Political Science I

Political Science is the scholarly study of politics. Political Science focuses primarily on power and power relations in different forms and contexts, from state operations to social movements, and from local policy to international relations. The main purpose of Political Science I is to examine the concept of politics in different ways. The first module treats politics in terms of theory and ideology (political ideas); the second module focuses on politics in an institutional perspective (politics in relation to the institutional frameworks that we have created, such as the parliament, the government, municipalities, and the administration); the third module examines politics as it emerges among people in a broad sense (political participation); and the course ends with the fourth module which studies politics in interstate and supranational contexts (international politics). Political Science I comprises four modules covering different political science perspectives and research areas. The course contains the following modules: Module 1: Political Ideas This course gives an introduction to political thinking in a historical perspective, from antiquity to our time. Influential theories of the state, freedom, justice, gender, and cultural diversity are analysed and contrasted, alongside political ideologies such as liberalism, conservatism, socialism, feminism, and environmentalism. The aim of the course is that students acquire basic knowledge and understanding of the development of political ideas in the Western world, and develop competence and skills in analysing and contrasting political and theoretical arguments and ideological positions. The methodology component includes basic practice in such analysis. Module 2: Political Institutions The course starts out from a concept of politics related to the various functions of political institutions in different forms of governance. There is a focus on the constitutional structure of institutions and related processes at the local, regional, and national levels, primarily in Sweden but also in comparison to other countries. Fundamental political science concepts are introduced, discussed, and compared to promote understanding of the significance, function, and structure of political institutions in different political systems, where means of governance and control, the institutions of state agencies, and political parties are highlighted as central components. The methodological course elements include elementary practice in political analysis, for example policy analysis and comparative analysis. Module 3: Political Participation The module takes a broad conception of politics as its point of departure and include studies of other forms and aspects of politics than the purely institutional. The political forms are treated both from factual and normative perspectives, as well as the appearance of these forms and the values that can be ascribed to them. Political aspects are used in order to perceive and understand politics from various perspectives, such as participation, deliberation, gender, governance, and power. The methodological components include basic training in political analysis, such as political behavior and discursive approaches. Module 4: International Politics The module gives an introduction to central concepts and theories in the study of international politics. Specific themes covered in the course include the growth and development of the modern international system; conflict and collaboration in a theoretical perspective; the position of international rights in an international system without a central authority; the structure and role of international organisations; international political economy and globalisation in a development perspective; regionalism and the EU; and tendencies of change in contemporary international politics in terms of power. The methodological components include basic training in analysis of issues related to international politics and Swedish foreign policy and security policy using relevant theories and concepts.