All programmes > Course: Introduction to Political Science

Introduction to Political Science (B-KUL-S0A21A)

6.0 ECTS Dutch 52.0 First termFirst term Introductory
Hooghe Marc |  Dejaeghere Yves (substitute)
POC Eerste bachelor sociale wetenschappen

Course material

Text book
Articles and literature

Is also included in other courses

Activities

6.0 ects. Introduction to Political Science (B-KUL-S0A21a)

6.0 ECTS Dutch 52.0 First termFirst term
Hooghe Marc |  Dejaeghere Yves (substitute)
POC Eerste bachelor sociale wetenschappen

Content

The course starts with research of three relative aspects of politics: the swings in the duty of politics throughout the centuries, the functions of the institutional model and the historical limitations of the state. Eventhough historically limited, the state today surely still is the most important political entity. So it is logical that discussion will be build up around the state.
First we will discuss how a population of a state is able to develop into a nation and which obstacles need to be taken. Further we will discuss how much or how little a state is determined by its territory, and especially how this territory can be an instrument for the state, in which the significance of decentralization, regionalization, federalism and confederalism is explained. The organisation of power in the state and the different political regimes will be extensivly discussed. Obviously a lot of attention will be paid to the political process of decision making and the pursueing of policy. During this process the most important analysis schemes will be presented (the thorough study of these will obviously follow later). To conclude the state will be situated between other states, this way the foundations of international politics will be presented.
These analysis schemes will be illustrated considerably by events from interior and international political current affairs. The student also has to be able to apply concepts and analysis schemes to the important current affairs (an intense form of exercise is composed of intensly following up the national and international political current affairs in a quality paper, with aid of these schemes).

Aims

Firstly, the course defines the essence of politics, i.e. the authoritative and binding organisation of society. Furthermore, students need to gain a basic insight into what the scientific study of politics, i.e. politology, actually does to gain a more profound knowledge of politics, which will help them to acquire a first series of analytical schemes to follow international as well as national political events more adequately and to understand them. The course already gives a partial rundown of a few political methods: institutional-democratic as well as covert decision-making, in order to show the full range of the decision-making scenario.

Evaluation

Evaluation: Introduction to Political Science (B-KUL-S2A21a)

Mode of evaluation : Written
Category : final examination during examination period
Type of evaluation : Closed book