Year 2011-12

Political Theory I (21674)

Degree/ qualification:  Degree in political and administration sciences
Course: 3rd
Term: 1st
Number of ECTS credits: 6
Hours of student dedication: 150 hours
Teaching language: Catalan and Spanish
Teachers: Raimundo Viejo and Anthony Gilliland

 

1. Introduction to the course

This course will introduce students to the history of western political thought.  It will cover the period from ancient politics to the XIX century.  The main theories and the political thought of important authors that have shaped today's political theory will be studied.  The aim is to establish the relationship between the main problems concepts and perspectives in political theory.  Emphasis is placed in the relevant elements useful in the analysis of current political reality.   

 

2. Competences to be achieved

GENERIC COMPETENCIES

Instrumental competences:

Ability to analyses and synthesise.

Oral and written communication in one's own language.

  

Interpersonal competences:

Ethical compromise.

 

SPECIFIC COMPETENCES

Ability to identify the main theories and approaches in Political Science.  Know the way concepts are elaborated, the theoretical frameworks and the approaches that set the foundations of scientific knowledge. 

 

Recognise the structure and functioning of political systems. Understand the different elements that make up the political systems and the environment in which they interact. 

 

3. Contents

Unit 1: Introduction to the methods and the logics of analysis in the history of political theory: textualism, contextualism and intentionalism.

 

Unit 2: The history of ancient political theory: Thucydides, Plato, Aristotle, Cicero and Seneca.

 

Unit 3: medieval thought: St Augustine, St Thomas Aquinas, Marsilio of Padua, William of Oackham and Nicolas de Cusa.

 

Unit 4: Modern political thought (I): Maquiaveli, Hobbes, Spinoza

 

Unit 5: Modern political thought (II): Locke, The Federalist, Rousseau, Montesquieu

 

4. Assessment

Continuous evaluation (60% of final mark):

 

a) Individual: active participation in seminars. Reviews on the authors studied in seminars. 

 

b) In group: being discussant in a seminar and presentation of readings or authors in seminars.  

 

Final evaluation: individual (40%): basic knowledge exam

 

5. Bibliography and other resources

5.1. Basic bibliography

Introduction:

PAREKH, Bhikhu (2001): «Teoría política: tradiciones en filosofía política», en R.

GOODIN y H.- D. KLINGEMANN (Eds.): Nuevo Manual de la Ciencia Política. Madrid: Istmo; Vol. 2: 727-748.

VALLESPÍN, Fernando (1990): «Introducción general», en F. VALLESPÍN (Ed.):

Historia de la Teoría Política. Madrid: Alianza Editorial. Vol. 1: 7-14.

VALLESPÍN, Fernando (1990): «Aspectos metodológicos en la Historia de la Teoría

Política», en F. VALLESPÍN (Ed.): Historia de la Teoría Política. Madrid: Alianza Editorial. Vol. 1: 19-52.

ZAPATA, Ricard (2005): «El significado de la Teoría Política». REIS. 109: 37-74.

 

Political theory in ancient Greece and Rome.

ARCE, Javier. 1990. «Roma», en F. VALLESPÍN (Ed.): Historia de la teoría política.

Madrid: Alianza Editorial. Vol. 1: 167-215.

DAHL, Robert. 1992. La democracia y sus críticos. Barcelona: Paidós. (págs. 21-34 y

66-70).

FARRAR, Cynthia. 1995. «La teoría política de la antigua Grecia como respuesta a la

democracia», en J. DUNN (Dir.): Democracia. El viaje inacabado. Barcelona: Tusquets. Pp. 30-53.

GARCIA GUAL, Carlos. 1990. «La Grecia antigua», en F. VALLESPÍN (Ed.): Historia

de la teoría política. Madrid: Alianza Editorial. Vol. 1: 107-164.

HORNBLOWER, Simon. 1995. «Creación y desarrollo de las instituciones

democráticas en la antigua Grecia», en J. DUNN (Dir.): Democracia. El viaje inacabado. Barcelona: Tusquets. Pp. 13-29.

TOUCHARD, Jean. 2000. Historia de las ideas políticas («El principado»; págs. 74-86):

Madrid:Tecnos.

 

Political theory in the medieval age

ARCE, Javier. 1990. «Roma», en F. VALLESPÍN (Ed.): Historia de la teoría política.

(«Civitas Dei», págs. 211-214). Madrid: Alianza Editorial.

BARCALA MUÑOZ, Andrés. 1990. «La Edad Media», en F. VALLESPÍN (Ed.):

Historia de lateoría política. («La sociedad civil, según Tomas de Aquino» y «Los últimos siglos medievales», págs. 294-319). Madrid: Alianza Editorial.

ROBLES, Laureano y Ángel CHUECA. 2002. «El tratado De Regno de Santo Tomás»,

en S.Tomás De Aquino, La monarquía, Madrid: Tecnos (págs. XXXV-LV).

SABINE, George H. 2002. Historia de la teoría política. («Armonía y consentimiento»,

págs.255-259). Madrid: FCE.

