POLITICS AND IDEOLOGY

Curriculum guideline

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Course
POLI 2207
Discontinued
No
Course code
POLI 2207
Descriptive
POLITICS AND IDEOLOGY
Department
Douglas
Faculty
Douglas
Credits
3.00
Start date
End term
201330
PLAR
No
Semester length
15
Max class size
35
Contact hours
Lecture: 2 hrs. per week/semester Seminar: 2 hrs. per week/semester
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Seminar
Learning activities

Presentation of the course will involve the use of formal lectures, structured group work by students, and in-class discussion of assigned research topics.  Additional readings may be assigned for each unit of the course.

Course description
The study of political ideologies gives the student a window through which to view complex political phenomena. This course examines the origins and impact of ideologies on the development of societies. Major ideologies such as nationalism, liberalism, conservatism, anarchism, Marxist theory, socialism, applied Marxism, fascism, nazism, feminism, environmentalism and Third World ideologies are covered.
Course content

Theme One:  Ideology

-      The historical development of ideology.

-      The goals and purpose of ideologies.

 

Theme Two:  Nationalism

-      Why nationalism is important in the study of ideologies. 

-      Nation, state and nation-states and their relationship to nationalism. 

-      How nationalism, among the oldest of all ideologies, plays a major role when addressing

        contemporary ideologies. 

 

Theme Three:  Democracy

-      Democratic theory, democratic capitalism, and the democratic process. 

-      An introduction to key thinkers behind the notion of the social contract, capitalism, neo-classical and

        democratic theory. 

-      The democratic process and systems of democracy, government, elections, and representation.

 

Theme Four:  The Isms

-      Anarchism, Marxism, socialism, applied Marxism, communism, fascism, and national socialism.

 

Theme Five:  Ideologies of the Third World

-      Unique qualities of ideologies in the developing world. 

-      Authoritarian regimes, economic nationalism, guided democracy, and religious fundamentalism.

Learning outcomes

At the conclusion of the course the successful student will be able to:

  1. Explain the philosophical and intellectual roots of contemporary political ideologies.
  2. Examine and analyse the conditions that create the rise of ideologies.
  3. Interpret and analyse political ideologies as they apply to modern political problems.
  4. Apply their knowledge of ideologies to current political issues.

 

Means of assessment

The course evaluation will be based on course objectives and in accordance with Douglas College policy and the policies of the Political Science Department.  A minimum of 50% of the student’s grade will be assigned to the mid-term and end of term examinations.  A minimum of 30% of the student’s grade will be assigned to a formal research essay.  A maximum of 20% of student’s grade will be based upon a series of components, for example, quizzes, short essay, attendance, participation, class presentations.  The specific evaluation criteria will be provided by the instructor at the beginning of the semester.

 

One example of an evaluation scheme:

 

        

         Mid Term Exam                                          20%

         Research Essay                                          30%

         Participation                                               20%

         Final Exam                                                 30%

 

                                                                         100%

Textbook materials

Textbooks and readers will be chosen based on individual instructor preferences in consultation and with  approval of the Department of Political Science.

 

SAMPLE TEXTS:

  • Baradat, Leon P.  (2003).  Political Ideologies (8th ed.).  New Jersey:  Prentice Hall.

 

Selected Readings:

 

In addition to the textbook, each student will be required to read approximately 200 to 400 pages of additional materials during the semester, selected mainly from the following books:

 

  • Adorno, Theodor W., et al.  The Authoritarian Personality.
  • Arendt, Hannah.  The Origins of Totalitarianism.
  • Aron, Raymond.  The Industrial Society:  Three Essays on Ideology and Development.
  • Bell, Daniel.  The Radical Right.
  • Bell, Daniel.  The End of Ideology.
  • Drachkovitch, Milorad M.  Marxism in the Modern World.
  • Ebestein, William.  Today’s Isms.
  • Friedrich, Carl, (Ed.).  Totalitarianism.
  • Fromm, Erich.  Escape and Freedom.
  • Galbraith, John K.  The New Industrial State.
  • Groth, Alexander J.  Major Ideologies.
  • Lancaster, Lane W.  Masters of Political Thought.
  • Lane, Robert.  Political Ideology.
  • Laski, Harold.  The Rise of European Liberalism.
  • Lichthelm, George.  The Origins of Socialism.
  • Lipset, Seymour.  Political Man.
  • Lipset, Seymour.  Student Politics.
  • Mannheim, Karl.  Ideology and Utopia.
  • MacPherson, C.B.  The Real World of Democracy.
  • MacPherson, C.B.  Possessive Individualism.
  • Marcuse, Herbert.  Essay on Liberation.
  • Marcuse, Herbert.  One Dimentional Man.
  • Moore, Barrington.  Social Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy.
  • Mayo, Henry.  Introduction to Marxist Theory.
  • Mayo, Henry.  Introduction to Democratic Theory.
  • Preston, N. S.  Politics, Economics and Power.
  • Sargent, Lyman T.  New Left Thought:  An Introduction.
  • Tucker, Robert C.  The Marxism Revolutionary Idea.
  • Ulam, Adam B.  The Unfinished Revolution.

Prerequisites

POLI 1101 or Permission of Instructor