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SchoolofPoliticalScience&Sociology

2BABooklet2019-2020Thisbookletcontains(almost)everythingyou

needtoknow!

PleasereadandkeepsafelyContents

1. Timetable

2. HowSecondYearWorks

3. ChecklistofDates

4. CourseDescriptions

5. Aims&LearningObjectives

6. YourResponsibilities

7. Whoweare

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2BAPROGRAMMETIMETABLE2019-20SEMESTERONE:SPSK3101PoliticsandSociety:ThemesandTopics(Coremodule)ProfessorNiamhReilly(andColleaguesinthesmallgroupseminars)ThisCoremoduleistaughtentirelyinweekly,small-groupseminarclasseswhichcommenceinWeek3ofSemester1.StudentsmustchooseTWOoptions:onemodulefromOption1andonefromOption2:(Option1):SP216.IEuropeanPoliticsDrBrendanFlynnMonday12.00(O’Flaherty);Monday2.00(O’Flaherty)ORSP235SocialIssuesandPolicyResponsesDrBrianMcGrathandColleaguesTuesday12.00(AM250);Wednesday12.00(AM250)(Option2):SP226ComparativeThemesinSociety,Politics&CultureDrKathyPowellTuesday2.00(AM250);Friday12.00(IT125G,GroundFloor)ORSP234InternationalRelationsDr.EilisWardTuesday2.00(D’ArcyThompson);Friday12.00(AM150)SEMESTERTWO:SPSK3102SocietyandPolitics:IdeasandResearch(Coremodule)(ProfessorNiamhReilly)ThisCoremoduleistaughtentirelyinweekly,small-groupseminarclasseswhichcommenceinWeek3ofSemester2.SP220MethodsforSocial&PoliticalScience(Coremodule)Dr.MikeHynesandDrBernadineBradyMonday2.00(O’Flaherty);Tuesday12.00(O’Flaherty)(Option3):YoumustalsoCHOOSEONEofthetwoOptionmodules:SP212ClassicalSocialThoughtProfessorNiamhReillyWednesday12.00(MRA201,RyanInstitute);Friday12.00(D’ArcyThompson)ORSP215.IIModernPoliticalThoughtGerryFitzpatrickWednesday12.00(AM250);Friday12.00(AM250)

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HowSecondYearWorks… In second year, unlike the first year experience with the School of Political Science and Sociology, students can - if they wish - choose to specialise in either more ‘Political’ or more ‘Sociological’ module choices. This innovative ‘Pathway Specialisation’ approach allows students to take advantage of the the breadth and scope of the modules offered by the School, which cover most of the social and the political sciences. For example in Semester I if you prefer ‘the social’ to ‘the political’ side of the School’s programme you could then choose to take SP235 (Social Issues) as Option 1 and SP226 (Comparative Themes) as Option 2; and in Semester II, SP212 (Classical Social Thought) as your Option 3. In contrast, if your interests are more clearly ‘political’ you could then choose SP216.I (European Politics) as Option 1 and SP234 (International Relations) as your Option 2; in Semester II, you would then pick as your Option 3, SP215.II (Modern Political Thought). However, these potential choices are merely indicative and discretionary: one of the School’s strengths lies precisely in the multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary character of its staff and their modular offerings. Students therefore who wish to avoid a ‘Pathway Specialisation’ can of course choose to be more catholic in their choices and pick an individually chosen mixture of both the more ‘social’ and the more ‘political’ modules in their three Options. In other words, in all three Option choices, it is entirely up to you, within the limitiations imposed by necessary and unavoidable number capping restrictions, to choose which module you prefer in each of your three possible Option selections. Therefore, if you have strong preferences , you are advised to register for your preferred ‘Pathway’ as soon as possible. Thus to recap in your second year with the School you shall take three Core modules – SPSK3101, SPSK3102 and SP220 – and three Option choices: 1 Core and 2 Options in Semester I; and 2 Core and 1 Option in Semester II We hope to be able to satisfy the wishes of the vast majority of our students but unfortunately because of capping restrictions, we cannot guarantee that you will be able to enrol in all your preferred Option choices. (Connect students must choose between two possibilities: either to take TWO Options in Semester I and only Cores in Semester II; or ONE Option in Semester I and then also ONE Option in Semester II. Overall as a Connect you shall thus be taking THREE Core and TWO Option modules.) In relation to the seminar-based modules, SPSK3101 and SPSK3102, students shall in Semester I be divided into four separate seminar streams, A, B, C and D regarding which particular combination of module Options they have chosen - as the seminars are designed to amplify and underscore through innovative and participatory teaching the themes being covered in the modular lecture series. In semester II as there are only two possible variations (SP212 or SP215.II), there shall in effect only be two streams.