TOUCHARD, Jean. 2000. Historia de las ideas políticas («Roma y los comienzos del

cristianismo», págs. 21-34). Madrid: Tecnos.

 

Modern Political thought (I)

AGUILA TEJERINA, Rafael del. 1990. «Maquiavelo y la política renacentista», en F. Vallespín (Ed.): Historia de la teoría política, vol. 2. Madrid: Alianza Editorial.

NEGRI, Antonio (2000): Spinoza subversivo. Madrid: Akal.

SABINE, George H. 2002. Historia de la teoría política. («Maquiavelo», págs. 255-259). Madrid: FCE.

SKINNER, Quentin. 1995. Democracia. («Las ciudades-república italianas», págs. 70-82). Barcelona: Tusquets.

VALLESPIN, Fernando. 1990. «Thomas Hobbes», en F. Vallespín (Ed.): Historia de la teoría política, vol. 2. Madrid: Alianza Editorial.

 

Modern Political thought (II)

AGUILA TEJERINA, Rafael del. 1990. «Locke», en F. Vallespín (Ed.): Historia de la teoría política, vol. 2. Madrid: Alianza Editorial.

FETSCHER, Iring (1991): "La Ilustración en Francia: La Enciclopedia, Montesquieu y Rousseau", en F. Vallespín (Ed.): Historia de la teoría política, cap. 2, vol. 3. Madrid: Alianza Editorial.

SABINE, George H. 2002. Historia de la teoría política. («Locke», págs. 402-415). Madrid: FCE.

SÁNCHEZ CUENCA, Ignacio y Pablo LLEDÓ (2002): "La teoría de la democracia y las instituciones en el debate constitucional americano", introducción a Artículos federalistas y antifederalistas, Madrid: Alianza; p. 7-41.

TOUCHARD, Jean. 2000. Historia de las ideas políticas. («Locke y la teoría de la Revolución inglesa», págs. 294-300). Madrid: Tecnos.

5.2. Other Resources

Materials for seminars will be made available on Moodle.  These will include chapters and fragments of the authors studied as well as complementary readings.

 

6. Methodology

Classroom based activities:

- Lectures

- Seminars (4 seminars for each group): these will be in small group.  Students will lead the seminars.  Each seminar will be dedicated to discuss two authors.  In the seminars, students will discuss the texts of the authors and the compulsory reading.  Each seminar will be led by a group of students.

- Tutorials to solve any doubts and for preparing seminars.  Each group will have a tutorial with the teacher before the seminar they must lead.  Tutorials are compulsory.

 

Non classroom based activities:

- In group: preparation of material for seminars and presentations

- Individuals: preparation of readings and writing up author reviews.

 

Voluntary activity:

- Students will have the opportunity to write an essay answering analytical questions on the authors studied.

 

 

7. Programme of activities

Week	Ses	Type	contents	Student's work
				Learning activity		Hrs in class	Hrs. Out of class
				In class	Outside class
Iª	1	L	Unit 1: Introduction to the methods and the logics of analysis in the history of political theory: textualism, contextualism and intentionalism.	Lecture by the teacher		2	5
IIª	2	L	Unit 2: The history of ancient political theory: Thucydides, Plato, Aristotle.	Lecture by the teacher	Seminar preparation.	2	8
	1	S	Seminar 1 (groups 1)			2
IIIª	3	L	Unit 2: The history of ancient political theory: Cicero and Seneca.	Lecture by the teacher	Seminar preparation.	2	8
	1	S	Seminar 1 (groups 2)			2
IVª	4	L	Unit 3: medieval thought: St Augustine, St Thomas Aquinas, Marsilio of Padua, William of Oackham and Nicolas de Cusa.	Lecture by the teacher	Seminar preparation.	2	8
	2	S	Seminar 2 (groups 1)			2
Vª	5	L	Unit 4: Modern political thought (I): Maquiaveli, Hobbes.	Lecture by the teacher	Seminar preparation.	2	8
	2	S	Seminar 2 (groups 2)			2
VIª	6	L	Unit 4: Modern political thought (I): Spinoza	Lecture by the teacher	Seminar preparation.	2	8
	3	S	Seminar 3 (groups 1)			2
VIIª	7	L	Unit 5: Modern political thought (II): Locke, The Federalist.	Lecture by the teacher	Seminar preparation.	2	8
	3	S	Seminar 3  (groups 2)			2
VIIIª	8	L	Unit 5: Modern political thought (II): Rousseau, Montesquieu	Lecture by the teacher	Seminar preparation.	2	8
	4	S	Seminar 4 (groups 1)			2
IXª	9	L	Identification of concepts, problems and currents in political theory.	Lecture by the teacher	Seminar preparation.	2	8
	4	S	Seminar 4 (groups 2)			2
Xª	10	L	Revision			2	8
STUDENT DEDICATION (PER GROUP)						28	77
XIª  XIIª	HOURS OF DEDICATION TO PREPARE FOR FINAL EXAM						35
TOTAL HOURS OF  STUDENT DEDICATION							150

Ses: Number fo session; Type: type of session L (lecture), S (seminar)