Course Information
Spring Semester 2009
Course Description
This semester the World Thinkers course is concerned with political writers. There are two approaches: (1) Modern politics. There will be readings and discussions on such issues as the United Nations, terrorism, Israel-Palestine, globalization, the ‘Clash of Civilizations’, etc. (2) The history of political theory, focusing on five authors (Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Rousseau, and Marx).
Objectives
One objective of the study of modern politics is to prepare students who may wish to work in international organizations. The objective of our readings in political theory is to provide an introduction to theorizing about politics.
Requirements
The minimum requirement is to gain a good knowledge of the chapters on Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Rousseau, and Marx in the introductory book, Plato to Nato: Studies in Political Thought, ed. Brian Redhead (Penguin, 1984).
Students must read other works on these authors, and be prepared to answer questions based on the issues raised in the introductory book.
Set Book
Plato to Nato: Studies in Political Thought, ed. Brian Redhead (Penguin, 1984). Chapters 1, 2, 5, 9, 12. This book is available in Turkish as Siyasal Düşünçenin Temelleri (Alfa,
Grading
Final Exam 100%
Lecture Timetable
|
Room 404-B |
Tuesday, |
|
Room 405-B |
Thursday, |
Instructor
|
Dr. Peter Starr |
Office: 126-A |
Required Text and Materials
Plato to Nato: Studies in Political Thought, ed. Brian Redhead (Penguin, 1984). Chapters 1, 2, 5, 9, 12. This book is available in Turkish as Siyasal Düşünçenin Temelleri (Alfa,
As far as possible, students should read other works on these authors.
Hand-outs are provided before the lectures.
Weekly Course Plan
|
Week |
Date |
Lectures |
|
Week 1 |
17 Feb 19 Feb |
Beginnings, The Origin of Species and social Darwinism. Beginnings, Plato. Huntingdon, The Clash of Civilizations. |
|
Week 2 |
24 Feb 26 Feb |
Kierkegaard, Unscientific Postscript. Locke, Human Understanding II. Huntingdon on Turkey. |
|
Week 3 |
3 March 5 March |
Aristotle, Politics. Katharina von Knop on terrorist funding. Martin van Creveld. |
|
Week 4 |
10 March 12 March |
Montaigne, “On the Force of the Imagination”. Al Gore on the environment. Balfour, Sharif Husain and the twice-promised land. |
|
Week 5 |
17 March 19 March |
Şerif Mardin on Islam and Turkey. Raymond Aron’s critique of the ‘Realists’. Grotius, The Rights of War and Peace. |
|
Week 6 |
24 March 26 March |
Leila Bokhari on women bombers. Juergensmeyer on Egypt. Hobbes, Leviathan. |
|
Week 7 |
31 March 2 April |
Bassam Tibi. Karl Marx, Capital. Juergen Habermas, “And the Wheels Stopped Turning”. |
|
Week 8 |
7 April 9 April |
Plato, Republic. Plato, Republic. Jonathan Sacks, The Home We Build Together. |
|
Week 9 |
14 April 16 April |
John Stuart Mill, On Liberty. Elinor Mills in “The Sunday Times”, 22 April 2007. Aristotle, Politics. |
|
Week 10 |
21 April 23 April |
The UN and Iran. Israel-Palestine. Children’s Day (holiday). |
|
Week 11 |
28 April 30 April |
Rousseau. Rousseau. The EU and Turkey. |
|
Week 12 |
5 May 7 May |
Mock exam. Mock exam. Marx. |
|
Week 13 |
12 May 14 May |
Machiavelli. Machiavelli. Energy crisis. |
|
Week 14 |
19 May 21 May |
Youth Day (holiday). Preparation for the exam. |
Course Evaluation
Based on performance in the final exam.
Exams
The mock exam asks the candidates to write two essays from essay questions relating to the political ideas of Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Rousseau and Marx. Time allowed: 2 hours.
The final exam will be similar to the mock exam.
Last updated:
Url:http://ell402.cankaya.edu.tr