pol2pid political ideas and ideologies

POLITICAL IDEAS AND IDEOLOGIES

POL2PID

2019

Credit points: 15

This subject addresses La Trobe's Sustainability Thinking Essential. Sustainability Thinking entails deep appreciation of how the choices we make affects the natural, economic, social, political and cultural systems — now and in the future.

Subject outline

This subject is designed as an introduction to the big political ideas and ideologies that inform our contemporary political landscape. After considering the varied historical meanings of the term ideology, students will review a number of the major traditional ideologies (including liberalism, neo-liberalism, conservatism, socialism, and fascism), focusing their investigation on the continued influence of these ideologies on political discourse today. Students will then scrutinise the once popular claim that the end of the Cold War heralded the triumph of liberalism and the end of ideology. The merits of this claim will be explored by studying the political effects of new forms of environmentalism, nationalism and religious fundamentalism. By the end of the subject, students should be familiar with the historical problems and contexts that produced the major ideologies, and should also have an understanding of some of the ways in which ideology is mobilised in contemporary political discourse.

SchoolSchool of Humanities & Social Sciences

Credit points15

Subject Co-ordinatorYassir Morsi

Available to Study Abroad StudentsYes

Subject year levelYear Level 2 - UG

Exchange StudentsYes

Subject particulars

Subject rules

PrerequisitesN/A

Co-requisitesN/A

Incompatible subjects POL3PID

Equivalent subjectsN/A

Special conditions Core subject at second-year level for a politics major in the Bachelor of Arts degree (ABA)

Learning resources

Readings

Resource TypeTitleResource RequirementAuthor and YearPublisher
ReadingsAvailable onlinePrescribedLMSLMS
ReadingsPolitical Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, 10th ed.RecommendedBall, T., Dagger, R. O'Neil, D. (eds)ROUTLEDGE, 2018
ReadingsPolitical Ideologies: An Introduction, 6th ed.RecommendedHeywood, A.PALGRAVE MACMILLAN, 2017

Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes

01. Interpretive capacity - interpret and explain the ideas of important political theorists

Activities:
In depth analysis of key texts; sighted exam paper; interactive seminar activities
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)

02. Historical understanding of ideology - evaluate the historical problems that first gave rise to the different ideologies

Activities:
Interactive activities in seminars and online; argumentative essay
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)

03. Applied understanding of ideology - Apply political ideologies to the analysis of practical issues

Activities:
Interactive activities in seminars and online
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)

04. Argumentative ability - take up a position in relation to political ideology and defend it with reasons, using correct grammar, punctuation and spelling

Activities:
Interactive activities in seminars and online; argumentative essay
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)

05. Research capacity - use relevant primary and secondary source materials to situate and reference your own views

Activities:
Research preparation for long essay; periodic progress reports, on which in-class feedback is provided
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)

06. Intellectual discrimination - explain the conceptual components of ideology (e.g. accounts of human nature and society)

Activities:
Interactive activities in seminars and online; argumentative research essay; preparation for exam; exam paper
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)

Subject options

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Start date between: and    Key dates

Melbourne, 2019, Semester 2, Blended

Overview

Online enrolmentYes

Maximum enrolment sizeN/A

Enrolment information

Subject Instance Co-ordinatorYassir Morsi

Class requirements

LectureWeek: 31 - 43
One 2.0 hours lecture per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via online.

TutorialWeek: 31 - 43
One 1.0 hours tutorial per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.

Assessments

Assessment elementComments%ILO*
Take-home exam (equivalent to 1000 words)This is a summative piece of assssment2001, 02, 03, 04
Argumentative research essay (equivalent to 2000)This is a summative piece of assessment.5001, 04, 05
In-class and online activities (equivalent to 1500 words)This is a formative piece of assessment.3001, 02, 03, 06