Students
POIR2060 – Modern Political Thought
2021 – Session 2, Weekday attendance, North Ryde
Session 2 Learning and Teaching Update
The decision has been made to conduct study online for the remainder of Session 2 for all units WITHOUT mandatory on-campus learning activities. Exams for Session 2 will also be online where possible to do so.
This is due to the extension of the lockdown orders and to provide certainty around arrangements for the remainder of Session 2. We hope to return to campus beyond Session 2 as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.
Some classes/teaching activities cannot be moved online and must be taught on campus. You should already know if you are in one of these classes/teaching activities and your unit convenor will provide you with more information via iLearn. If you want to confirm, see the list of units with mandatory on-campus classes/teaching activities.
Visit the MQ COVID-19 information page for more detail.
General Information
Download as PDF
| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Ian Tregenza
Govand Azeez
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
40cp at 1000 level or above OR (10cp in HIST or MHIS or POIR or MHIX or POIX or POL units)
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
What are the limits of the legitimate use of force by political authorities? How should the power of government be limited? When is a government or political regime legitimate? These and related questions have been the subject of a continuous debate in political theory since the sixteenth century. This unit examines the various theories of human rights and of social contract as well as theories which reject the liberal/democratic approach to the question of legitimacy. Among the authors to be read are Machiavelli, Hobbes, Rousseau, Burke, Marx, Rawls, Schmitt, and Foucault.
|
Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- ULO1: Identify arguments for and against the need to consent to the exercise of political power.
- ULO2: Understand key concepts which are deployed in the debate on political legitimacy
- ULO3: Apply concepts to the analysis of political phenomena
- ULO4: Read and critically interpret some classic and contemporary political texts
General Assessment Information
Late Assessment Submission Penalty
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – 10 marks out of 100 credit will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted seven days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Literature review | 20% | No | 23:59 27/08/2021 |
| Essay | 40% | No | 23:59 22/10/2021 |
| Class and online test | 40% | No | 23:59 5/11/2021 |
Literature review
Assessment Type 1: Literature review
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: 23:59 27/08/2021
Weighting: 20%
Short paper based on one or more of the unit readings
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Identify arguments for and against the need to consent to the exercise of political power.
- Understand key concepts which are deployed in the debate on political legitimacy
- Read and critically interpret some classic and contemporary political texts
Essay
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 23:59 22/10/2021
Weighting: 40%
2500 word essay based on set questions
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Identify arguments for and against the need to consent to the exercise of political power.
- Understand key concepts which are deployed in the debate on political legitimacy
- Apply concepts to the analysis of political phenomena
- Read and critically interpret some classic and contemporary political texts
Class and online test
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 23:59 5/11/2021
Weighting: 40%
2 hour class test in the final lecture of the unit. External students to complete via ilearn.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Identify arguments for and against the need to consent to the exercise of political power.
- Understand key concepts which are deployed in the debate on political legitimacy
- Apply concepts to the analysis of political phenomena
- Read and critically interpret some classic and contemporary political texts
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
Readings will be available through ilearn
Unit Schedule
Unit Schedule
Weekly Topics:
Week 1. Introduction. Power, Legitimacy and the Modern State
Week 2. Before the Modern State: Machiavelli on Power
Week 3. Constructing Leviathan: Thomas Hobbes
Week 4. Constraining Leviathan: John Locke
Week 5. Social Contract versus Tradition: Rousseau and Burke
Week 6. Liberty and Representative Government: J.S. Mill
Week 7. Fairness and an Overlapping Consensus: John Rawls
Week 8. Reading Week.
Week 9. Against the Liberal State 1: Karl Marx
Week 10. Against the Liberal State 2: Carl Schmitt
Week 11. Contesting Patriarchal Legitimacy: Feminism
Week 12. Overturning Sovereign Power: Michel Foucault
Week 13. Class Test
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Unit information based on version 2021.01R of the Handbook