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(BA2 results are worth 30% of your final degree classification.) Eachsemesteryoutake3modules:1Coreand2OptionsinSemesterI-and2CoreandIOptioninSemesterII.Seethetablebelow.You make your own choice from the available Options in each semester andregister your choice with the Registration Office as part of your general collegeregistration process. If you have any problems with registration, contactreghelp@nuigalway.ie.

ANDYoualsohavetoregisterseparatelywiththeSchoolforaweeklyone-hourseminarthat runsacross theyear. Detailsof theseminars shallbeavailable later in theseparateseminarbooklets.2019-20SemesterModuleScheduleSemesterI SemesterIICORE1:SPSK3101PoliticsandSociety:ThemesandTopics

CORE2:SPSK3102SocietyandPolitics:IdeasandResearchCORE3:SP220MethodsforSocialandPoliticalScience

Pickonefrom:OPTION1:SP216EuropeanPolitics(Pol.)ORSP235SocialIssuesandPolicyResponses(Soc.)AndPickonefromOPTION2:SP226ComparativeThemesinSociety,PoliticsandCulture(Soc.andPol.)ORSP234Internationalrelations(Pol.)

Pickonefrom:OPTION3:SP212ClassicalSocialThought(Soc.)ORSP215.IIModernPoliticalThought(Pol.)

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ChecklistofDates

• Lecturesstart in the firstweekof theSemesterwithan introductoryweekspecial timetable. An Introductory 2BA meeting shall take place in theO’Flaherty theatre onMonday 9th September at 12 noon and also anintroductory lecture on Monday at 2.00 in the O’Flaherty; introductorylecturesshallalsotakeplaceonTuesdaySeptember10that12.00and2.00intheAM250;onWednesdaySeptember11that12.00inAM250fortheCoremoduleSPSK3101;andonFriday13th September12nooninIT125G.(SeemainSchool2BApagewebsiteforfullTimetabledetails)

• Regularlecture-timesareinplacefromMonday16thSeptember.

• SmallgroupSeminarsstarttheweekofTuesdaySeptember24thandendNovember22nd(nineweeks).

ModuleAssessment:Alllecture-basedmodulesareassessedthrough:(a)exam,(70%);(b)awrittenessay(30%).Thetwocoreseminar-basedmodulesareassessedentirelythroughavarietyof coursework and continuous assessmentmethods. You are required to pass allmodules inYear2 inordertoprogress intoYear3andanoverallmarkof40%isrequiredtopasseachmodule.Lecture/SeminarAttendanceYourresponsibilityasastudentistoattendalllecturesandseminars.Lecturesareanintegralpartofthelearningprocess.Theseminarsarespeciallydesignedtodeepenyour learning and knowledge and are also an integral part of the learningprocessHistorians of our School would ascertain at least one fact: students who attendlecturesandseminarsconsistentlyperformbetterthanthosewhodon’t.

SeminarRegistrationThe small-group seminars begin on theweek ofTuesday September 24th andregistration and details of how to register for them will be given at theIntroductorylectureforSPSK3101.PleasenotethatseminarsareanobligatoryCoremodular requirement for all students with the exception of Visiting and Erasmusstudents.

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INSEMESTER2,LECTURESBEGINTHEFIRSTWEEKOFTHESEMESTERonJanuary13thANDSMALL-GROUPSEMINARSBEGINWeek-CommencingJanuary27thuntilWeek-EndingMarch27th.

