Contemporary Political Theories
| Title | Σύγχρονες Πολιτικές Θεωρίες / Contemporary Political Theories |
| Code | ΚΥ0602 |
| Faculty | Social and Economic Sciences |
| School | Political Sciences |
| Cycle / Level | 1st / Undergraduate, 2nd / Postgraduate |
| Teaching Period | Spring |
| Coordinator | Yannis Stavrakakis |
| Common | Yes |
| Status | Active |
| Course ID | 100001063 |
Programme of Study: PPS Tmīma Politikṓn Epistīmṓn 2023-sīmera
Registered students: 0
| Orientation | Attendance Type | Semester | Year | ECTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KORMOS | Compulsory Course | 4 | 2 | 5 |
| Academic Year | 2022 – 2023 |
| Class Period | Spring |
| Faculty Instructors |
|
| Weekly Hours | 3 |
| Total Hours | 39 |
| Class ID | 600228343
|
Course Type 2016-2020
- Scientific Area
Course Type 2011-2015
Specific Foundation / Core
Mode of Delivery
- Face to face
Digital Course Content
- e-Study Guide https://qa.auth.gr/en/class/1/600228343
- eLearning (Moodle): https://elearning.auth.gr/course/view.php?id=9437
Erasmus
The course is also offered to exchange programme students.
Language of Instruction
- Greek (Instruction, Examination)
Learning Outcomes
- Acquisition of knowledge on contemporary political theory (theoretical traditions, conceptual toolkit).
- Familiarity with methods of qualitative research in political science and philosophy.
- Collection and evaluation of evidence and research resources aiming at the interdisciplinary questioning of political phenomena and the development of theoretical generalizations.
- Processing and synthesis of information from a variety of sources (conventional and electronic) in order to develop organised and persuasive oral and written theoretical arguments.
- Development of a critical democratic ethos.
General Competences
- Apply knowledge in practice
- Retrieve, analyse and synthesise data and information, with the use of necessary technologies
- Work in an interdisciplinary team
- Generate new research ideas
- Appreciate diversity and multiculturality
- Demonstrate social, professional and ethical commitment and sensitivity to gender issues
- Be critical and self-critical
- Advance free, creative and causative thinking
Course Content (Syllabus)
Late modernity has signaled a series of transformations in social and political life, which could not have escaped the attention of political science. During the same period, political theory has introduced new tools of analysis in order to make sense of these transformations. The aim of this course is to familiarize students with contemporary approaches developed in the last two to three decades that illuminate in a distinct way central aspects of political life in late modern societies. These aspects include:
1. Power and the political. Special emphasis will be given to the influence of Michel Foucault’s work in conceptualizing power and to the analysis of ‘biopolitics’ by theorists such as Giorgio Agamben and others.
2. The subject and ideology. In this part of the course we will study the relevance of psychoanalytic approaches, especially of the Freudian and Lacanian traditions as applied in political theory by Slavoj Zizek and others.
3. The nature of democracy. The stress here will be in discussing the crisis of the liberal democratic model and its ‘post-democratic’ mutations, as well as in evaluating the different re-orientations of democracy proposed in contemporary political theory (from deliberative to radical democratic models).
Keywords
power, biopolitics, democracy, post-democracy, psychoanalysis, subjectivity
Educational Material Types
- Notes
- Multimedia
- Book
Use of Information and Communication Technologies
Use of ICT
- Use of ICT in Communication with Students
Course Organization
| Activities | Workload | ECTS | Individual | Teamwork | Erasmus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 39 | 1.4 | ✓ | ||
| Reading Assigment | 98.5 | 3.6 | ✓ | ||
| Total | 137.5 | 5 |
Student Assessment
Student Assessment methods
- Written Exam with Extended Answer Questions (Summative)
- Written Assignment (Summative)
Bibliography
Course Bibliography (Eudoxus)
Crouch, Colin, Μεταδημοκρατία, Αθήνα: Εκκρεμές, 2006.
Σταυρακάκης, Γιάννης, Η λακανική αριστερά, Αθήνα: Ψυχογιός, 2012.
Additional bibliography for study
Agamben, Giorgio, Homo Sacer: Κυρίαρχη εξουσία και γυμνή ζωή, Αθήνα: Scripta, 2005.
Crouch, Colin, Ο περίεργος μη θάνατος του νεοφιλελευθερισμού, Αθήνα: Εκκρεμές, 2014.
Foucault, Michel, Η ιστορία της σεξουαλικότητας, 3 τόμοι, Αθήνα: Ράππας.
Foucault, Michel, Η γέννηση της βιοπολιτικής, Αθήνα: Πλέθρον, 2013.
Λίποβατς, Θάνος, Η ψυχοπαθολογία του πολιτικού, Αθήνα: Οδυσσέας, 1997.
Mouffe, Chantal, Το δημοκρατικό παράδοξο, Αθήνα: Πόλις, 2004.
Σταυρακάκης, Γιάννης, Ο Λακάν και το πολιτικό, Αθήνα: Ψυχογιός, 2008.
Zizek, Slavoj, Το υψηλό αντικείμενο της ιδεολογίας, Αθήνα: Scripta, 2006.
Last Update
19-09-2023
