Students
POIR310 – Political Ideology and Crisis
2018 – S1 Day
General Information
Download as PDF
| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Ian Tregenza
Marc Stears
Margaret Sampson
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
3
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
39cp at 100 level or above or (6cp in HIST or MHIS or POL or POIR units at 200 level including 3cp in POL or POIR units)
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit will explore the concept of ideology as well as the development of particular ideologies from the French Revolution to the recent resurgence of populism. It will examine whether the nature of modern society makes it particularly prone to ideological forms of politics. Central to the analysis is the category of crisis, whether in the form of revolution, war, economic depression, or social dislocation. Key moments in the development of political ideologies will be explored in an endeavour to explain how and why they changed. The aim will be not merely to understand these ideas in the abstract, but to consider them in relation to concrete historical circumstances, as both a reflection and generator of social and political change.
The unit will cover classic theorists of ideology including Marx, Gramsci and Arendt as well as contemporary analysts such as Clifford Geertz, Theda Skocpol, Terry Eagleton and Michael Freeden. Both well worn ideological traditions including liberalism, conservatism, and socialism will be explored as well as new ideological forms such as ecologism, fundamentalism, and populism.
|
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:
- 1. Analyse and express informed judgements about political ideologies
- 2. Critically interpret classic and contemporary texts on ideology
- 3. Differentiate between and critically evaluate political ideologies and analyse the relationship between political ideas, political ideologies, and political action
- 4. Integrate and synthesize a range of theoretical literature by giving an account of the history and relationship of key political ideas and ideologies.
- 5. Use discipline specific terminology to communicate concepts and ideas relevant to this unit.
General Assessment Information
Late Submission Penalty
“Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.”
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Book and/or article reviews | 50% | No | various |
| Essay | 50% | No | Friday week 13 |
Book and/or article reviews
Due: various
Weighting: 50%
Five article and/or book reviews of 500 words each submitted throughout the semester. Reviews to be accompanied by class presentations. Further instructions including due dates to follow.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- 1. Analyse and express informed judgements about political ideologies
- 2. Critically interpret classic and contemporary texts on ideology
- 3. Differentiate between and critically evaluate political ideologies and analyse the relationship between political ideas, political ideologies, and political action
- 4. Integrate and synthesize a range of theoretical literature by giving an account of the history and relationship of key political ideas and ideologies.
- 5. Use discipline specific terminology to communicate concepts and ideas relevant to this unit.
Essay
Due: Friday week 13
Weighting: 50%
Instructions and questions to follow to be supplied in class.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- 1. Analyse and express informed judgements about political ideologies
- 2. Critically interpret classic and contemporary texts on ideology
- 3. Differentiate between and critically evaluate political ideologies and analyse the relationship between political ideas, political ideologies, and political action
- 4. Integrate and synthesize a range of theoretical literature by giving an account of the history and relationship of key political ideas and ideologies.
- 5. Use discipline specific terminology to communicate concepts and ideas relevant to this unit.
Delivery and Resources
Weekly readings available through the library.
The following sources will be particularly useful for this unit:
Michael Freeden, Lyman Tower Sargent, and Marc Stears (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Political Ideologies (Oxford, 2013). Available in reserve.
Mathew Festenstein and Michael Kenny (eds.) Political Ideologies: A Reader and Guide (Oxford, 2005). The library has multiple copies.
The Journal of Political Ideologies (available electronically through the library)
Unit Schedule
POIR310. Political Ideology and Crisis
Schedule and Readings
Week 1. 26 February
Approaches to Ideology: what is an ideology?
Readings:
M. Feeden, ‘Ideologies and Political Theory’, Journal of Political Ideologies, vol. 11, no. 1, 2006, 3-22
B. Strath, ‘Ideology and Conceptual History’, Oxford Handbook of Political Ideologies, Feeden, Tower Sargent, and Stears (ed.) (Oxford, 2013)
D. Leopold, ‘Marxism and Ideology: From Marx to Althusser’, Oxford Handbook of Political Ideologies
Week 2. 5 March
Approaches to Ideology: what is it to be an ideologist?
C. Berry and M. Kenny, ‘Ideology and the Intellectuals’, Oxford Handbook of Political Ideologies
K. Marx and F. Engels, ‘The German Ideology’, excerpt in M. Festenstein and M. Kenny, Political Ideologies: A Reader and Guide (Oxford, 2005)
A. Gramsci, `The Formation of Intellectuals’, in The Modern Prince and Other Writings (Intl, 1959).
Week 3. 12 March
Liberalism: was there a Classical Liberalism?
