Syllabus for Political Science A

Learning outcomes

On completion of the A course in Political Science the students are expected to:

Be able to present and discuss:

• the history of political ideas and the results of them;
• the political government, public administration and the main features of the official political life in Sweden and other countries;
• variations in political participation;
• the political problems of the developing countries and new democracies;
• the development of international politics during the 20th century;
• the development of the European Union and the role of Sweden on the international arena. Participate actively and independently in seminar discussions and to give some short presentations of their own. Treat a defined research problem and in connection therewith:
• have practised the application of a scientific approach to sources and source material
• understand the value of, and bases for, good argumentation
• be able to distinguish between theoretical literature and empirical findings
• be able to separate personal opinions from the independent conclusions to be drawn from a source material
• be familiar with the basics of source references.

Content

The course consists of five parts: Political Theory, Citizens and Society, State Formation, Public Administration, and International Politics.

Political Theory, 2 credits 0.0 hp

Goals

The purpose of the course is to make the students acquainted with basic concepts in political theory, presented in a historical perspective. The student is trained to independently scrutinise and analyse political ideas and ideologies and to reason about relevant problems from the course literature, the lectures and the discussions in the seminar.

Content

The course gets its character by the study of classical works in political science.

Instruction

The instruction for this course consists of lectures and seminars.

Questions to be discussed, should be prepared for the seminar meetings by the students.

Grades awarded for the seminars (including the course paper): Fail (U) - Pass (G).

Active participation in seminars is required. For the third seminar meeting, a paper of two to four pages should be submitted. Grading is based on the student's ability to reason about relevant problems from the course literature, the lectures and the discussions in the seminar.

Exam Political Theory, 4 credits 0.0 hp

The course ends with a written examination, which serves both as basis for grading, and an opportunity for the student to rehearse the content of the course.

Grades awarded for the examination: Fail (U) - Pass (G) - Pass with Distinction (VG).

Citizens and the Society, 2 credits 0.0 hp

Goals

The objectives for this basic level course are to provide students with an orientation in the basic terminology, theories and methods within central areas of political science research as well as the presentation of research results from several essential research fields such as: democratisation processes; political parties; political participation and political culture. It is intended that this course should be broad, with the objectives of providing students with elementary political science knowledge and skills which will create the basis for later continuation and specialisation courses within a number of areas. The aim is to train and develop the students' own analytical and reflection skills through both the participation in seminar discussions and the production of short analytical texts in collaboration with others.

Contents

This course is based on a holistic perspective of politics and political systems and has the expressed aim of being comparative. With its starting points in citizens' roles, political culture and political participation the course focuses on democracy and democratisation processes, the organised citizen society in the form of political parties, and interest groups together with other channels of influence such as the media. The course concentrates on empirical data using examples from states in different areas of the world as well as Sweden. The course has a broad focus and introduces politics and political problems in the advanced industrial societies, post-communist Europe and developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. The themes that have been introduced in this course will return at the higher levels.

Teaching

The teaching is given in the form of lectures and seminars. In addition there may be additional lectures by guest lecturers concerning topical empirical or theoretical themes.

Examination

The students are required to display active participation in the seminars given and to submit written assignments. The students are expected to produce a course paper, connected to the course literature but with free choice of subject, as well as acting as both respondent and opponent at course paper seminars.

Grades awarded for the seminars(including the course paper): Fail (U) – Pass (G).

State Formation, 2 credits 0.0 hp

Exam Citizens and Society, and State Formation, 8 credits 0.0 hp

Written examination, which serves both as basis for grading, and an opportunity for the student to rehearse the content of the courses.

Grades awarded for the written examination: Fail (U) - Pass (G) - Pass with Distinction (VG).

Public Administration, 2 credits 0.0 hp

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course the students are expected to:

- understand the role and function of the public administration,

- have an extended comprehension of central characteristics of the Swedish public administration, i.e. have acquired a thorough familiarity of the organisation of the public administration,

- be able to interpret and apply public administration concepts, ideas, and notions on political processes and developments,

- be able to problematise the relationship between power and responsibility within the public administration,

- have a basic understanding of how to apply a critical perspective on the study of politics and administration.

Contents

Public administration policy is entails ideas and measures directed towards the organisation and working methods of the public sector. During the course some of these measures will be presented and discussed. The point of departure is that the success or failure of public administration policies has a decisive significance on the preparation and carrying out of other policy programs and reforms. Hence, the central focus is on classical problems within political science such as the organisation of government. The literature mainly deals with the Swedish case, but international contrasts will be made during the course.

Instructions

The teaching consists of lectures, seminars and the writing of a short paper. The lectures focus the central themes of the course, and contextualise selected elements of the course literature. At the seminars the students are expected to have prepared answers to the questions to be discussed, and students are also expected to participate actively in the seminar discussions. For the third seminar meeting, a paper of two to four pages should be submitted.

Examination

The students are examined by means of a written exam, participation at seminars and a short paper for the last seminar. The paper to the last seminar should address a theme in the course literature (can be chosen freely), and the paper will be presented and defended in the last seminar by the student. Moreover, at the last seminar the student is also expected to comment on another student's paper. At the end of the semester (together with the course International politics) there will be a written exam. The course ends with a written examination, which serves both as basis for grading, and an opportunity for the student to rehearse the content of the course.

Grading is based on the student's ability to reason about relevant problems from the course literature, the lectures and the discussions in the seminar.

Grades awarded for the seminars (including the written paper): Fail (U) – Pass (G).

International Politics, 2 credits 0.0 hp

Goals

This course shall provide students with an overview and enhanced understanding of international politics. The course is designed to provide students with opportunities to develop basic communication (speaking, writing, seminar participation), research, and analytical skills. The course shall prepare students for intermediate (B) studies in this subfield and contribute to preparing students for higher levels studies and qualified employment.

Contents

The course emphasises the development of international politics during the last century and beyond, with a special focus on the European experience. A number of central theoretical traditions and perspectives on international politics are introduced including some or all of the following: realism, liberalism, structuralism, constructivism, gender. In addition key problems and processes of international politics such as security, conflict, cooperation, integration, and foreign policymaking will be presented.

Instruction

The instruction for this course consists of lectures and seminars.

Examination

Active participation in seminars is required. Grades awarded for the seminars: Fail (U) - Pass (G).

Exam Public Administration and International Politics, 8 credits 0.0 hp

Written examination, which serves both as basis for grading, and an opportunity for the student to rehearse the content of the courses.

Grades awarded for the written examination: Fail (U) - Pass (G) - Pass with Distinction (VG).

Instruction

The teaching consists of lectures, seminars and the writing of a course paper. Questions to be discussed, should be prepared for the seminar meetings by the students. Active participation in seminars is required. Grading is based on the student's ability to reason about relevant problems from the course literature, the lectures and the discussions in the seminar.

Assessment

The students are examined by means of written exams, participation at seminars and short papers for some of the seminars.

Course level in relation to degree requirements

The course is primarily based on course literature and some shorter scientific texts. At the following levels research books and more advanced scientific reports are introduced. The intention is to give the students an introduction to different research fields of political science and to present some of the research methods used. Much weight is placed on making the students realise what independent and critical thinking means, and to equip them with the necessary tools to evaluate conclusions and arguments. Concerning skills practice the most important thing in this course is the development of the writing ability in the form of written seminar reports and final papers. The first opportunity to practise the speaking ability is given during the seminars and is then further developed within courses at more advanced levels.

Other directives

This course may be included in the Bachelor's Programme in Political Sciences, the Social Science Programme as well as being a separate single subject course in a Bachelor Degree.