INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL THEORY (JPB155)

COURSE SYLLABUS

Semester: Winter 2020

Instructors: Jakub Franěk (jakub.franek@fsv.cuni.cz)

Jaroslav Novotný (jaroslav.novotny@fsv.cuni.cz)

Office hours: Tuesdays 1-2PM (or by appointment) – until further notice online

Course description

This course introduces the students to the study of political theory. The first half of the course explores some of the key concepts, ideas and problems that have been defining the study of politics since its very inception. The second half is devoted to the survey of the most important “-isms”, i.e. modern political ideologies. Throughout the semester, we will study the texts of both of the classics of political thought and current political theorists.

Aims and purpose

The primary aims of this course are to make students familiar with the basic concepts of political theory as well as the theoretical foundations of modern political ideologies. Moreover, participation in the seminar should improve the students’ analytical and argumentative skills.

Teaching methodology

This course uses a combination of lectures and seminars. The students will be expected to have read the assigned reading before the class so that they can participate in the discussion.

NB: The lectures will be held once a week. All students enrolled in this course are expected to attend the lectures. The seminar meetings will be held every other week. The class will be divided into two seminar groups (A & B). Group A seminar meetings will be held on odd weeks, Group B seminar meetings on even weeks. The students will be assigned to a seminar group during the first week of the semester.

Note on the online class-meetings

Due to the current public health measures, all class meetings (i.e. both lectures and seminar meetings) will be held online until the end of October. Unless new restrictions are announced, we will switch to the “hybrid mode of education” (in-class meetings, which will be streamed online) at the beginning of November.

The online lectures will be held via ZOOM. The online seminar meetings will be held via MS Teams. All students who are either enrolled into this course or appear on its waiting list will receive the links to their online class meetings via email before the beginning of the semester.

Course assignments / grading

Take-home midterm exam: 40%

Active participation: 15%

Final in-class/online exam: 45%

COURSE GRADE: 100%

Grading scale

The Faculty of Social Sciences uses the following A-F grading scale:

A (excellent) = 91-100%

B (very good) = 81-90%

C (good) = 71-80%

D (satisfactory) = 61-70%

E (sufficient) = 51-60%

F (fail) = 0-50%

Literature

NB: All assigned texts will be available through the Moodle e-learning system. Additional texts may be assigned during the semester.

All students must register into this course in the Moodle during the first week of classes.

Hannah Arendt, The Human Condition.

Hannah Arendt, “Philosophy and Politics”.

Hannah Arendt, “Ideology and Terror”.

Aristotle, Politics.

Isaiah Berlin, “Two Concepts of Liberty”.

Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France.

Benjamin Constant, “The Liberty of the Ancients Compared with that of the Moderns”.

Ernest Gellner, Nationalism.

Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan.

Thomas Jefferson, US Declaration of Independence.

John Locke, Second Treatise of Government.

John Locke, A Letter Concerning Toleration.

Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels: The Communist Manifesto.

John Stuart Mill, On Liberty.

Jean- Jacques Rousseau, Discourse on the Origins of Inequality.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, On the Social Contract.

Course schedule

Week 1: Introduction: Course overview. What is political theory?

Reading: Hannah Arendt, “Philosophy and Politics”.

Week 2: Human nature and the nature of politics I: The classical approach

Reading: Aristotle, Politics: Book 1, Chapters 1-7; Book 3, Chapters 1-8; Book 4, Chapters 7-9, 11.

Hannah Arendt, The Human Condition: Chapters 1, 4 (recommended only).

Week 3: Human nature and the nature of politics II: The modern approach

Reading: Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan: Introduction, Chapters 5-6 (recommended only), 13-15, 17, 21.

Week 4: The idea of natural rights and the quest for the limits of legitimate government

Reading: John Locke, Second Treatise of Government: Chapters 1-3, 5 (recommended only), 8-9, 11-13, 18-19 (recommended only).

John Locke, A Letter Concerning Toleration (recommended only).

T. Jefferson, US Declaration of Independence (recommended only).

Week 5: Modern democracy and the notion of popular sovereignty

Reading: Jean-Jacques Rousseau, On the Social Contract: Book I, Chapters 1, 5, 6, 7; Book II - Chapters 1-3, 6-7; Book III - Chapter 18.

Jean- Jacques Rousseau, Discourse on the Origins of Inequality: First part, including the Preface, Second part, up to p. 38 (recommended only).

Week 6: Nationalism

Reading: Ernest Gellner, Nationalism: Selections TBA.

Additional reading TBA.

Week 7: Liberalism I

Reading: John Stuart Mill, On Liberty: Selections TBA.

Week 8: Liberalism II

Reading: Benjamin Constant, “The Liberty of the Ancients Compared with that of the Moderns”.

Isaiah Berlin, “Two Concepts of Liberty”.

Week 9: Conservatism

Reading: Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France: Selections TBA.

Additional reading TBA.

Week 10: Socialism I

Reading: Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels, The Communist Manifesto.

Additional reading TBA.

Week 11: Socialism II

Reading: TBA

Week 12: Totalitarianism

Reading: Hannah Arendt: “Ideology and Terror”.

Additional reading TBA.