M. Freeden and M. Stears, ‘Liberalism’ in Oxford Handbook of Political Ideologies
B. Constant, ‘Liberty of the Ancients Compared with that of the Moderns’ reprinted in Constant: Political Writings (Cambridge, 1988).
J.S. Mill, On Liberty, many editions.
H. Spencer, Man versus the State reprinted in Spencer: Political Writings (Cambridge, 1994).
E. M. Forster, “Two Cheers for Democracy” reprinted in E. M. Forster, Two Cheers for Democracy (Penguin, 1970).
Week 4. 19 March
Liberalism: was there a Reform Liberalism?
M. Freeden and M. Stears, ‘Liberalism’ in Oxford Handbook of Political Ideologies
T.H. Green, ‘Liberal Legislation and Freedom of Contract’ reprinted in D. Miller, Liberty (Oxford, 1991).
D. Boucher, “Introduction” to The British Idealists (Cambridge, 1997).
L.T. Hobhouse, Liberalism (London, 1911; reprinted Cambridge, 1994)
M. Freeden, The New Liberalism (Oxford, 1978).
M. Freeden, ‘European Liberalisms: An Essay in Comparative Political Thought’, European Journal of Political Theory, 7 (2008), 9-30, and other articles in this issue.
R. Abbey, ‘Is Liberalism Now an Essentially Contested Concept?’, New Political Science, vol.27, no.4, 2005, 461-480
Week 5. 26 March
Conservatism: is there a conservative tradition?
N. O’Sullivan, ‘Conservatism’, in Oxford Handbook of Political Ideologies
E. Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France, excerpt M. Festenstein and M. Kenny, Political Ideologies: A Reader and Guide (Oxford, 2005)
J. de Maistre, Considerations on France excerpt M. Festenstein and M. Kenny, Political Ideologies: A Reader and Guide (Oxford, 2005)
M. Oakeshott, ‘On Being Conservative’, Rationalism in Politics and other essays (Liberty Press, 1991)
F. Hayek, ‘Why I’m not a Conservative’, in The Constitution of Liberty (Chicago, 1960)
R. Scruton, Conservatism (Profile, 2017).
Week 6. 2 April
Socialism and Social Democracy: from Marx to Labor?
B. Jackson, “Socialism and the New Liberalism” in B. Jackson and M. Stears, Liberalism as Ideology (Oxford, 2011).
A. Wright, Socialisms (Opus, 2006).
G. Orwell, “The Lion and the Unicorn: Socialism and the English Genius” reprinted in G. Orwell, Why I Write (Penguin, 2004).
B. Jackson, ‘Social Democracy’, in Oxford Handbook of Political Ideologies
Week 7. 9 April
Nationalism
A. Vincent, ‘Nationalism’ in Oxford Handbook of Political Ideologies
M. Freeden, ‘Is Nationalism a Distinct Ideology?’, Political Studies, 46 (1998), 748-65 (reprinted in Freeden, Liberal Languages)
B. Anderson, Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism (Verso, 1983)
A.D. Smith, Nationalism: Theory, Ideology, History (Polity, 2001)
D. Miller, On Nationality (Oxford, 1995).
16 April – 27 April
Semester Break
Week 8. 30 April
Reading Week
Week 9. 7 May
Totalitarianism and ideology
E. Gentile, ‘Total and Totalitarian Ideologies’, in Oxford Handbook of Political Ideologies
H. Arendt, ‘Ideology and Terror: A Novel Form of Government’, Review of Politics, 1953
S. Zizek, Did Somebody Say Totalitarianism? (Verso, 2001)
S. Wolin, Democracy Incorporated (Princeton, 2001).
Week 10. 14 May
After the Cold War: the end or resurgence of ideology?
