Political Ideology: Past, Present, Future
Course, Master's level, 2SK166
Expand the information below to show details on how to apply and entry requirements.
Spring 2027 Spring 2027, Uppsala, 100%, On-campus, English
- Location
- Uppsala
- Pace of study
- 100%
- Teaching form
- On-campus
- Instructional time
- Daytime
- Study period
- 18 January 2027–24 March 2027
- Language of instruction
- English
- Entry requirements
-
90 credits in political science (A+B+C) or the equivalent and 30 credits in social sciences, or 90 credits in social and political studies (A+B+C) and 60 credits in political science (A+B). Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.
- Selection
-
Higher education credits (maximum 285 credits)
- Fees
- If you are not a citizen of a European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) country, or Switzerland, you are required to pay application and tuition fees.
- First tuition fee instalment: SEK 28,500
- Total tuition fee: SEK 28,500
- Application deadline
- 15 October 2026
- Application code
- UU-74026
Admitted or on the waiting list?
- Registration period
- 21 December 2026–11 January 2027
- Information on registration from the department
Spring 2027 Spring 2027, Uppsala, 100%, On-campus, English For exchange students
- Location
- Uppsala
- Pace of study
- 100%
- Teaching form
- On-campus
- Instructional time
- Daytime
- Study period
- 18 January 2027–24 March 2027
- Language of instruction
- English
- Entry requirements
-
90 credits in political science (A+B+C) or the equivalent and 30 credits in social sciences, or 90 credits in social and political studies (A+B+C) and 60 credits in political science (A+B). Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.
Admitted or on the waiting list?
- Registration period
- 21 December 2026–11 January 2027
- Information on registration from the department
About the course
Ideologies, conventionally understood as the sets of ideas that help us understand, conceptualize and organize political action, are being questioned today. Many say that ideologies are dead - to others, they have never been more present. In this course, we approach this classical topic in political theory, and investigate the relevance of ideology under contemporary political conditions. We examine the history, concepts and norms that shape political ideologies, as well as the meaning of ideology itself.
The course contains three parts:
Part I examines what ideology is, and how we can study it as political theorists: normatively, conceptually and historically. Here, students learn about different concepts of ideology, and the tools through which they can analyse any among a wide range of existing or new ideologies. The key question in the first part is whether ideology is a necessary, dangerous and/or a redundant aspect of politics.
Part II concentrates on the 19th century origins of three dominant ideologies, Liberalism, Socialism, and Conservatism, and how they are affected by "the end of ideology" debates in the 20th and 21st century. The key question in the second part is whether these ideologies are still relevant to understand politics.
Part III revisits the future state of ideology in light of the most recent discussions in political theory. Some think that all ideologies presuppose an idea of progress, and therefore ask what loss of hope and positive expectations about the future could mean for their significance. Others argue that ideologies retain their value of giving coherence and direction to political action, yet note that their spatial conditions have changed from the national to the global. The key question here is whether the concept of ideology has played out its role, or whether its conditions of existence rather have been so altered as to radically change its nature.