Political Science

Political Theories(SP221)

Content
Course Code Course Name Semester Theory Practice Lab Credit ECTS
SP221 Political Theories 3 3 0 0 3 5
Prerequisites
Admission Requirements
Language of Instruction French
Course Type Compulsory
Course Level Bachelor Degree
Course Instructor(s) Esra ATUK eatuk1@gsu.edu.tr (Email)
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
1 Introduction: the presentation of the course and position of the problems
2 The issue of political reasoning (Location and definition of politics: political regulation - Analysis of politics: method (conceptual frameworks, analytical tools and approaches, assumptions about the scientific method))
3 Ontology and epistemology in political science
4 Political theories: status / utility and functions of political theories
5 The organization of political regulation: the place of the State in the political dynamics
6 The classical theories explaining the mechanisms of political regulation (1): Social structures and functions as determinants of politics
7 The classical theories explaining the mechanisms of political regulation (2): A Systems Analysis of Political Life
8 Mid-term exam
9 Inside the black box: Who? What? How? Theories of political power
10 Theories of power elites (1)
11 Theories of power elites (2)
12 Theories of political decision
13 Theories of democracy and democratization
14 Conclusion: The legacy of the past and contemporary trends
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
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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