Description:
| Aims: The unit aims:
* to provide an introduction to major political thinkers of the European tradition;
* to raise the students' awareness of the extent to which contemporary politics in European countries is based on philosophical and moral traditions that reach back for at least two centuries;
* to enable students to contextualise and evaluate contemporary political debates in the light of ongoing debates in political thought and theory.
Learning Outcomes: Students who have successfully completed this unit should:
* have achieved a solid overview of major traditions in European political thought;
* have acquired the ability to see contemporary politics and political debates in the context of European political thinking;
* be able to understand and discuss political issues making use of the conceptual tools provided by political thought and theory.
Skills: Skills in critical analysis, conceptual thinking, precision in the use of written and spoken language, exercise of independent judgement, reasoned argument and the planning/conduct/reporting of non-quantitative research are taught and assessed in this unit. Skills in effective learning are developed in this unit.
Content: The course provides a survey of the major European political thinkers from Niccolo Machiavelli to Antonio Gramsci.
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