Syllabus, valid from 2016-08-29

Title

Political Science: Visions of Global Politics

Swedish title

Statsvetenskap: Visioner om global politik

Course code

ST610L

Credits

7.5 credits

Grading scale

UA / Excellent (A), Very Good (B), Good (C), Satisfactory (D), Pass (E) or Fail (U)

Language of instruction

English

Decision-making body

Faculty of Culture and Society

Syllabus approval date

2016-06-07

Syllabus valid from

2016-08-29

Level

Advanced level

Entry requirements

A Bachelor’s Degree within a social science field, e.g., Political Science, Peace and Conflict Studies, International Relations, Human Rights or a related major field. English B

Main field

Political Science

Progression level

A1N

Progression level in relation to degree requirements

The course is part of the main field of study Political Science at the advanced level and meets the degree requirements for the degree of Master, main field of study Political Science.

Course objectives

The purpose of this course is to provide students with a good understanding of key concepts for and approaches to the study of global politics. A complimentary purpose is to introduce the students to the thematic focus and structure of the programme as a whole.

Course contents

What is the meaning of ”global” and how has it changed throughout history? How do scholars working in the social sciences approach the subject of global politics in general and the phenomenon of globalization in particular?

This course addresses these questions by (1) introducing students to global studies as a multi- and crossdiscipliary field; (2) unpacking the historically and culturally conditioned world views that influence ways of conceptualizing issues pertaining to globalization; and (3 )outlining how the themes of the programme as a whole are connected and how these themes can provide a critical and fresh understanding of what ”global politics” can mean and how it intresects with societal change on different unit levels. analyzing key developments and concepts.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

On completion of the course the student shall demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

key works and authors working within global studies as a field of academic inquiry and an understanding of the implications of different visions of ”the global” for contemporary political, cultural and social concerns;
critical approaches to the study of globalization within different social science disciplines.

Skills and abilities

On completion of the course the student shall demonstrate:

an ability to engage with theoretical texts
an ability to extract, formulate, and communicate analytical questions;
skills to communicate, verbally as well orally, complex theories and phenomena.

Judgement and approach

On completion of the course the student shall demonstrate a capacity to:

adopt a reflective approach to theoretically complex issues in global studies; and
reflect on how concepts and worldviews structure the way in which we understand political issues and situations;
assess the needs for further knowledge.

Learning activities

The course includes lectures and seminars. The lectures will stay close to the structure of the course literature, in order to ensure a solid understanding of key concepts in and approaches to the study of global politics. The seminars will go deeper into specific parts of the course literature, including key works to which its authors refer, which will be subjected to close reading and discussion.

Assessment

Students will be evaluated through a portfolio consisting of a take-home exam and five small essays connected to specific seminar topics/readings.

Course literature and other study material

O’Byrne, D. J. & Hensby, A. (2011). Theorizing Global Studies. New York, NY: Palgrave.
Steger, M. (2011). Globalisms: The Great Ideological Struggle of the 21st Century. New York, NY: Rowman & Littlefield.
United Nations. (2013). Human Development Report. The Rise of the South. (Available online.)
World Bank. (2015). World Development Report. (Available online.)

Additional texts (max. 200 pp)

Course evaluation

The University provides students who participate in or who have completed a course with the opportunity to make known their experiences and viewpoints with regards to the course by completing a course evaluation administered by the University. The University will compile and summarize the results of course evaluations as well as informing participants of the results and any decisions relating to measures initiated in response to the course evaluations. The results will be made available to the students (HF 1:14).

Interim rules

If a course ceases to be available or has undergone any major changes, the students are to be offered two opportunities to retake the examination during the year following the change for re-examination, based on the syllabus which applied at registration.

Additional information

The language of Instruction is English.