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for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.
| Unit name |
Contemporary Political Theory |
| Unit code |
POLI22202 |
| Credit points |
20 |
| Level of study |
I/5
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
|
| Unit director |
Dr. Ashley Dodsworth |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None
|
| Co-requisites |
None
|
| School/department |
School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Description including Unit Aims
This unit provides a comprehensive introduction to the main theorists and issues in contemporary political theory and political philosophy. It focuses on two main issues which are interlinked: first on questions concerning the justification of the authority of the state and second on questions concerning the nature of the just society. Certain issues in democratic theory are also addressed.
The unit aims to:
- provide a comprehensive overview of the main traditions and issues in contemporary political theory
- provide students with a detailed understanding of four key liberal theories of justice
- provide students with a detailed understanding of four key critiques of these liberal theories of justice
- enable students to grasp the practical relevance of contemporary political theoretical debates to current issues in policy and politics.
Intended Learning Outcomes
At the end of the unit a successful student will be able to:
- Describe the key debates in contemporary political theory
- Explain and discuss key texts by Rawls, Nozick, Dworkin and Raz.
- Analyse and compare the critiques of these liberal theories of justice from a variety of different perspective.
- Construct articulate, concise and persuasive arguments in written essays, which apply these debates to current issues in policy and politics.
Teaching Information
2 x 1 hour lecture 1 x 1 hour seminar
Assessment Information
- 2000 word essay (25%)
- 2 hour unseen written exam (75%)
The summative essay assesses the extent to which students have achieved outcomes 1, 2 and 4.
The exam assesses the extent to which students have achieved outcomes 1, 3 and 4.
Reading and References
- Raz, Joseph, (1986) The Morality of Freedom. Oxford University Press
- Dworkin, Ronald, (2000) Sovereign Virtue. Harvard University Press
- Nozick, Robert (1974) Anarchy, State and Utopia. Basic Books
- Rawls, John (revised edition) (1999) A Theory of Justice. Oxford University Press
- Goodin, Robert E. Goodin and Pettit, Philip (eds) Contemporary Political Philosophy: An Anthology (2nd edition). Blackwell
