COURSE OUTLINE LINE AND READING LIST- POLI 442:SOCIAL AND POLITICAL THEORY

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

UNIVERSITY OF GHANA

FIRST SEMESTER, 2015/2016

   COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LIST

                     LECTURER: Dr. Ransford Gyampo  and  Dr. Evans Aggyrey-Darkoh

                                 

COURSE OUTLINE AND READINGS

COURSE TITLE	SOCIAL AND POLITICAL THEORY (GROUP A)
COURSE CODE	POLI 442
COURSE CREDITS	3
PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES	Welcome to POLI 402, Social & Political Theory. The course is designed to introduce you, to the nature, scope and role of Social and Political Theory. The word Theory is derived from the Greek word theoria which means mental focus. Social and Political theorizing therefore becomes whatever a person discovers as a result of serious introspective mental focus and speculations. Social and Political  theory as a distinct discipline emerged in the 20th century and was largely equated with an attitude of critical thinking, based on rationality, logic and objectivity, as well as the desire for knowledge through a-posteriori methods of discovery, rather than a-priori methods of tradition.  The course presents an attempt to provide a comprehensive taxonomy for explaining socio-political issues. For example, there have been numerous coups and military interventions in Africa. An attempt to study and observe these phenomena in order to provide a coherent explanation falls within the realm of theorizing. It is logically plausible for one to argue that social and political theorizing is part of political philosophy as one cannot offer an explanation of a phenomenon without first doing some serious thinking about it.  With this in mind, it is easy to link social and political theory to deep seated philosophical discussions. The course also deals with the expositions of classical thinkers that must often be contextualized to help in understanding contemporary issues of social and political discourse. We must notify you in advance that given the somewhat abstract nature of this course, it tends to be a “scare-crow” to many undergraduates. However, what such students fail to realize is that far from being a thorn in their flesh, social and political theory is their friend. Indeed, if you are interested in Political Science, as we suppose, and if you are interested in pursuing further studies in Law, then you should love social and political theory the more. This is because, political theory is “the father of Political Science.” Again some of the critical issues that would be thought in Jurisprudence for law students are delved into by this course. It is therefore important to study this course as it assures you of a firm foundation and grounding for future political and intellectual discourses. It helps you to appreciate “what is political” or the domain of politics; approaches to the study of politics and other critical theories of politics that helps you to better understand the key issues that would preoccupy you, an upcoming Political Scientist. In our discussions, we will draw examples from the global setting with emphasis on Africa and Ghana. Do not worry too much about the seaming abstract nature of the course. We will contextualize the issues and with examples that hinges on contemporary happenings in our world today, we can assure you that we will certainly demystify every mystery that surround the course. At the end of the course, you should be able to: ·         Define politics from your own perspective; ·         Explain the realm and domain of politics ·         Explain the scientific methodology and approach to the study of politics ·         Identify and explain the basic tenets and features of normative political theory, logical positivism/behavioralism,  institutionalism etc ·         Define and explain the basic features of feminism, noting its relevance in modern times ·         Distinguish between Constitutionalism and Rule of Law ·         Explain the nature of modern democracy etc, etc
OFFICE LOCATION	Department of Political Science, University of Ghana, Room 7
OFFICE HOURS	Mondays: 9.30am – 4.30pm
EMAIL	vangyampo@yahoo.com or revgyampo@ug.edu.gh
LECTURE PERIOD & VENUE	Tuesdays 3.30-5.30pm @ NNB 2
WEEK NO.	LECTURE TOPIC	TUTORIALS	ASSESSMENT
1	Nature and Scope of Politics	Teaching/Graduate Assistants to assist students in discussing the nature and scope of “the political”
2	The Science of Politics	Teaching/Graduate Assistants to assist students in defining and discussing the science of politics.
3	Normative Political Theory	Students to identify and discuss the main arguments of normativism
4	Normative Political Theory	Students to discuss the contributions of NPT to the study of politics as well as its weaknesses
5	Logical Positivism/Bahavioralism	Students to discuss the main arguments of logical positivism
6	Logical Positivism/Bahavioralism:	Students to discuss the strengths and weakenesses of the Behavioral approach
7	Feminism		Interim Assessment (30%)
8	Feminism	Students to be guided in discussing the central issues of feminism as a theory
9	Liberalism	Teaching Assistants to lead discussions on feminism
10	Constitutionalism/Rule of Law	Students to discuss the differences (if any)between constitutionalism and rule of law
11	Constitutionalism/Rule of Law	Students to identify the factors that promotes constitutionalism in a state
12	Nature of Modern Democracy	Student to subject Abraham Lincoln’s definition of democracy to critical scrutiny
13	Nature of Modern Democracy	Is democracy the most preferred form of government? What are its strengths and weaknesses? Teaching Assistants must lead discussions in offering answers to these questions
14	STUDENT REVISION
15-17	EXAMINATION (70%)

