COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LIST FOR POLI 342: MODERN WESTERN POLITICAL THOUGHT., 2018/2019 ACADEMIC YEAR.

Dr. Evans Aggrey-Darkoh &N-L. Kuditchar; POLI 342/2018-2019; SEMESTER 2 Page 1 of 4 (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED) DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES SECOND SEMESTER 2018/2019 ACADEMIC YEAR COURSE SYLLABUS COURSE CODE AND TITLE: POLI 342: MODERN WESTERN POLITICAL THOUGHT.

 Number of Credit Hours: 3 Lecture Period and Venue: Main Campus: • Group A: JQB 22; Tuesdays, 07:30 am-09:20 am. • Group B: NNB3; Fridays, 07:30am-09:20am. City Campus:_____________________ Particulars of Course Instructors 1. Dr. Evans Aggrey-Darkoh Office Location: Room 13 Department of Political Science Office Hours:…Friday-3pm-5pm; by appointment via email. E-mail address: eaggrey-darkoh@ug.edu.gh or eadarkoh@yahoo.com 2. Nene-Lomotey Kuditchar Office Location: Room 14 Department of Political Science Office Hours: Monday 12 noon-2 pm; Thursdays 3pm-4pm; by appointment via email. E-mail address: nkuditchar@ug.edu.gh 

Course Overview

Modern Western Political Thought just like the Ancient and Medieval Political Thought discussed in the first semester covers the writings of different political philosophers whose postulations cover areas such as politics, religion, economics, governance, dictatorship, monarchy, tyranny and many others. The course provides historical and analytical study of the works of some selected Modern Western Political thinkers. These philosophers include: Dr. Evans Aggrey-Darkoh &N-L. Kuditchar; POLI 342/2018-2019; SEMESTER 2 Page 2 of 4 Machiavelli (the Discourses on the Book of Livy), Thomas Hobbes (the Leviathan), John Locke (the Second treatise of Government), Jean Jacques-Rousseau (On the Social Contract, Discourse on the origin and Foundations of Inequality among Men. Others are John Stuart Mill (On Liberty, and the Subjection of Women) and Martin Luther King, Jr. (Letter from Birmingham Jail). These philosophers continue to speak to us lucidly. The varied writings of these philosophers deal with issues concerning human existence and were necessitated by the fact that over the years, man has tried through several mechanisms to understand his environment, society, state and nation. In their totality, these environment, society, state and nation—constitute the dynamics as well as the complexities of political life and mankind’s existence.


Course Objective/Goals

At the end of the course students should be able to do : • Demonstrate a firm grasp of the main themes of the selected political thinkers. • Outline the main tenets of the enlightenment. • Appreciate the theoretical postulations and the controversies surrounding the western political thought. • Explain the implications of the ideas of these western political thinkers on current political behaviour. Course Delivery It is mandatory for students to attend all lectures and tutorial sessions. Students, in addition to this, are required to thoroughly read all recommended texts and to actively participate in class discussions.

Plagiarism

 The Statutes of the University of Ghana, 41(1) (d) defines plagiarism as an attempt to present the idea or work of another without credit of authorship. It also means the reuse of one’s own work without suitable acknowledgement. This is referred to as self-plagiarism, text recycling and salami publishing. Such activities constitute academic fraud or theft and thus a breach ethical, pedagogical and legal norms. Plagiarism in any form is offensive and shall be treated as a serious wrongdoing. Appropriate sanctions, as stipulated in the Plagiarism Policy of the University of Ghana, will be applied when any student is found to have violated the policy. In line with this, all class assignments will be subjected to verification checks using two different plagiarism check software. Please follow the link http://www.ug.edu.gh/aqau/policiesguidelines for further information.

