ASPO 12A00 - Introduction to Political Science

This course is an introduction to Political Science. It provides a comprehensive overview of the discipline by examining its core concepts, theories, and methods. The course aims to equip students with the theoretical frameworks that political scientists use to analyze and explain political phenomena. Students will learn not only what political scientists know about politics, but also how they produce that knowledge and apply it to contemporary political issues.

The course covers key topics such as the State, government, political parties, public opinion, and political participation, while introducing the major theories, approaches, and methodologies used to study these subjects. Particular emphasis is placed on understanding the assumptions, strengths, and limitations of competing theoretical perspectives, as well as situating these theories within their historical and intellectual contexts.

The course is structured to develop students' knowledge, analytical abilities, and critical thinking. Throughout the semester, students will be encouraged to apply theoretical concepts to concrete examples drawn from contemporary politics. By examining issues central to power and society, the course seeks to foster a critical understanding of political life and provide students with the tools needed to analyze current political developments. The professor will address broad questions that illustrate how political science theories can help us make sense of the world around us, such as: In what sense are states and nations historical constructs? Is democracy in crisis? Why do so few people vote in contemporary democracies? Why are some issues prioritized on the political and media agenda while others are not?

The course combines two hours of lectures with two hours of weekly methods seminars. The lectures introduce the key concepts, theories, and approaches of political science. They examine the historical development of these theories, their core assumptions, and their strengths and limitations in explaining political phenomena. Throughout the semester, the professor will use empirical examples to illustrate how different theoretical perspectives can be applied to real-world political questions. Each lecture will conclude with a discussion of how the concepts covered can help us understand contemporary political developments, such as the politics of artificial intelligence, violence against female politicians, declining democratic engagement among young citizens, or other current issues. Although the lecture format involves a large number of students, these discussions will be designed to be as interactive as possible.

In addition to the lectures, students will participate in two-hour weekly methods seminars led by a teaching assistant in smaller groups. These seminars are designed to deepen students’ understanding of the course material through discussion, critical engagement with assigned readings, student presentations, and clarification of concepts introduced during the lectures. The seminars are intended to be highly participatory. Rather than acting primarily as lecturers, teaching assistants will facilitate and moderate discussions, encouraging students to actively engage with political science theories and apply them to empirical and contemporary political issues. Students are therefore expected to take an active role in these sessions and come prepared to contribute to discussions.

The assessment for this course consists of a final examination (50% of the final grade) and continuous assessment (50%).

The continuous assessment component is composed of:

• A mid-term examination (40% of the continuous assessment grade);
• An oral presentation 40%
• Active participation in the methods seminars 20%

The final examination (3 hours) and the mid-term examination (3 hours) will each consist of two parts. First, students will answer one essay question chosen from a selection of two questions. This section is designed to assess students’ knowledge and understanding of the concepts, theories, and debates covered in the lectures. Second, students will complete one document commentary chosen from a selection of two documents. This section is designed to assess students’ ability to mobilize the concepts and theories introduced in the lectures, methods seminars, and readings in order to analyze a short textual or visual document.

Both examinations will take place in person on the Sciences Po Le Havre campus during the regular mid-term and final examination periods (exact dates to be confirmed by the administration). Examples of examination questions are available on Moodle. In Week 5, the methods seminars will include a dedicated session on examination techniques and expectations. In Week 12, students will receive detailed feedback on the mid-term examination. These sessions are intended to help students prepare effectively for the course assessments.

The oral presentation and participation grade are assessed within the methods seminars. Students will complete one group presentation during the semester. The presentation will primarily focus on a key text assigned by the teaching assistant. Students will also be expected to conduct additional research and demonstrate how the ideas developed in the text can help illuminate contemporary political phenomena.

Further details, including assessment criteria, will be provided by the teaching assistant during Week 1. The participation grade will be based on students’ engagement in seminar discussions, particularly discussions of the weekly assigned readings. Assessment criteria and expectations regarding participation will also be communicated by the teaching assistant during Week 1.

This course does not require any prior knowledge of political science and has no formal prerequisites. Students are expected to complete one required reading each week, typically consisting of a short text of approximately 20–30 pages. These readings are designed to complement the lectures and provide material for discussion in the methods seminars. Additional optional readings will also be provided for students wishing to explore particular topics in greater depth.

Beyond the weekly readings, students should allocate time to prepare for course assessments, including oral presentations and examinations. No preparation or reading is required before the first session of the course.