Political Theory, Law and Policy (Advanced Study Seminar)

E2022

Global Studies * / International Development Studies * / International Public Administration and Politics * / Politics and Administration * / Public Administration * / Global and Development Studies / Public Administration

Course

English

Sign up for study activities at stads selvbetjening within the announced registration period, as you can see on the Studyadministration homepage. When signing up for study activities, please be aware of potential conflicts between study activities or exam dates.

The planning of activities at Roskilde University is based on the recommended study programs which do not overlap. However, if you choose optional courses and/or study plans that goes beyond the recommended study programs, an overlap of lectures or exam dates may occur depending on which courses you choose.

10

Carina Saxlund Bischoff (carinasb@ruc.dk)

Studieleder for Politik og Forvaltning (pf-sl@ruc.dk)

ISE Studyadministration (ise-studyadministration@ruc.dk)

U60474

A specialisation course aims to allow students to immerse themselves in the theories/theory lines and empirical issues pertaining to a particular subject area. The course equips students to competently select and argue for the applicability and relevance of a theory/theory line to given issues. The courses offered are based on the Institute's research in the field and knowledge of the highest international standard. The specific subject area of the courses will be described in the activity description.

Advanced Study Seminars offers students insight for instance into how international politics impacts governance, how governance impacts politics, and what this means for the ability of international institutions, governments, and other organizations to help address current issues such as climate, environment, security, digitalization, and public health.

"What fundamental political and legal dilemmas do decision-makers and institutions face in modern democracies and welfare states? Although politics has never been more turbulent, and one crisis replaces the next, many of these debates are based on questions that have a long history in political thought and jurisprudence: Can the state effectively curb a pandemic without exceeding fundamental civil rights? Should gender equality be enforced within the private sphere only? What legitimacy does the nation state have if it stands in the way of addressing the climate crisis?

This course develops students’ ability to engage with the normative and legal dimensions of public policy and governance. Drawing on a mix of political and legal theory, and using a number of empirical cases, the course explores the key political and legal issues that arise in meeting contemporary challenges, how different priorities and values might be justified, and how this influences decision making. The aim is to develop academic skills in the reading of political and legal texts and the relating of those texts too ethical and political problems. In doing so, the course seeks to equip students with the ability to carry out normative analyses of concrete cases and to articulate, support and defend positions that draw on and deploy appropriate evidence, enabling them to make a qualified contribution to debates surrounding contemporary political and legal questions.

In the first part of the course, we will examine some of the key theories of politics and justice: such as the liberalism, communitarianism, cultural pluralism, theories of authority and legitimacy, Marxism, feminism, nationalism and cosmopolitanism. This is done to understand their basic assumptions, values, objectives and forms of argumentation, as well as to understand the interrelationship between political theory and regimes of law and governance. In the second part of the course, we will examine the operation of these theories through an analysis of current case studies. The three main cases we will explore are policy responses to 1) the corona pandemic, 2) multiculturalism (group identity and discrimination) in the nation state, and 3) gender and equality policies. However, we will refer also to cases such as surveillance, climate change, nudging in public policy, economic equality, democracy and citizenship. In exploring such cases students will be required to address the practicalities involved, how the normative values involved can be used to guide policy decision-making and practice, building skills in analytical argument by exploring these issues "

See Moodle

"The total workload is approximately 270 hours.

This can be divided into the following activities: - 26 hours lectures (13 x 2 lectures). - 26 hours on student presentations + peer feedback exercises. - 60 hours for course assignments (portfolio). - 108 hours on weakly reading of curriculum texts (on average 8 hours reading per week). - 50 hours for preparation of the exam (including the oral exam itself)."

Campus

The activity are evaluated regularly regarding the study board evaluation procedure. The activity responsible will be orientated about a potential evaluation of the activity at semesterstart. Se link to the study board evaluation praxis here https://intra.ruc.dk/nc/for-ansatte/organisering/raad-naevn-og-udvalg/oversigt-over-studienaevn/studienaevn-for-samfundsstudier/arbejdet-med-kvalitet-i-uddannelserne”

See Moodle

• Be able to explain and evaluate, using relevant terminology, the advantages and disadvantages of various theories/theory lines within the aspect of a subject area that is dealt with in the specialisation course

• Be able to confidently and independently evaluate, select and apply relevant theories in relation to an issue

• Be able to reflect critically on the relevance of the topic to the subject matter of the course

• Carry out analyses on a scientific basis and deal in a creative and solution-oriented manner with central issues within the course theme

• Communicate knowledge in language that is technically precise, well-structured and well-argued.

Individual oral exam based on a portfolio.

The character limit of the portfolio is maximum 24,000 characters, including spaces. Examples of written products are exercise responses, talking points for presentations, written feedback, reflections, written assignments. The preparation of the products may be subject to time limits.
The character limits include the cover, table of contents, bibliography, figures and other illustrations, but exclude any appendices.

Time allowed for exam including time used for assessment: 25 minutes.
The assessment is an overall assessment of the written product(s) and the subsequent oral examination.

Permitted support and preparation materials for the oral exam: Course material and own notes.

Assessment: 7-point grading scale.
Moderation: Internal co-assessor

Samme som ordinær eksamen / same form as ordinary exam

"To develop academic skills in the reading of political and legal texts and the relating of those texts too ethical and political problems.

Be able to identify relevant sources of law at national and international levels pertinent to a particular policy area/case.

Be able to outline legal constraints on policy in relation to a particular case

Understand the basic assumptions and values the political theories covered in the course rest on, and be able to discuss their strengths and weaknesses

Based on relevant political theories, be able to discuss the normative pros and cons of policies that address issues covered in the course "