CURRICULUMANDCOURSEDESCRIPTIONSIn 2nd year you take 3 core, 3 option modules: ONE core and TWO options inSemesterIandTWOcoresandONEoptioninSemesterII.Small-GroupSEMINARSStudents are required to attend the small-group seminars once aweek for nineweeksineachsemester.Youarerequiredtoregisterforaseminargroupusingourregistrationprocess(detailsofhowtoregisterwillbegiveninlecturesduringtheintroductoryweek).WhatisthePurposeoftheSeminars?Theseminarsupportsandextendsthelearninginthemodules.Theformatinvolvessmall numbers of students meeting weekly, to encourage group discussion anddebatearoundselected themesand individualandgroup-workexercises.Theyaredesigned specifically to help you develop your critical thinking and presentationskills.Howdotheywork?Prior to the seminars starting you will be given a Seminar Guide, detailing thediscussion/essay and classwork themes. There will also be READINGs madeavailable electronically (with a selection of extracts from the recommendedliterature foreachmodule)at thebeginningofeachsemester.ThisGuidecontainsevery bit of information you need to know about the seminars. The Readingscontains a set of assigned readings which shape discussion for six weeks of yourseminars and are connected to themodular content of your two chosen lecture-based modules. Each seminar will be as good as you make it. Seminars are NOTlectures:themoreyouputin,themoreyouwillgetout.HowareModulesassessed?Ofthe100%markforeachlecture-basedmodule,theassessmentisbasedon70%fromtheexamand30%fromyouressay.Thetwocoreseminar-basedmodulesaregradedat100%fromthevarioustypesofcontinuousassessment.You are obliged to produce two essays per semester – one for eachlecture-basedmodule. Pleasenoteyour seminar leader ishappy toassist youwith any difficulties you are having in relation to course work and essay writing.NOTE, TOO, ESSAYS MUST BE SUBMITTED VIA TURNITIN (AS IN 1st YEAR). FULLDETAILSRETHISWILLBEFURNISHEDTOYOUVIAE-MAIL.

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Small-GroupSeminar(SPSK3101andSPSK3102)Prerequisites:NoneMin./max. no. of students: The class is split into small groups (10 to 18) forseminarsSeminarTutor:StaffMemberTeachingandlearningmethods:Eachweekvariouscontinuousassesmentexercisesshall be engaged upon and/or readings related to the relevant lecture modulesdiscussed.Methodsofassessment:Theseseminar-basedmodulesareassessedentirelyonthebasisofattendance/participationandvariousContinuousAssessmentexercises.Languagesofinstruction:EnglishCoretexts: Assignedreadingsandexercises.Note:Studentsmayremaininthesameseminargroupforbothsemestersunlessthereisaneedtochangeforoption-choicereasons.MODULEDESCRIPTIONS-SEMESTER1ANDSEMESTER2Belowareshortmoduledescriptions,givingabriefoverviewofmodulecontentsandmethodsofassessment.FullcourseoutlineswillbeavailableontheSchool’swebsite.

ModuleDescriptionsSemester1 COREModule:SPSK3101PoliticsandSociety:ThemesandTopicsThis interdisciplinary, largelyseminar-basedmoduleenablesstudentstoengage in-depthwithkeyideasandthemesthatshapeunderstandingandexperienceofsocialissues and the exercise of power in contemporary societies in a context ofglobalisation. Using a participatory approach that fosters skills development,studentsexaminesomeof today’smajorchallengessuchas tackling inequalities inwealth and poverty within and between countries; safeguarding human rights,especially of those at risk of marginalisation or discrimination (related to age,disability, gender or ethnicity); preventing and ending violent conflict and buildingpeace; responding to refugee crises; respecting diversity and advancing socialinclusion; and protecting the environment and mitigating climate change.Contemporary challenges to democratic government and the role of the state inmeeting the social and economic needs of the people are also examined: forexample, the influence of ‘free market’ ideas on social protection and welfarepolicies;thechangingroleofthenation-state in internationalaffairs;newformsofpopulism;thesocialandpoliticaleffectsofsocialmedia;andthe‘democraticdeficit’ininternationalgovernance(e.g.,EUandUN).Themodulewillbedeliveredmainlyinsmall-group format with group-work activities aimed at building participants’confidence and teamwork and communication skills, which are also essentialworkplace skills. In-class activities, grounded inmodule themesand topics, furtherbuild key skills for learning, including information retrieval, critical analysis, andwrittenandspokenpresentationskills.

