POL440 Concepts in Modern Political Philosophy

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2021
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 8 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Taught online.
Teacher(s)
Mgr. et Mgr. Jiří Baroš, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. Pavel Dufek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Jan Čambora (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Bc. Jana Kokešová, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Patrik Taufar, MA, E.MA, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Ján Tomaštík (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Stanislav Balík, Ph.D.
Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Lucie Pospíšilová
Supplier department: Division of Politology – Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Prerequisites
Ability to read scholarly text in Czech and English; willingness to participate in in-class discussions
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course deals with major problems and political phenomena, as reflected in 20th and 21st century political philosophy. The course is divided into three main parts, structured around basic political concepts which lie at their core. The first part will be devoted to issues related to sovereignty, authority, legitimacy, nationalism or political representation. In the second part will focus on questions of political, social, distributive etc. justice, assessing both liberal positions and those critical of liberalism. The last part will open some issues of international/global political theory. Lectures and in-class discussions are supplemented by two full-fledged debate seminars.
Learning outcomes
Upon completing the course, students will be able to:
identify the main traditions, arguments, and figures in the 20th and 21st century political philosophy
analyze, compare, and critically assess the main contributions to the most important debates in the field of political philosophy
synthesise particular philosophical positions and independently construct arguments regarding current phenomena such as democracy, human rights, globalization, and global poverty

understand particular philosophical/theoretical positions (or such background of "ordinary politics") and construct arguments applying to contemporary political problems and developments
Syllabus
  • 1. Moral pluralism and deep disagreement in constitutional democracies
  • 2. Basic Issues in Democratic Theory: Democracy, Constitutionalism, and Human Rights
  • I. Democracy as an Open Challenge
  • 3. State and Sovereignty
  • 4. Power, Authority, and Legitimacy
  • 5. Nations, Nationalism, and Multiculturalism
  • 6. Political Representation in Democracy
  • 7. Pluralism, Tolerance, and Diversity
  • II. Justice: From Material Redistribution to Structural Disadvantage
  • 8. Fairnes, Equality, and Redistribution
  • 9. Discussion Seminar I
  • 10. Liberty, Property Rights, and Justice
  • 11. Recognition, Participation, and Structural Injustice
  • III. Other Issues
  • 12. Globalisation, Human Rights, and International Theory
  • 13. Discussion Seminar II
Literature
  • LÁNSKÝ, Ondřej. Je třeba zavrhnout liberalismus? : k jednomu problému modernity. Vydání první. Praha: Filosofia. 217 stran. ISBN 9788070074398. 2015. info
  • HOLZER, Jan, Pavel MOLEK, Jiří BAROŠ, Pavel DUFEK, Michal MOCHŤAK, Ivo POSPÍŠIL, Petr PRECLÍK and Hubert SMEKAL. Demokratizace a lidská práva. Středoevropské pohledy (Democratization and Human Rights. Central European Perspectives). 1st ed. Brno - Praha: MUNI Press - SLON. 266 pp. Studie 105. svazek. ISBN 978-80-7419-159-6. 2013. info
  • TOMASI, John. Free market fairness. Princeton: Princeton University Press. xxvii, 348. ISBN 9780691144467. 2012. info
  • SKINNER, Quentin. O státě. Translated by Jakub Jinek. Vyd. 1. Praha: Oikoymenh. 119 s. ISBN 9788072984466. 2012. info
  • ROSANVALLON, Pierre. Democratic legitimacy : impartiality, reflexivity, proximity. Translated by Arthur Goldhammer. Princeton: Princeton University Press. 235 p. ISBN 9780691149486. 2011. info
  • WILLIAMS, Bernard Arthur Owen. Na počátku byl čin : realismus a moralismus v politické diskusi. Edited by Geoffrey Hawthorn, Translated by Tomáš Hejduk. Červený Kostelec: Pavel Mervart. 278 s. ISBN 9788087378854. 2011. info
  • BARŠA, Pavel. Anarchie a řád ve světové politice. Edited by Ondřej Císař. Vyd. 1. Praha: Portál. 559 s. ISBN 9788073670948. 2008. URL info
  • Sociální kritika v éře globalizace : odstraňování sociálně-ekonomických nerovností a konfliktů. Edited by Marek Hrubec, Translated by Martin Brabec. Vyd. 1. Praha: Filosofia. 479 s. ISBN 9788070072868. 2008. info
  • The Oxford handbook of political theory. Edited by John S. Dryzek - Bonnie Honig - Anne Phillips - Robert E. Goodin. Oxford: Oxford University Press. xiii, 883. ISBN 9780199548439. 2006. info
  • BARŠOVÁ, Andrea and Pavel BARŠA. Přistěhovalectví a liberální stát : imigrační a integrační politiky v USA, západní Evropě a Česku. 1. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita v Brně, Mezinárodní politologický ústav. 308 s. ISBN 8021038756. 2005. info
  • BARŠA, Pavel. Politická teorie multikulturalismu. 2. vyd. Brno: Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury (CDK). 347 s. ISBN 80-7325-020-9. 2003. info
  • RAWLS, John. Justice as fairness : a restatement. Edited by Erin Kelly. Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. xviii, 214. ISBN 0674005112. 2001. info
  • DWORKIN, Ronald M. Sovereign virtue :the theory and practice of equality. 2. ed. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. 511 s. ISBN 0-674-00219-9. 2000. info
  • YOUNG, Iris Marion. Justice and the politics of difference. Princeton: Princeton University Press. viii, 286. ISBN 0691023158. 1990. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, position papers, in-class discussions
Assessment methods
(1) At least three position papers (0–3 points each, maximum 9 points). Position papers (300–600 words each) should consist of three parts: (A) summary of the main arguments of the assigned reading(s); (B) critical assessment of the most interesting, most problematic, most unacceptable etc. argument(s); and (C) sugestions for clarification or further seminar discussion.

(2) In-class activity (0–1 points; maximum 8 points, of which 4 standardly count towards the grade and 4 are a possible bonus)
(3) Debate seminars (3 bonus points for winners and competent refereeing; 2 points for a valiant defence of the losing position)

(4) Final oral exam (0–24 points) based on the content of lectures and assigned readings
OR
Final Essay (ca. 5,500–6,000 words, 0–24 points)
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2002, Spring 2003, Spring 2004, Spring 2005, Spring 2006, Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Autumn 2008, Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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