Comportment

 Class room civility is a must and expected of all students. Any member who disrupts class to the extent that other’s learning opportunities and reflection experiences are diminished may be asked to leave the classroom. Cell phones must always be turned off or muted during lecture sessions. The University recognizes the right of all students to observe recognized holidays of their faith, which fall within the academic year. Necessary arrangements can be made to ensure studies are not jeopardized. The instructor should be notified in advance of a student’s intended absence and at least three week’s notice of absence should be given where special arrangements are sought. Dr. Evans Aggrey-Darkoh &N-L. Kuditchar; POLI 342/2018-2019; SEMESTER 2 Page 3 of 4

Students with Special Needs

 Students with special needs should register with the Office of Students with Special Needs, located in the University of Ghana Computing Services (UGCS) building, next to the Student Financial Aid Office. If need be you can call Tel: +233-24-457-5177 or send an e-mail to ossnug@gmail.com . Kindly contact me as soon as possible so that appropriate accommodation can be arranged when business with the OSSN is done. Course Requirements There will be thirteen weeks of lectures. Full participation in the lectures is a prerequisite for admission into the final examinations. Each student must attend tutorials each week to be organized by tutorial assistants. Students are advised to effectively participate in the discussions. It must be emphasized that tutorials are not second lectures. Most of the reading materials exist in the Department of Political Science Library and the Balme Library. Some of the core readings are available in the General Office of the Department of the Political Science. It imperative for students to read the materials much more intently in order to identify the hidden truths in the literature (read with understanding). The assessment of this course will be done in two phases: interim assessment (30%) and a final examination (70%).

Grading Scale
Please refer to the relevant section of the University’s undergraduate handbook

Disclaimer

We reserve the right to change any reading, dates and requirements listed in this syllabus. If this should occur, we will make every effort to announce the changes well in advance. You are responsible for any innovation in your study schedule in the wake of changes made and announced in class.

Required readings

 J. S. McClelland, A History of Western Political Thought, Routledge, London and New York, 2002. Cohen Mitchell and Niccole Fermon (eds.), Readings in Political Thought, Princeton University Press, 1996. William Ebenstein, Great Political Thinkers: Plato to Present, Dryden Press Illinois, 1989. J. S. McClelland, A History of Western Political Thought, Routledge, London and New York, 2002. Forrest E. Baird and Walter Kaufman, Philosophic Classics: From Plato to Nietzsche, Prentice Hall, New Jersey, 1997. W.T. Jones, Masters of Political Thought: Machiavelli to Bentham, George C. Harrap, London, 1963. Dr. Evans Aggrey-Darkoh &N-L. Kuditchar; POLI 342/2018-2019; SEMESTER 2 Page 4 of 4 Patrick Riley, “Social Contract Theory and its Critics” in Mark Goldie and Robert Wokler (eds.), The Cambridge History of Eighteenth-Century Political Thought, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2006. William Ebenstein, Great Political Thinkers: Plato to Present, Dryden Press Illinois, 1989 J. S. McClelland, A History of Western Political Thought, Routledge, London and New York, 2002. George Sabine and Thomas L. Thorson, A History of Political Thought, 4th edition, Harcourt Brace, New York, 1989. J. S. McClelland, A History of Western Political Thought, Routledge, London and New York, 2002. George Sabine and Thomas L. Thorson, A History of Political Thought, 4th edition, Harcourt Brace, New York, 1989. John Gingell, Adrian Little and Christopher Winch, Modern Political Thought: A Reader, Routledge, London, 2000. Cohen Mitchell and Niccole Fermon (eds.), Readings in Political Thought, Princeton University Press, 1996. Cohen Mitchell and Niccole Fermon (eds.), Readings in Political Thought, Princeton University Press, 1996. Richard Bellamy and Angus Ross, A Textual Introduction to Social and Political Theory, Manchester University Press, Manchester and New York, 1996. Forrest E. Baird and Walter Kaufman, Philosophic Classics: From Plato to Nietzsche, Prentice Hall, New Jersey, 1997. World Book Vol. 4 (Chicago, 2006) Cohen Mitchell and Niccole Fermon (eds.), Readings in Political Thought, Princeton University Press, 1996. Howard Zinn, “King Martin Luther Jnr”, in John A Garraty and Jerome L. Sternstein, (eds), Encyclopedia of America Biography 2nd edition, Harper Collins Publishers, New York, 1996. Weekly Lecture themes Week 1&2: Machiavelli’s Discourses on the book of Livy Week 3: The Politics of Enlightenment. Week 4&5: Thomas Hobbes. Week 6&7: John Locke. Week 8&9: Jean Jacques Rousseau Week 10&11: John Stuart Mill. Week 12 & 13: Martin Luther King [Jr]/Recap.