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YouchoosefromONEofthefollowingtwomodules:EITHERModule:SP216.IEuropeanPoliticsLecturer:Dr.BrendanFlynn This module explores European politics through a broadly comparativeperspective. It first addresses the strategic developments of the lastdecade and beyond, starting with the end of the cold war in the early 1990s,and the new security frameworks emerging today. We then discuss Europeannationalism, examining this issue in the context of Spain and the collapseof Yugoslavia. This is followed by lectures on the wider significance ofGerman re-unification. In the second part of the course, we will use aregional framework of analysis. Here we will examine the Nordic democracies,the Mediterranean states, the newly established and struggling democraciesof central Europe and the smaller European democracies such as theNetherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, and Austria. Finally in the last sectionof the course we will examine some comparative trends: European electoralbehaviour, Europe's various distinctive styles of governance, and the riseof political extremist movements across Europe in the last few years.Prerequisites:NoneTeachingandlearningmethods:Seriesoflectures.Studentsmusttakepartinthesemester1generalseminarsasdescribedbelow.Methodsofassessmentandexamination:Two-hourwrittenexam(70%).30%ofmarksareawardedforanessaysubmittedinsemester1throughthesmall-groupseminarsasdescribedabove.Languagesofinstruction:EnglishCoretexts:Assignedreadings

ORModule:SP235SocialIssuesandPolicyResponsesLecturers:DrBrianMcGrath&Colleagues.The course will provide participants with the opportunity to examine pressingcontemporarysocialissuesandhowpolicieshaverespondedtothese.This module is structured around four core themes. It begins by examining keyconceptswhichlayafoundationforthinkingaboutsocialissuesinawelfarecontext(Theme 1). It identifies key sociological and political dimensions of such coreconceptsas'need','poverty','socialin/exclusion','inequality',amongothers.Italsoframesthecontextofsocialissuesbyexaminingtheroleofthestate,family,marketandcivilsociety/communitywithinwelfareandpolicy.Havingestablishedaninitialconceptual basis, we then explore a selective range of significant contemporarythemesandpolicyissuesthatfocusonthesubjectsofgender,childrenandfamilies.

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Thethreethemesthatfolloware:gender,equality,rightsandpolicy(Theme2);childprotection, rights and policy (Theme 3); and family, children, social support andpolicy (Theme 4). The policy responses – Irish and International - to the welfareissues explored reflect distinctive yet similar principles and approaches,which areframedinthecontextofsocialwork,equalityandhumanrights,familysupportandcommunitydevelopment.Throughthesethemes/casesthemoduleprovidesarangeof perspectives on some of the pressing public issues of welfare and what thesemeanfortheprovisionofwelfareforcitizensincontemporarytimes.Theobjectivesof thecourseare toaffordparticipants theopportunity tobegin tounderstanddifferentaspectsofpolicydesignwiththesocialandpoliticalproblemstheyareintendedtosolve.Thecoursewillfocusonusingcriticalthinkingskillsandtheoretical knowledge to attempt to make sense of the opportunities andexperiencesofmarginalizedgroupslivinginacomplexandrapidlychangingIreland.Reading:Corereadingsforeachweekwillbeidentifiedandadditionalreadingswillbelisted.Prerequisites:NoneTeachingandlearningmethods:Seriesoflectures.Methodsofassessmentandexamination:Two-hourwrittenexam(70%).30%ofmarksareawardedforanessaysubmittedinsemester1throughthesmall-groupseminarsasdescribedabove.Languagesofinstruction:EnglishCoretexts: Assignedreadingsforeachweek.YoualsochooseONEofthefollowingtwomodules.

EITHERModule: SP226 Comparative Themes in Society, Politics and Culture Lecturer. Dr. Kathy Powell Thismoduleinvolvesthestudyofselectedissuesinsocial,politicalandculturalfieldsfromacomparativeperspective,usingcasestudymaterialsfromvariousregionsoftheworld, with an emphasis on Latin America. The contextual framework for thecourse istheglobalemergenceofneoliberalismasadominantmodeloverthe last30years.Wewillconsiderissuesrelatingtoacoupleofthemajorcharacteristicsofthisperiod:firstly,highandincreasinglevelsofinequality,bothwithinandbetweenregionsoftheworld,andsecondly,theglobalspreadofdemocratization.Inequalitiesareevidentinawiderangeofareas,fromlevelsofincome,standardsofliving, structuresofopportunities, topoliticalpower,physicalvulnerability, respectforpoliticalrights,andareexperiencedthroughrelationsofclass,race,genderandethnicity. While inequality is the unifying theme of the course, we will focusthroughoutonspecificwaysinwhichpeoplerespondtoandconfrontthechallengeswhich issue from increasing inequalities: these responses have notably includedchanges in household reproduction strategies, and increases in informality,migration,andcriminality.