SUGGESTED COURSE READINGS

Sabine George,  A History of Political Theory, (New York: Holt Rinehart and Winston, 1961).

Berlin, Isaiah, Political Ideas in the Twentieth Century, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002).

Barker, Ernest, Principles of Social and Political Theory , (Oxford: Clarendon, Press, 1951).

Raphael, D.D., Problems of Political Philosophy, (London: Pall Mall Press, 1970).

Mead, Margaret Sex and Temperament: In Three Primitive Societies  (New York: Harper Collins Publishers Inc, 2001).

Dunn, John (ed.), Democracy: The Unfinished Journey, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992).

Pateman, Carole The Sexual Contract  (NY: Polity Press, 1988).

Paris, D. C. & James F. Reynolds, The Logic of Political Inquiry, (New York: Longman Inc., 1983).

Landau, Martin, Political Theory and Political Science, (New Jersey: Humanities Press, 1979).

Mill, J.S., Autobiography , (London, 1873).

Chodorow, Nancy (1989). Feminism and Psychoanalytic Theory. (New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press)

Bernstein, Richard,   The Reconstruction of Social and Political Theory, (New York: Harcourt Brace, 1977).

Bryant, C.G.A.,  Positivism in Social Theory and Research, (London: Macmillan Publishers Ltd, 1985).

Heywood, Andrew,  Political Theory: An Introduction, Second Edition, (New York: Palgrave, 1999).

Gamble, A., An Introduction to Modern Social and Political Thought, (London: Macmillan Education Ltd, 1981).

Gyampo, R.E.V., The State of Political Institutions in Ghana (Saarbrucken: Lambert Academic Publishing, 2013)

Iain, Mclean, Oxford Concise Dictionary of Politics,(New York: Oxford University Press, 1996).

McClelland, J.S.,   A History of Western Political Thought, (London: Routhledge, 2002).

Merriam, Charles, New Aspects of Politics  (Chicago: University of Chicago).

Bellamy, Richard and Angus Ross (eds.), A Textual Introduction to Social and Political Theory, (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1996).

MacKinnon, Catharine.  Feminism Unmodified: Discourses on Life and Law (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1987).

Koerner, Kirk. Liberalism and its Critics. (Oxford: Taylor & Francis, 1985).

REQUIREMENTS/ GENERAL INFORMATION

·         Extensive Reading (at least 70% of the required reading materials) is a MUST

·         There would be 13 weeks of lectures and students must endeavor to attend all lectures. The course shall not be done by correspondence.

·         Students must be punctual in attending all lectures. No lateness would be tolerated

·         Students MUST attend tutorials regularly and make MEANINGFUL contributions to class discussions.

·         An Interim Assessment would be conducted and would constitute 30% of the final grades of students. The final exam would account for 70% of students’ grade.

• For information on Grading Scale, students may refer to Undergraduate Handbook for details.

·         Students MUST comport themselves during lectures. No acts of indiscipline such as ringing of mobile phones and all other acts that could distract the attention of other students while lectures are on-going would be tolerated