DEPARTMENT OF
POLITICAL SCIENCE
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL
SCIENCES
SEMESTER 2019/2020
ACADEMIC YEAR
COURSE SYLLABUS
Course Code and Title: POLI 342/ Modern Western Political Thought
Course Credit: 3 Credits
Lecture Period(s) and Venue[Main Campus]:
Mondays -11:30-13:20/JBQ 14|| Wednesdays-
13:30-15:20/CC
Prerequisites: Not Applicable
Course Instructors
v Lloyd G. Adu
Amoah, Ph.D.
v Office Location:
Department of Political Science, Room 15
v Office Hours : By
Appointment
v
Nene Lumor-Kuditchar, Ph.D.
v Office Location: Room 14 Department of Political Science
v Office Hours: Monday 12 noon-2 pm; Thursdays 3pm-4pm; by appointment
via email.
Teaching Assistants:
Course Overview
Modern Western Political Thought(like Ancient and Medieval Political Thought mounted
last semester) will engage critically with the conceptual and theoretical
claims of a careful selection of modern Western political philosophers on
politics, religion, economics, government, society, racism, human nature, law
and power among others. These philosophers in their varied writings grapple
with vexing existential questions necessitated by humanity’s quest to make
sense of being, society, the state and nation. These questions still have
resonance in our times and the course invites deep reflections on the
convergences and departures of Western insights with African political thought
and practice as it maps its own future.
Course Objective/Goals:
At the end of the
course students should be able :
1. demonstrate
a firm grasp of the conceptual claims of the selected political thinkers.
2. appreciate the theoretical postulations and
the attendant controversies surrounding
Western
political thought.
3. explicate
the implications of the ideas of these Western political thinkers on current
political
behavior especially in the Ghanaian and African context.
Learning Outcomes
The Course seeks:
1. To improve critical and
independent thinking via reading,
reflection, critique, analysis and synthesis and exercising the ability to think
from multiple and even disparate lenses and frameworks.
2. To develop
strong communication skills, both verbal and written, by closely engaging
assigned texts, participating vigorously in class discussions and self
-directed research, and presenting to the class where necessary.
Course Requirements
There would be 13 weeks of Lectures (infused
with multimedia if and when the technology in the class effectively allows
this).Students must endeavour to attend lectures regularly. Course Preparation Assignments (CPAs) are
directed at ensuring that students read and reflect(individually or in groups)
on the texts and cases assigned for the class and serve as preparation for
class discussions. CPAs will involve write ups on assigned texts and case
reflections based on rubrics provided by the instructor. These will be graded
(in addition to other forms of assessments) and be part of your 30% interim
assessment. Pop Quizzes (unannounced in-class tests) will be used as and when
necessary. Sakai (the University of
Ghana academic information portal) will be used extensively for posting reading
materials, lists, announcements etc. They will be extra curricula activities which students will
be obliged to attend such as conferences, seminars, workshops etc. This will be part of your grading. These events will
be duly announced and a record of attendance and participation taken. 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, University of Ghana.
The Course will follow
strictly the UG policy on support for students with physical challenges and
give them special attention and care as a matter of priority. We expect
students to help us in this undertaking.
Plagiarism policy
The
integrity of the classes offered by any academic institution solidifies the
foundation of its mission and cannot be sacrificed for expediency, ignorance,
or blatant fraud. Therefore, rigorous standards of academic integrity will be
enforced in this course. For the detailed policy of the University of Ghana
regarding the definitions of acts considered to fall under academic dishonesty
and the consequent sanctions, please refer to the University of Ghana Plagiarism Policy. In case you have any
questions about possibly improper research citations or references, or any
other activity that may be interpreted as an attempt at academic dishonesty,
please see the lecturer before the assignment is due to discuss the
matter.
Assessment Instruments
Interim Assessments (class tests,
pop quizzes and Extra-curricular work[2]): 30 %
Final Exam:70
%
Grading Scale
Kindly
Refer to Undergraduate Handbook.
Course Delivery Schedule
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COURSE TITLE
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ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL POLITICAL
THOUGHT
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COURSE CODE
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POLI 341
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WEEK NO.