H. Brick, ‘The End of Ideology Thesis’, in Oxford Handbook of Political Ideologies
M. Steger, ‘Political Ideologies in the Age of Globalization’, in Oxford Handbook of Political Ideologies
F. Fukuyama, The End of History and the Last Man (Free Press, 1992)
A. Shtromas (ed.) The End of ‘Isms’?: Reflections on the Fate of Ideological Politics after Communism’s Collapse (Blackwell, 1994)
M. Feeden, Reassessing Political Ideologies: The Durability of Dissent (Routledge, 2001)
J. Gray, Endgames: Questions in Late Modern Political Thought (Blackwell, 1997)
Week 11. 21 May
Religious Fundamentalism
A. Shupe, ‘Religious Fundamentalism’, The Oxford Handbook of the Sociology of Religion, Peter B. Clarke (ed.)
P. Herriot, Religious fundamentalism and social identity (Routledge, 2007)
David Harrington Watt, Antifundamentalism in Modern America (Cornell, 2017) Preface
A. Sen, Violence and Identity (Penguin, 2007).
Week 12. 28 May
Populism and anti-elitism: a new surge for an old tradition?
J. W. Muller, What is Populism? (Penn, 2017).
C. Mudde and C. Rovira Kaltwasser, ‘Populism’, Oxford Handbook of Political Ideologies
C. Mudde and C. Rovira Kaltwasser, Populism: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford, 2017)
L. March, ‘Left and right populism compared: The British case’, The British Journal of Politics and International Relations, Volume: 19 issue: 2, 282-303
M. Sharpe, ‘The long game of the European New Right’, The Conversation
Week 13. 4 June
Ideology today
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). 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 (Note: The Special Consideration Policy is effective from 4 December 2017 and replaces the Disruption to Studies Policy.)
Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct
Results
Results shown in iLearn, 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.
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 improve your marks and take control of your study.
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
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.
Graduate Capabilities
Creative and Innovative
Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- 2. Critically interpret classic and contemporary texts on ideology
- 3. Differentiate between and critically evaluate political ideologies and analyse the relationship between political ideas, political ideologies, and political action
- 4. Integrate and synthesize a range of theoretical literature by giving an account of the history and relationship of key political ideas and ideologies.
Assessment tasks
- Book and/or article reviews
- Essay
Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative
We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- 1. Analyse and express informed judgements about political ideologies
- 3. Differentiate between and critically evaluate political ideologies and analyse the relationship between political ideas, political ideologies, and political action
- 4. Integrate and synthesize a range of theoretical literature by giving an account of the history and relationship of key political ideas and ideologies.
Assessment tasks
- Book and/or article reviews
- Essay
Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills
Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- 1. Analyse and express informed judgements about political ideologies
- 2. Critically interpret classic and contemporary texts on ideology
- 3. Differentiate between and critically evaluate political ideologies and analyse the relationship between political ideas, political ideologies, and political action
- 4. Integrate and synthesize a range of theoretical literature by giving an account of the history and relationship of key political ideas and ideologies.
- 5. Use discipline specific terminology to communicate concepts and ideas relevant to this unit.
Assessment tasks
- Book and/or article reviews
- Essay
Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking
We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- 1. Analyse and express informed judgements about political ideologies
- 2. Critically interpret classic and contemporary texts on ideology
- 3. Differentiate between and critically evaluate political ideologies and analyse the relationship between political ideas, political ideologies, and political action
- 4. Integrate and synthesize a range of theoretical literature by giving an account of the history and relationship of key political ideas and ideologies.
- 5. Use discipline specific terminology to communicate concepts and ideas relevant to this unit.
Assessment tasks
- Book and/or article reviews
- Essay
Problem Solving and Research Capability
Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- 2. Critically interpret classic and contemporary texts on ideology
- 3. Differentiate between and critically evaluate political ideologies and analyse the relationship between political ideas, political ideologies, and political action
- 4. Integrate and synthesize a range of theoretical literature by giving an account of the history and relationship of key political ideas and ideologies.
- 5. Use discipline specific terminology to communicate concepts and ideas relevant to this unit.
Assessment tasks
- Book and/or article reviews
- Essay
Effective Communication
We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- 1. Analyse and express informed judgements about political ideologies
- 2. Critically interpret classic and contemporary texts on ideology
- 3. Differentiate between and critically evaluate political ideologies and analyse the relationship between political ideas, political ideologies, and political action
- 4. Integrate and synthesize a range of theoretical literature by giving an account of the history and relationship of key political ideas and ideologies.
- 5. Use discipline specific terminology to communicate concepts and ideas relevant to this unit.
Assessment tasks
- Book and/or article reviews
- Essay
Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens
As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- 1. Analyse and express informed judgements about political ideologies
- 2. Critically interpret classic and contemporary texts on ideology
Assessment tasks
- Book and/or article reviews
- Essay