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. 

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to

• understand the meaning of ideology, and discuss the role it plays in politics
• identify, compare and evaluate different ideologies in a range of textual and non-textual material
• apply normative, conceptual and interpretative methods, with a focus on ideology analysis
• critically examine and discuss the relationship between ideology and politics
• analyse real-world political, social and economic problems and institutions from an ideological point of view

Content

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.

Instruction

The teaching consists of lectures and seminars. The seminars are compulsory, which means that all participants are required to take active part in seminar discussions. In addition, the course includes the writing of a short weekly paper and/or an oral presentation, as well as a final course paper. One session will be dedicated to the final papers, in which all students will discuss a final paper of one of their fellows. The total time of study should be around 40 hours per week. The language of instruction is English.

Assessment

Examination takes place continuously throughout the course, through written and oral assignments, as well as through active participation in the seminars. At the end of the course, the students write a final course paper which will be discussed during a seminar and examined by the teacher. The final paper will be decisive for the final grade. However, all contributions made during the course will be taken into account. The following grades will be applied: pass with distinction (VG), pass (G) and fail (U).

In order to pass the following is required:

• The student has achieved the learning outcomes
• The student has participated in all compulsory elements of the course
• All the seminar assignments and the final paper have been completed and passed

When assessing the students' performance with regard to the final paper, the most important criteria for grading are: 1) relating the normative or empirical problem to the positions in the literature, 2) independent and critical analysis, 3) the design, structure and clarity of the analysis.

The course attaches great significance to active discussion as an element of a vivid seminar conversation. Absence from seminars can hence only to a very small degree be compensated for by written supplemental assignments. Given the focus on rational assessment of complex normative, theoretical and empirical questions, and in accordance with the requirements of the course, the language of the students' memos and papers must be grammatically correct and precise.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated above and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of such a special reason might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.