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DATE & TIME
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LECTURE TOPIC
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TUTORIALS
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VENUE
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ASSESSMENT
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1
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1. Course Overview
2. Emergence of Contractarianism in Modern Western Political Thought
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To
be Conducted by TA in consultation with lecturers on the key issues raised in
class weekly
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GROUP
A
GROUP
B
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2
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“
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Hobbes
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“
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3
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“
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-
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“
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4
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“
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Locke
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“
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5
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“
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Rousseau
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“
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6
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“
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Mill
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“
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7
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“
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C.W. Mills
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“
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Interim Assessment (30%)
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8
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“
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-
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“
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9
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“
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Hegel
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“
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10
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“
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-
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“
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11
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“
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Marx
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“
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12
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“
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Kollontai
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“
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13
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“
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Garvey
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“
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14
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REVISION
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15-17
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EXAMINATION (70%)
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COURSE READINGS[3]
Berganza, K. (2017)
Karl Marx: The Theories of Historical Materialism and the Alienation of Workers
at https://www.academia.edu/35296574/Karl_Marx_Historical_Materialism_and_Alienation_of_Workers
(Retrieved: 23/12/2019)
Cameron,
M.(1968). Western Political Thought, Part 1 Ancient and Medieval.
New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Inc.
Cohen, M. and Fermon,
N. (Eds.)( 1996). Princeton readings in political Thought: New
Jersey: Princeton University Press.
Das, P. (2001). History
of Political Thought. Calcutta: Central.
De Gouges, O. (1791). Declaration
of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen. The French Revolution and Human
Rights: A Brief Documentary History, 124-129.
Forsters, M.B.
1941. Masters of Political Thought- Plato to Machiavelli.
New York: the Riverside Press.
Gustafson,
A and Harvey, C. (2017) Mill’s Defense of the Rights of Women at https://www.academia.edu (Retrieved:
23/12/2019)
Hirschfield, C.(1968).
The Modern World: Classics of Western
Thought. New York: Harcourt, Brace and World, Inc.
Jacques-Garvey, A.
(1923). Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey at https://archive.org/stream/ThePhilosophyOpinionsOfMarcusGarveyOrAfricaForTheAfricans/EbookPhilAndOpinions_djvu.txt
(Retrieved: 23/12/2019)
Kollontai, A. (1909). The
Social Basis of The Woman Question at https://www.marxists.org/archive/kollonta/1909/social-basis.htm
(Retrieved: 23/12/2019)
Locke, J.(1823). Two Treatises of Government. Glasgow :
R. Griffin and Co.
McClelland,
J.S.(2002). A History of Western Political Though. London:
Routledge.
Mills, C.W.(1997). The Racial Contract. New York : Cornell
University Press.
Milner, A. (2019). Class
and Class Consciousness in Marxist Theory. International Critical Thought,
9(2), 161-176.
Molesworth, W.(1839). The English Works of Thomas Hobbes. Vol.
III. London, John Bonn.
Ogunkoya, D. (2011). John
Stuart Mill's “Harm Principle” As the Foundation for Healthy Social Relations.
Journal of International Social Research, 4(17).
Plamenatz, J.
(1963). Man and Society. New York: Longman Group Ltd
Rosenfeld,
M. (2012). Introduction: Gender, Sexual Orientation, and Equal Citizenship.
International Journal of Constitutional Law, 10(2), 340-354.
Sabine, H.G. (1973). A
History of Political Theory, 4th edition. (New Delhi:
Oxford& IBN Publishing Co.PVT Ltd.
Scott, John, T. (2012)
The Major Political Writings of Jean-Jacques Rousseau: The Two Discourses and
The Social Contract. Chicago: The University
of Chicago Press.
Ward, I., &
McGlynn, C. (2016). Women, Law and John Stuart Mill. Women's History
Review, 25(2), 227-253.
[1]
This syllabus is not cast in stone. The instructors reserve the right to alter
content as and when the need arises.
[2]
This includes attending assigned conferences, roundtables, symposia among
others and writing papers on these if required.
[3]
These texts will be reviewed, adjusted and supplemented as and when the
instructors deem fit.