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The module begins by outlining the contextual framework, and establishing atheoreticalframeworkforanalysingthespecificsetsofcasestudieswhichfocusontheseresponses:thisincludestheconceptofsocialreproduction,arelationaltheoryof class processes, and a consideration of the relationship between structure andagency,acentralproblematicofsocialandpoliticalstudies.Thefirstofourcasestudiesexaminehouseholdandlivelihoodstrategiesforcopingwith social and economic change and crisis. We then consider increasingparticipation in the large and growing “informal” sector economies whichcharacterise many countries, and labour migration, exploring the nature andsignificance of “informal” sector work and migratory processes, as well as theoverlap between informality andmigration. Finally in this sectionwe consider thelinksbetweeninequality,marginalization,andcriminality.DemocratizationWhileasecondnotablefeatureoftheneoliberalperiodhasbeenthe‘global’spreadofdemocracy, thishasdone littletosignificantly improveeithersocio-economicorpolitical inequality. In this light, we will consider political inequalities within andbetweenregionsoftheworld,concentratingonthenatureandqualityofdemocratic‘transition’ processes in specific countries, and questioning the relation betweenthese processes and the increasing social and political exclusion which fuelsproblemssuchasrisingurbanviolence.Themoduleusescomparativeandinter-disciplinaryframeworkstodemonstratetheimportance of examining global processes through the specific historical, socio-cultural and political contexts in which they unfold, in order to reach a fullerunderstandingofsocialrealities,andofthesimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweenonecontext and another. This enables us to move beyond taken-for–grantedassumptions thatwemay have, based on our own context and experience, aboutdifferentsocialandpoliticalworlds.Reading:Themoduleisbuiltaroundaseriesofcoretexts,withadditionalreadingsforessay/exampreparation(seecourseoutlineandreadinglist).Prerequisites:NoneTeachingandlearningmethods:Seriesoflectures.Methodsofassessmentandexamination:Two-hourwrittenexam(70%).30%ofmarksareawardedforanessaysubmittedinsemester1throughthesmall-groupseminarsasdescribedabove.Languagesofinstruction:English

ORModule: SP234InternationalRelationsLecturer: Dr.EilisWardThis module provides an introduction to the study of international relations,exploringthepoliticsofrelationsbetweenstatesaswellastheactivitiesandrolesofnon-state actors such as non governmental organisations, transanational

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corporations and rebel armies. The module focuses on key ideas, institutions,theoriesand issueswithaparticularemphasisonunderstandingthecausesofwarand measures to secure peace. All our ideas about what should happen in theinternationalarenaarefilteredthroughdifferentsetsofvaluesconcerningpoliticallife. Themodulebegins accordingly by settingout four such frameworks: realism,liberalism, marxism and social constructivism. It moves on then to deal with theUnitedNations’approachtobuildingpeaceandresolvingconflict,withdebatesoninternational intervention, human rights and human security. Theoretical debatesarelinkedtoissuesofurgentpublicconcernandillustratedwithcasestudies.Prerequisites:NoneTeachingandLearningMethod:LecturesMethodofassessmentandexamination:Two-hourwrittenexam(70%).30%ofmarksareawardedforanessaysubmittedinsemester1throughthesmall-groupseminarsasdescribedabove.Languageofinstruction:EnglishCoreTexts: JohnBaylissandSteveSmithandPatriciaOwens(eds.)2010.TheGlobalizationofWorldPolitics,5thedition,Oxford:OUP.(327.101GLO)Additionalreadingswillbeassignedasappropriate.

ModuleDescriptions–Semester2COREModules:Module:SPSK3102:SocietyandPolitics:IdeasandResearchThismoduleaimstoenhancethecapacityofstudentstothinkcriticallyaboutsocietyand politics; to formulate research questions; and to identify appropriateways ormethodstoconductresearchandgathertheevidencenecessarytobegintoanswerdifferent typesof researchqueries. It alsoaims tobuild students’ knowledgeandconfidence in discussing the ‘big ideas’ of key thinkers in social and/or politicaltheory(e.g.,liberty,justice,classconflict,equality,solidarity,rationality,etc.)andtodraw on these ideas when thinking about research topics. Informed by thesediscussions,studentsfurtherexaminehowknowledgeaboutsocialandpolitical lifeis constructed, including through formulating questions and designing andconducting ethical research that can answer suchquestions. This student-centredmodule is organisedaround the completionof critical thinking and research tasks.Taskscanincludethefollowing:closereading,synthesis,anddiscussionofsignificant

