft Mill, J. S. (1869) “Chapter I: The question can be raised”, in The Subjection of Women. Available at: https://www.earlymoderntexts.com/assets/pdfs/mill1869.pdf. Wollstonecraft, M. (1792) "Some Instances of the Folly Which the Ignorance of Women Generates…", in A Vindication of the Rights of Woman.
5) Immanuel Kant Kant, I. (1784) “Answering the Question: What is Enlightenment?” Kant, I. (1795) “Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch”.
6) Georg Willhelm Friedrich Hegel Hegel, G.W.F. (1820) “Introduction” in Philosophy of Right. Available at https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/hegel/works/pr/printrod.htm
7) Karl Marx Marx, K. (1875) “Critique of the Gotha Programme”. Marx, K. & Engels, F. (1848) “Manifesto of the Communist Party”.
8) MIDTERM EXAM
9) Max Weber Weber, M. (1905) “Religious affiliation and social stratification”, in The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism”. Weber, M. (1919) “Politics as a Vocation”.
10) Hannah Arendt Arendt, H. (1958) “Vita Activa and the Human Condition” in The Human Condition. Arendt, H. (1951) “Ideology and Terror. A Novel Form of Government” in The Origins of Totalitarianism.
11) Michel Foucault Foucault, M. (1975) “Docile Bodies” in Discipline and Punish. Foucault, M. (1984) “Governmentality”.
12) Edward Said Said, E. (1978) “The Scope of Orientalism” in Orientalism. Available at: https://sites.evergreen.edu/politicalshakespeares/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2014/12/Said_full.pdf
13) Contemporary thinkers: John Rawls & Jürgen Habermas Rawls, J. (1971). “The main idea of the theory of justice” in A Theory of Justice. Habermas, J. (1991). “Introduction: Preliminary Demarcation of a Type of Bourgeois Public Sphere” in Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere.
14) General Evaluation

Sources

Course Notes: Weekly readings will be uploaded on ItsLearning at the beginning of the semester. Please note that all book chapters and articles listed on the syllabus are also accessible through the BAU Library. The PPT files will be shared on ItsLearning following each class ----- Haftalık ders okumalarının tamamı, dönem başında ItsLearning’e yüklenir. Ders izlencesinde yer alan tüm kitap bölümleri ve makalelere BAU Kütüphanesi’nden de erişilebilir. PowerPoint dosyaları, hafta bazında ve işlenen ders sonrasında ItsLearning’e yüklenir
References: Guidelines on assignments will be uploaded on Itslearning at the beginning of the semester. ----- Ödevlere dair kılavuzlar dönem başında Itslearning’e yüklenir.

Evaluation System

Semester Requirements Number of Activities Level of Contribution
Attendance 13 % 10
Laboratory % 0
Application % 0
Field Work % 0
Special Course Internship (Work Placement) % 0
Quizzes 4 % 20
Homework Assignments % 0
Presentation % 0
Project % 0
Seminar % 0
Midterms 1 % 30
Preliminary Jury % 0
Final 1 % 40
Paper Submission % 0
Jury % 0
Bütünleme % 0
Total % 100
PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK % 60
PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK % 40
Total % 100

ECTS / Workload Table

Activities Number of Activities Workload
Course Hours 13 39
Laboratory
Application
Special Course Internship (Work Placement)
Field Work
Study Hours Out of Class 13 111
Presentations / Seminar
Project
Homework Assignments 4 18
Quizzes
Preliminary Jury
Midterms 1 2
Paper Submission
Jury
Final 1 2
Total Workload 172

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) Grasp basic theoretical and conceptual knowledge about the field and relations between them at the level of practice. 5
2) Possess basic knowledge about the causes and effects of political transformations in societies. 5
3) Possess knowledge about quantitative, qualitative and mixed research methods in social and behavioral sciences.
4) Recognize historical patterns while evaluating contemporary political and social developments. 5
5) Demonstrate interdisciplinary and critical approach while analyzing, synthesizing and forecasting domestic and foreign policy. 2
6) Conduct studies in the field professionally, both independently or as a team member. 3
7) Possess consciousness about lifelong learning based on Research & Development. 3
8) Communicate with peers both orally and in writing, by using a foreign language at least at a level of European Language Portfolio B1 General Level and the necessary informatics and communication technologies. 5
9) Apply field-related knowledge and competences into career advancement, projects for sustainable development goals, and social responsibility initiatives. 2
10) Possess the habit to monitor domestic and foreign policy agenda as well as international developments. 3
11) Possess competence to interpret the new political actors, theories and concepts in a global era. 5
12) Evaluate the legal and ethical implications of advanced technologies on politics. 4