ASPO 12A00 - Introduction to Political Science

This introductory course in Political Science is designed to develop the knowledge, analytical ability and critical capacity of students in relation to contemporary political phenomena. By questioning issues central to power and society, this course aims to develop both a critical understanding of politics and offer a deepened analysis on the recent theoretical and political discussions of political theory. Why do some issues are put on the political agenda and others not? How is power established, enforced and challenged? Are states and nations historical products? Is populism the greatest threat to democracy? What is the most comprehensive definition of democracy? Why do people vote? How does gender structure (and is structured by) the public sphere? When do social movements happen and what are their consequences? What are the concrete political consequences of the notions of rule of law and human rights? What form of political violence does shape our contemporary world? Are feelings and emotions having an influence over the political scene? These are some of the broad yet topical political questions students will be invited to engage within this introductory course, while being progressively acquainted with to the various, and at times conflicting, answers proposed by prominent political scientists. Theoretical and methodological pluralism is indeed central to the course. Therefore, the general aims of this introduction to Political science course include providing students with: 1/ a basic knowledge on the key political concepts, theories and facts; 2/ an ability to distinguish between value-judgment and scientific reasoning; 3/ an appreciation of the major debates in the study of politics, a prerequisite to a better understanding of politics itself. In addition, the course will help students select their future Major (Political Humanities, Politics & Government, Economy & Society), as it is clustered around the three corresponding disciplinary subfields in Political science (Political theory, Government and public policy, Political sociology). The exploratory module in ‘International Relations & Regional Politics' An exploratory module of six additional sessions is attached to this introductory course. It offers a specific content-deepening course in International relations and Area studies. The main objective is to help students to better connect the key political concepts addressed in the general course with empirical issues, as well as to enhance their awareness of the need to contextualize political issues in space and time. These six exploratory lectures thus provide to students the opportunity to delve into some of the key concepts addressed in the general lectures – power, state and nation, democracy, political regime, social movements, political violence – while applying them to a selective set of practical debates in International relations and of issues in Asian politics.

Lola GUYOT,Ozgur Sevgi GORAL BIRINCI,Evan GREGOIRE-IZARD,Yoel MITRANI,Mark CORCORAL,Robert KLUIJVER

Cours magistral et conférences

English

Spring 2020-2021

To validate the course, students are expected to pass a final sit-exam (30% of the mark), the continuous assessment in the methodological seminar (50%), and also the grading of the exploratory module (20%). The final exam, of up to three hours duration, will be a one question-based essay (out of two options). The continuous assessment in the methodological seminar breaks down as follows: One oral presentation: 50% One midterm exam (same format as the final exam): 50%

The course is divided in 12 lectures of 2 hours each, including a collective discussion. To these, 6 exploratory lectures in ‘International Relations & Regional Politics', of 2 hours each, are added every two weeks. The session's preparatory and compulsory readings are expected to have been read in advance. All readings will be accessible on Google Drive. The lecture's power point is downloaded on the Drive after each session. Lecture and seminars are closely connected and, as such, address the same thematic. Yet, the lecture aims at the acquisition of basic knowledge in the discipline, while the seminar's emphasis is on the methodology of questioning and of analyzing political processes.