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ideas in social and political thought; group work exercises to define a researchquestionandplan;practice researchmethods (using surveys, interviews, statistics,archivalmaterials); and conduct data analysis and peer reviews.Working in smallgroupsstudents shalldevelopdeepenedskilllsof criticalanalysisas theyscrutinisetaken-for-grantedassumptionsaboutsocietyandpoliticsanddevelopandpractisearangeofwidelyusedsocialresearchskills.ANDModule:SP220MethodsforSocialandPoliticalScienceLecturer:Dr.MikeHynesandDrBernadineBradyWebeginthismodulebydiscussingwhatsociologicalandpoliticaldataareandwhyweshouldwanttocollectthem.Wethenshowyouhowtouseaselectionofqualitativeandquantitative research methods. Methods to be explored include basic qualitativeapproachessuchasparticipantobservation,interviewing,visualmethods,oralhistory,orautobiography. Issues surrounding the interpretation of research and researchaccountability, as well as the writing of research will also be examined. In thequantitative sectionof the course, studentswill be introduced to key aspects of surveyresearch,includingissuesofoperationalisationandsampling,datacollectionandanalysis.The overall aimof the course is to enable you to understand, carry out and present aresearch project. It will be assessed by an end-of-semester examination and thedevelopmentofanappropriateresearchproposal.Teaching and learning methods: Students (with the exception of Visiting/Erasmusstudents)musttakepartinthesemester2generalseminarsasdescribedbelow.Methodsofassessmentandexamination:Twohourwrittenexam (70%). 30%ofmarksare awarded for coursework submitted through the semester 2 small-group seminars(includingsubmissionofaresearchproposal).Languagesofinstruction:EnglishCoretext:Assignedreadingsandtextbookonresearchmethods.InSemester2youwillalsochooseONEofthefollowingTWOOPTIONS

EITHERModule:SP212ClassicalSocialThoughtLecturer:ProfessorNiamhReillyThis module provides a broad introduction to classic ideas and debates in thedevelopmentofsociologyandsocialthought.ThewritingsofKarlMarx(1818-1883),ÉmileDurhheim(1858-1917)andMaxWeber(1864-1920)featureprominently.Eachof these thinkers reflectsaparticularapproachor tradition in thestudyof society.Theirideashavecontributedsubstantiallytoourinderstandingoftheevolutionandtheshapeofmodernsocieties,includinghowpoweroperatesandhowresourcesaredistributedwithinandacrossthedifferentpartsofsociety.Thismodulealsoexplores

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key contributions to social theory with regard to race and gender by importantprecursors or contemporaries of Marx, Durkheim and Weber, including HarrietMartineau, Frederick Douglass, Jane Addams, Anna J. Cooper, W.E.B. Dubois,CharlottePerkinsGilmanandIdaWells-Barnet.TextbooksandGeneralReading:Allan,K (2013)Explorations in classical sociological theory: seeing the socialworld.3rded.LosAngeles,SAGE.Craib,I(2011)Classicalsocialtheory:anintroductiontothethoughtofMarx,Weber,DurkheimandSimmel.Reprint,Oxford:OUP(NUIGLibrary301.01CRA)Lemert,C(ed.)(2017)Socialtheory:themulticultural,globalandclassicalreadings,6thedn.Lengermann,P.M.andNiebrugge,G.eds. (1998)Thewomenfoundersofsociologyand social theory 1830-1930: a text reader. Long Grove, ILL: Waveland Press Inc.ISBN-10:1-57766-509-0/ISBN-13:978-1-5766-509-0

