STV2100 – Contemporary Political Theory: Challenges and Opportunities

Schedule, syllabus and examination date

Course content

Politics, both domestically and internationally, raises a host of vital normative questions. How should resources, rights, political power, and burdens be distributed? How should we ideally respond to injustices committed by state and non-state actors? And which real-world constraints (should) shape our normative evaluations and prescriptions?

This course focuses on recent developments within core issues of normative political theory. In particular, the course focuses on wealth distribution and taxation, access to natural resources, the politics of climate change, shifts in immigration patterns, the rights of minorities, the politics of warfare, the rise of non-majoritarian institutions, and the importance of globalization.

In each case, the course employs normative political theory to examine these topics, assess their importance, and help prescribe potential remedies.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

You will gain knowledge about recent developments in the following areas:

  • domestic and international distributive justice
  • theories of territorial rights
  • theories of climate justice
  • theories of immigration ethics and minority rights
  • theories of just war and the legitimacy of humanitarian intervention
  • theories of domestic and global democracy

Skills

You will learn:

  • how to distinguish between empirical and normative analysis
  • how to assess and evaluate normative theories and arguments
  • how to develop and structure normative arguments
  • how to employ normative methods in argumentation
  • how to apply normative theories to specific cases to evaluate the relative rights and obligations of individuals and collectives
  • how to use normative theory prescriptively suggest remedies to problems
  • how to think about the relationship between normative (ideal) theories and the non-ideal world in which they are employed
  • be able to communicate academic knowledge in writing and orally

General competence

You will:

  • develop your analytical skills
  • develop your skills in assessing normative arguments and theories
  • develop the ability to use normative methods and theories
  • gain experience in writing academic texts

Admission to the course

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.?

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.?

This course is not available for single course students.?

STV1100 – Politisk teori

Teaching

Lectures and seminars.

Compulsory activities:

  • Attend the first seminar
  • Attend two of the following four seminars
  • Write an outline for your seminar paper
  • Present your seminar paper
  • Hand in your finalized seminar paper

The seminars are taught in English, and the papers handed in must be written in English.

See the seminar guidelines for more information about the seminars.

See the faculty`s rules for reassignment of seminar groups and requirements for compulsory activities.

Absence from compulsory activities:?

If you are ill or have another valid reason for being absent from compulsory activities, your absence may be approved or the compulsory activity may be postponed.

Access to teaching:?

A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, and does not have to in order to take the exam. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.

Examination

Three hour school exam.?

You must have passed the compulsory activities in order to sit the exam.?

Previous exams and guidelines.

Examination support material

Students may use dictionaries at this exam. Dictionaries must be handed in before the examination. Please read regulations for dictionaries permitted at the examination.?

Language of examination

The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.?

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.?

Resit an examination

More about examinations at UiO

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.

Last updated from FS (Common Student System) Nov. 9, 2024 8:20:18 PM

Facts about this course

Level
Bachelor
Credits
10
Teaching
Autumn
Examination
Autumn
Teaching language
English

Contact

SV-info