Political Science

Political Theory(SP212)

Content
Course Code Course Name Semester Theory Practice Lab Credit ECTS
SP212 Political Theory 4 3 3 0 3 6
Prerequisites
Admission Requirements
Language of Instruction French
Course Type Compulsory
Course Level Bachelor Degree
Course Instructor(s)
Assistant
Objective The course's objective is the comprehensive study of the main themes of political science with theoretical models and approaches that develop different views and tools for analysis.
Content Various theories in use in political science are integrated into the lesson plan, with particular emphasis on the scientific approach that allowed their development and in a grid format that obeys a logic quite precise: explain the interactions between society and political system through political regulation. The grid of presentation, despite its limitations, has however the advantage of marking the passage of political philosophy to the scientific theory and to locate the various theories ones with respect to others, thereby facilitating the understanding of political science who is too often perceived as an abstract world, confused and without practical value.

We must also stress that our efforts of presentation not extend routinely to all political theories, but focuses on the main models in use. For brevity, we chose to present the more traditional or more general theories and neglect the ones on specific issues such as socialization, leadership, bureaucracy, etc..

For each of the theories presented, we will first identify the assumptions or the principles, then we will define the main concepts and arguments used to describe or explain reality and finally we highlight the possibilities and limitations.
Course Learning Outcomes Students who have followed and successfully completed the course are able to :

1) locate and define a political fact,
2) master the tools of analysis of the political facts,
3) discern the different theories that study different aspects of political phenomenon,
4) understand the relationships that political actors maintain with the political system as well as with their local, national and international environment,
5) analyze the functioning of a political system,
6) understand the logic of political power,
7) discern the different categories of the power elite,
8) analyze a political decision,
9) understand the meaning and limits of democracy,
11) analyze the processes of democratization in a comparative manner,
12) knowledge the recent openings in political theory.
Teaching and Learning Methods The courses will include a large proportion of lectures and discussions on weekly readings. These two elements require regular attendance of students and a reading of the texts of the collection. The indications on the texts to be read will be given each week in class.
References D. Marsh & P. Furlong, « A Skin, not a Sweater : Ontology and Epistemology in Political Science », in G. Stoker & D. Marsh, Theory and Methods in Political Science, Palgrave Macmillan, 2002.

Cours de Jean-Marc Ferry, Professeur ordinaire à l’Université libre de Bruxelles, Epistémologie des sciences politiques, 2005-2006.

D. Monière, Introduction aux théories politiques, Québec, Montréal, 1987.

G. Burdeau, L'Etat, Paris, Seuil, 1970.

Gerald F. Gaus & Chandran Kukathas (eds.), Handbook of Political Theory, Sage, London, 2004.

F. Chazel & P. Birnbaum (dir.), Sociologie Politique – Textes, Paris, Armand Colin, 1978.

P. Birnbaum (dir.), Le pouvoir politique, Paris, Dalloz, 1975.

B. Denni & P. Lecomte, Sociologie du politique, Grenoble, PUG, 1999.

Robert E. Goodin & Hans-Dieter Klingemann (eds.), A New Handbook of Political Science, Oxford University Press, New York, 1996.

J. S. Dryzek, B. Honig & A. Phillips (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Political Theory, Oxford University Presse, New York, 2006.
Print the course contents
Weekly Contents
Theory Topics
Week Weekly Contents
Practice Topics
Week Weekly Contents
Assessment System
Contribution to Overall Grade
  Number Contribution
Toplam 0 0
In-Term Studies
  Number Contribution
Assignments 0 0
Presentation 0 0
Midterm Examinations (including preparation) 1 40
Project 0 0
Laboratory 0 0
Other Applications 0 0
Quiz 4 20
Term Paper/ Project 0 0
Portfolio Study 0 0
Reports 0 0
Learning Diary 0 0
Thesis/ Project 0 0
Seminar 0 0
Other 0 0
Toplam 5 60
Relation of Proficiency
No Program Learning Outcomes Contribution
1 2 3 4 5
1 Understanding the major theories, concepts, foundations, and methodologies used in the study of politics. X
2 Identifying the structure and operation of the political system in Turkey and other political systems in the world.
3 Identifying and gathering information from credible primary and secondary sources; analyzing and synthesizing the acquired knowledge.
4 Generating and testing empirically hypotheses about political processes, institutions, mechanisms and relationships.
5 Designing, conducting and interpreting the results of original research in accordance with the scientific and ethical principles by using basic research methods.
6 Showing awareness and sensivity towards issues related to democracy, human rights and social peace.
7 Appraising the sources of societal conflict and how they can be resolved by political means.
8 Examining critically the nature of change in the global political community, and the complex character of processes such as globalization.
9 Taking a role in a teamwork in political science and general fields of other related disciplines.
10 Following publications in foreign languages and communicating with the colleagues in the international environment by using French which is the language of education in Galatasaray University and English, the compulsory foreign language.
11 Using required level of information and communication technologies.
ECTS
Activities Number Period Total Workload
Class Hours 13 3 39
Working Hours out of Class 12 4 48
Midterm Examinations (including preparation) 1 11 11
Final Examinations (including preparation) 1 10 10
Total Workload 108
Total Workload / 25 4.32
Credits ECTS 4
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