Prerequisites:NoneTeachingandlearningmethods:Seriesoflectures. Students(withtheexceptionofVisiting/Erasmus students) must take part in the semester 2 general seminars asdescribedinthisbooklet.Methodsofassessmentandexamination:Two-hourwrittenexam(70%).30%ofmarksareawardedforanessaysubmittedthroughthesmall-groupseminarsasdescribedinthisbooklet.Languagesofinstruction:EnglishORModule:SP215.IIModernPoliticalThoughtLecturer:GerryFitzpatrickThismoduleisanintroductiontoEuropeanmodernpoliticalthoughtthroughsomeofitsprincipalthinkers. Ittracesthedevelopmentofthinkingaboutpower,politicsandtheStatefromtheRenaissancetothebeginningofthe20thCentury.Itsaimistohelpyoutounderstandthenatureofthehistoryofpoliticalthoughtandhowithasshapedandisshapingthemodernworld.Themajorthemesarepoliticalobligation-why and how should we obey the State; and the emergence of the sovereignintegrated nation-state as the paradigm polity of political modernity. The mainapproaches to these questions that we will consider are Renaissance humanism,Social Contractarianism, Utilitarianism, Idealism, Republicanism and democraticNationalism.ThewriterscoveredshallrunfromThomasMore(early16thCentury)toMaxWeberandLTHobhouse(early20thCentury).Theideathroughoutistoexamineboththehistoricalcontextandintentionsofallthethinkersanalysed-andtoassesswhattheyhavetosaytousaboutourcurrentpoliticalpredicaments.TextbooksandGeneralReadingSixgoodgeneraltextbooksforthiscourseare

ARyan,OnPolitics,AHistoryofpoliticalThought(2012)chs9-21

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I.Hampsher-Monk,AHistoryofModernPoliticalThought(1992)A.Haworth,UnderstandingthePoliticalPhilosophers(2004)chs5-8,11D Wootton,Modern Political Thought, Readings from Machiavelli to Nietzsche(2008)J.S.McClelland,AHistoryofWesternPoliticalThought(1996)PartsIVtoVIJ.Plamenatz,ManandSocietyVolsIandIIoftherevised(1992)editionOthertextstobeannounced.

Prerequisites:NoneTeachingandlearningmethods:Seriesoflectures. Students(withtheexceptionofVisiting/Erasmus students) must take part in the semester 2 general seminars asdescribedinthisbooklet.Methodsofassessmentandexamination:Two-hourwrittenexam(70%).30%ofmarksareawardedforanessaysubmittedthroughthesmall-groupseminarsasdescribedinthisbooklet.Languagesofinstruction:EnglishCoretexts:Assignedreadings/textbookchaptersLanguagesofinstruction:EnglishAIMS&LEARNINGOBJECTIVESOFTHEPROGRAMMEInSecondYearyouwilltransitionfromtheIntroductiontoSociologicalandPoliticalStudies toamoredemanding rangeofmaterial, includingclassical textsand theirinterpretations,andbooksandarticlesgroundedinresearchonspecifictheoretical,conceptualandsubstantiveissues.Theprincipalaimsofthesecondyearprogrammearetoextendyourknowledgeoftheory,methodologyandsomeofthemajorissuesanddebatesinsocialandpoliticalstudies.Themodulesofferedoverbothsemestersaredesignedtobuildontheintroductiontosociologyandpoliticstaughtinthe1styear,andprepareyouformoreadvancedstudyin3rdyear.Thelearningobjectivesforyouare:

• toacquireamoreextensiveknowledgeoftheprincipaltheoreticalfoundationsofsocialandpoliticalstudies.

• todeepenyourunderstandingofbothclassicalandcurrentsocialand

politicalissuesandofhowthesehavebeeninterpretedtheoreticallyandconceptually.

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• togainknowledgeandappreciationofmethodologicalapproachestosocialandpoliticalresearch.

• todeveloparangeofcritical,analyticalandinterpretativeskills.• tobuildstudyskills,includingcriticalreadingandcomprehension,essay

writing,discussion,presentationsandexampreparation.

• todevelopyourcapacityforindependentthinkingandscholarlywork

• toenhanceyourgeneralintellecturalandpersonalskillsinamannerwhichwillbenefityouprofessionallyandacrossyourlifecourse.

YOURRESPONSIBILITIES!

• InthisSchoolweencourageyoutotakeresponsibilityforyourownlearning.Wecannotdoyourlearningforyou.

• Youareobligedtoattendalllecturesandseminarsandmeetalldeadlinesassetout.Whilewegiveourknowledgeandfullsupportacrosstheprogramme,yourcriticalengagementwith ideas,discussions,essaywriting, lecturesandseminars will make a huge difference to your university experience. Weencourageyoutotakefulladvantageofwhatweoffer.

