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DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

SEMESTER 2020/2021 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]: As indicated on Time-table

 

 

                                   

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 E-mail: lgamoah@ug.edu.gh

 

 

v Nene-Lomotey Kuditchar, Ph.D.

v Office Location: Department of Political Science, Room 14

v Office Hours: Monday 12 noon-2 pm; Thursdays 3pm-4pm; by appointment via email.

v E-mail address: nkuditchar@ug.edu.gh

 

 

 

 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 endeavor 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[1]):  30 %

Final Exam:70 %

 

 

Grading Scale

  

Kindly Refer to Undergraduate Handbook.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Course Delivery Schedule

 

 

COURSE TITLE	MODERN WESTERN  POLITICAL THOUGHT
COURSE CODE	POLI 342
WEEK NO.	DATE & TIME	LECTURE TOPIC	TUTORIALS	VENUE	ASSESSMENT
1	As indicated on Time-Table	1. Course Overview 2. Emergence of Contractarianism in  Modern Western Political Thought	To be Conducted by TA in consultation with lecturers on the key issues raised in class weekly	JQB 14 & 22
2	“	Hobbes		‘
3		“
4	“	Locke		“
5	“	Rousseau		“	Interim Assessment (30%)
6	“	C.W. Mills		“
7
8	“	Marx/Garvey/ Kollontai		“
9	“	“			“
10	“	“
11	“ REVISION EXAMINATION (70%)
12

 

 

COURSE READINGS[2]

           

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.

 

Marx, K., & Engels, F. (1848). The Communist Manifesto. Selected Works of Karl Marx and Frederick Engels. New York: International Publishers.

 

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

 

Miéville, C. (2022). A Spectre, Haunting: On the Communist Manifesto. London: Head of Zeus Ltd.

 

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.

 

Nkrumah, K. (1970) Class Struggle in Africa. London: Panaf Books Limited

 

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, 4^th 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.

 

The Coalition on the Women’s Manifesto for Ghana (2004). The Women’s Manifesto for Ghana. Accra: ABANTU for Development.

 

Ward, I., & McGlynn, C. (2016). Women, Law and John Stuart Mill. Women's History Review, 25(2), 227-253.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] This includes attending assigned conferences, roundtables, symposia among others and writing papers on these if required.

[2] These texts will be reviewed, adjusted and supplemented as and when the instructors deem fit.