POLITICS 209 : Modern Political Thought

Arts

2020 Semester One (1203) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

What should the state do and what should it keep out of? Focussing on key debates in modern political theory, topics will vary year from year and may include political authority and the rule of law; freedom, coercion, and manipulation; indigenous rights and the welfare state; paternalism; the ethics of war, global justice and feminism.

Course Overview

We begin by thinking about the state: whether it is justified, what it might sensibly do, and how the state's ambitions should be lmited. This section of the course considers anarchism, public goods, conservatism, and political obligation. We then ask what it means for us to be free and autonomous, and we analyse the threats of coercion, force and manipulation. We consider whether freedom conflicts with economic redistribution. We ask whether our rights over our bodies extend past our deaths - should people’s organs be conscripted for transplantation once they are dead and no longer need them? And what if people are free but wrong? Should we let them go to hell in their own way? We analyse paternalism and rational decision-making, and apply it to addictive drugs and the state’s attempts to improve our lives.
This is a political theory course that draws on ethics, law, psychology, economics and public policy.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 15 points at Stage I in Political Studies or Politics and International Relations and 30 points in the BA

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Gain knowledge of primary currents in modern political theory (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 3.1, 4.1, 4.2, 5.2 and 6.3)
  2. Develop critical perspectives on that work (Capability 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3)
  3. Develop skills in constructing arguments and analytical thinking and writing (Capability 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1 and 5.2)
  4. Learn how to apply these to current politics (Capability 3.1, 3.2 and 6.3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Essay 25% Individual Coursework
Essay 25% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 50% Individual Examination

Next offered

Each year

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 24 hours of lectures, a 1 hour tutorial. 

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page (https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894), which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 03/12/2019 02:40 p.m.