Face-to-face , first term, 30 hours of theory.

First term
Thursday from 17:15 to 19:15 at 119 Marais 1100

French

This is an introductory course. Its aim is to introduce the students to the understanding of contemporary political phenomenon through an analytical framework based on a few fundamental concepts and typologies as well as a few canonical theories.

By the end of this class, students shall be able to skillfully use that analytical framework. For their exam (see Assessment methods below) they will indeed be asked to apply proper and relevant concepts studied during the course to previously unexamined political phenomenon.

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The course is cut in four parts, each one corresponding to a classical concept of political science; that is politics, power, state, and democracy. In our analysis of each concept, we will attempt to show, first, what makes the peculiarity of political phenomenon in contrast with other social phenomenon and, second, what makes the peculiarity of Western and contemporary political phenomenon in contrast with political phenomenon developing in other geopolitical or historical contexts.

The course will also aim to further assess the content of classical notions in political science such as civil society, international organization, political party, interest group, citizen, nation, federalism, etc. It will also allow us to approach a few well established contemporary theories of political science, such as Bobbio's distinction between left and right, Weber's theory regarding domination, Rokkan and Lipset's work on cleavages or Lijphart's description of consociativism.

Last but not least, the course will intend to spark critical thinking regarding a few major contemporary issues : on the role of worldviews in initiating political action, on the tension between popular will and reason in Western political regimes, on the quirks of the Belgian political system and its future…

Throughout the course, numerous examples drawn from current political news will help illustrate our theoretical developments.

Description of the ex-cathedra course :

Though this is an ex-cathedra course, given moreover in front of a large audience, its goal is to be as interactive as possible.

During the lectures, within our available time, students that wish to ask clarificatory questions or wish to share their opinion are encouraged to do so.

The course's content is to be found in a reference textbook: Th. BALZACQ et al., Fondements de science politique, Bruxelles, De Boeck, 2014. The relevant pages of this textbook are listed in a file named « Documents » available on the course's webpage in Moodle.


Description of the active learning task :

Two different types of involvement are expected from the students.

First, students are compelled to respond each week to two short questions regarding the theoretical elements studied during the week's lecture. After they have responded to those questions, they will receive through the Moodle page the correct answers to their test and shall be able to proceed to a self-assessment of their own knowledge of the course's content.

Second, students will be encouraged to engage with other students and with the teacher-assistant on the course's forum.

It is a written exam. It lasts for two hours. It is made of four questions, each graded on 5 points for a total of 20 points. Each question will relate to one of the four parts of the course. Students will have to apply the proper and relevant scientific concept to a case that has not yet been scrutinized or studied. Those cases will be based on press articles. It will include all the factual elements required to respond to the question.

Except for the textbook mentioned above, no further reading is required.