• YouarethereforeexpectedtomakefulluseoftheLibraryandtodevelop

yourbibliographicskills.Pleasereadfromyourreadinglistsandusebooksondeskreserve.Librarystaffwillhelpyouwithanydifficulties.

• Youareobligedtoensurethatnoneoftheworkyousubmitisplagiarised.

Plagiarism iscopyingsomeoneelse’swork,whether fromapublishedbook,the internet, lecture notes, or another student, and presenting it as one’sown work. It also includes paraphrasing a text very closely. Plagiarism isthereforeboth theft and fraudandmay result in anoutright fail.Writtenwork will be considered plagiarised whether wholly or partly copied, andwhethercopied fromoneormultiple sources. Youmustensure thatevery

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source used in written work is fully referenced and every quote is clearlymarkedasaquoteandreferenced.Guidelinesandthenormsinrelationtoreferencinginordertoavoidplagiarismwillbeprovidedinthesmall-groupseminars.

• In the event of any serious personal difficulties affecting your progress orparticipation,weencourage you to speak confidentially to the2nd yearCo-ordinator.

• SecondYearResultsarenowworth30%ofyouroveralldegreeresult:youmustthereforeassumethatyourfinaldegree class shall be significantly affected by yoursecondyearperformance.

• Second Year REPEAT students who did not submitseminaressaysduringtheacademicyearandwhohavefailedSemesterIandSemesterIIlecture-basedmodulescannot submit Continuous Assessment work as part oftheir Second Examination Sitting. Their repeatperformance shall thus be assessed entirely bywrittenexamination. Therefore, only students with Deferralsmaysubmitessaysforthesecondexaminationsitting.

• NOTEALSOTHATSINCETHEACADEMICYEAR,2015/16,

SECONDYEARREPEATEXAMINATIONRESULTSSHALLBECAPPEDAT40%.

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Whoweare:SecondYearCo-ordinator:GerryFitzpatrickRoom327,2ndFloor,ÁrasMoyola(socpol2ba@nuigalway.ie)SPSK3101/2Seminar-basedModulesCoordinator:OrlaMcGarryE-mail:orla.mcgarry@nuigalway.ieLecturers:BrianMcGrathRoom322,ÁrasMoyola\Room1008ILASe-mail:brian.mcgrath@nuigalway.ieBrendanFlynnRoom316,ÁrasMoyolae-mail:Brendan.Flynn@nuigalway.ieKathyPowell:Room321,ÁrasMoyolae-mail:kathy.powell@nuigawlay.ieEilísWard:Room317,ÁrasMoyolaE-mail:Eilís.Ward@nuigalway.ieMikeHynesRoom323,ÁrasMoyolae-mail:mike.hynes@nuigalway.ieBernadineBrady,Room1010ILAS(InstituteforLifecourse&Society)e-mail:bernadine.brady@nuigalway.ie NiamhReillyRoom310,ÁrasMoyolae-mail:niamh.reilly@nuigalway.ieGerryFitzpatrickRoom327,ÁrasMoyolae-mail:gerard.fitzpatrick@nuigalway.ie

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HeadofSchoolDrAnneByrneRoom 309 Aras Moyola, Email: anne.byrne@nuigalway.ieDEPARTMENTALWEBSITEPleasenotethatthereisagreatdealofinformationavailableonthedepartmentalwebsite,includingtimetables,courseoutlines,contactdetailsandonlinematerials.Thewebsiteaddressiswww.nuigalway.ie/soc/ NOTICEBOARDInformation for 2nd year students regarding seminar group allocation, timetablingissues,etc.willbepostedonthe2ndyearBlackboardsiteandonthe2ndYearNoticeBoard at the School of Political Science & Sociology, Floor 2, ArasMoyola at thebeginningofeachsemester.STUDENTREPRESENTATIVESStudents are urged to volunteer to become 2nd-year representatives, which is animportant and responsible position. Students are invited to contact theirrepresentativesand/ortheyeartutoriftheyhaveanyconcernsorwishtoraiseanyissuesregardingtheSchool.BLACKBOARDPleasenotethatfromtimetotimetheSchoolwillneedtocirculateinformationtoall2BAstudentsandwilluselecturesandBlackboardforthispurposes.PleasemakesureyouattendtoanynoticesthatcirculateviaBlackboard.DONOTIGNORETHEM!Finally,Isincerelyhopethatyoursecondyearwillbeanenjoyable,academicallyrewardingandenrichingexperience.