6 ECTS credits
157 h study time
Offer 2 with catalog number 1005391BER for all students in the 1st semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.
In this course we approach contemporary political theory from the perspective of 'political ideology'.
We discuss the history, the key concepts and evolution of the most important contemporary ideological systems.
We generate insights into the role and function of ideology in politics, the evolution of the concept of 'ideology', the character of ideologies, and the changing ideological playing field.
The course starts with an introductory class on the concept of ideology.
Following that, we discuss three traditional ideological families: liberalism, conservatism and socialism. We elaborate on the work of key philosophers that have shaped these ideological systems, such as Burke (conservatism), Marx (socialism), en Smith, Mill, Rawls en Nozick (liberalism).
Next, we look into less traditional ideologies, such as anarchism, feminism, ecologism, religious fundamentalism, and multiculturalism.
The course concludes with a discussion of Francis Fukuyama' thesis that we are currently experiencing the "end of ideology".
We discuss whether we are witnessing the end of ideology or, rather, the birth of new ideological juxtapositions.
The VUB regularly organises extra-curricular lectures on political thought. Many of these lectures may be of interest to the students of this course. Depending on the schedule of lectures at the VUB, students will be asked to attend a couple of lectures. These lectures hence are an integral part of the course material. Students will be informed on these guest lectures via the students' platform Canvas. Additional study material will also be made available via Canvas.
Besides the course book of Andrew Heywood (2017, Political Ideologies), the required material of this course also consists of the power point slides and possible additional literature on ideology (academic literature, media articles).
These additional study materials will be made accessible online via Canvas.
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 100% of the final mark.
Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
A written exam on topics dealt with in class and on the selected texts.More information about the exam will also be made avaible via Canvas.
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Adult Education: Profile Cultural Studies (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Adult Education: Abridged Profile Cultural Studies (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Philosophy and Moral Sciences: default (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of History: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Business Economics: Minor Political Science (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Political Science and Sociology: - afstudeerrichting politieke wetenschappen (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Political Science and Sociology: - afstudeerrichting sociologie, minor politieke wetenschappen (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Adult Education: Profile Cultural Studies (only offered in Dutch)
Bridging Programme Master of Science in Political Science: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Bridging Programme Master of Science in Political Science: Standaard traject (ws) (only offered in Dutch)
Preparatory Programme Master of Science in Political Science: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)