History of the Political Thought and Theories II

Presentation

The curricular unit of HITP II belongs to the scientific area of ¿¿Political Science and is very pertinent because it deals with problems that are part of the current questioning. Thus, it allows to understand the formation of the State and its evolution until the current situation of crisis concerning the National State. It also allows us to perceive the several ideas that aim at solving the great social problems which have emerged after the industrial revolution and it explains the contribution of various scholars to the creation of a way of thinking.

Part of this Programme

Political Science and International Relations

Level of Qualification|Semesters|ECTS

| Semestral | 6

Year | Type of course unit | Language

1 |Mandatory |Português

Code

ULHT11-7446

Recommended complementary curricular units

This curricular unit must be preceded by the curricular unit of History of Ideas and Political Theories I, since it is its chronological and logical sequence.

Prerequisites and co-requisites

n/a

Professional Internship

Não

Syllabus

Modern Age: Renaissance

Renaissance Mentality

Machiavelli: analysis of The Prince

Birth of the modern State

Power without ethics

Protestant Reformation

Historical background of the Protestant movement

Luther's reinforcement of civil power

Reformation in England: the struggles between Christians and Anglicans.

The New State

Origins of Power

divine origin

popular origin

Contractual foundations of the strong State: The Leviathan of Hobbes.

Limits to the action of the State: the tolerance of Locke.

Enlightenment

Enlightenment Ideas

Montesquieu's powers tripartition

Rousseau's social contract

Revolutionary Political Thinking

Marxist Theories of Revolution

Marx and Engels

Mao Tse-Tung

Social Doctrine of the Catolic Church

Initial pillars

Rerum Novarum and Pacem in Terris

Fourth pillar

Theories of Civil Disobedience and Nonviolent Resistance

Thoreau

Gandhi

Luther King

Mandela

Ideas and Political Theories in the 21st Century.

Objectives

Objectives: To become aware of the pertinence of the History of Ideas in the inventory of the constitutive elements of the matrix of Western political thought; understand the conceptual transformations of political ideas until they become contemporary political theory; understand the origin of Power and the origin and nature of the State according to the main scholars.

Knowledge, skills and competences: Students should understand how ideas can be changed into ideologies, doctrines and theories and know the main authors and the ideas, theories and books which are essential in the constitution of Western political thought. Regarding skills, the students should develop the capacity for argumenting and developing critical spirit. They should also be able to analyze theoretical corpus and acquire cognitive and procedural skills allowing them, in the later stages of their formation, the elaboration of papers with the necessary scientific quality

Teaching methodologies and assessment

The curricular unit adopts the methodology underlying the Social Sciences, that is, a theoretical-analytical methodology. As there is no separation between theoretical and practical lessons, it mixes the direct methodology - using the expository and interrogative means -, with the analysis of theoretical excerpts followed by debate and with the individual production of small essays.

Evaluation Rules: It includes two modalities in alternative: continuous evaluation or evaluation through examination.

Continuous evaluation requires attendance at three-quarters of lessons, participation and small essays - analytical tests.

Weighting value.

10% - The regime of participation

40% - test with consulting about The Republic.

50% - Test about all the other issues. 

The final exam will consist of a written test with six open-ended questions, with students choosing to answer only four questions.

References

Rousseau. J.J. (1973). Contrato social. Lisboa: Presença

Office Hours

Comments

A programação de atividades está sujeita a alterações tendo em conta as caraterísticas da turma. Além disso, é possível que alguns tempos letivos venham a ser utilizados para a presença em eventos de caráter científico cujas temáticas façam parte dos conteúdos da unidade curricular.