Political Science

Teacher(s)

Baudewyns Pierre; Reuchamps Min;

Language

English

Main themes

This introduction to the discipline will refer to concrete questions a political science student is asking to himself, and more generally, any citizen who tries to understand how the political and the civil spheres are organized. What is political action, politics, a policy? What is the meaning of power? What is legitimate power? What is a political system? What is democracy? Which are the principal collective actors of the political system (political parties, special interest groups)? Which are the values, materialists and "post materialists", of the citizens? What about political participation of the citizens? Which are the principal determinants of the vote? Is there a citizenship's crisis?

Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	The course must allow the student to be familiarized with basic theoretical problems, orientations and conceptual apparatus of political science.

Content

This introduction to the discipline will refer to concrete questions a political science student is asking herself/himself, and more generally, any citizen who tries to understand how the political and the civil spheres are organized. What is political action, politics, a policy? What is the meaning of power? What is legitimate power? What is a political system? What is democracy? Which are the principal collective actors of the political system (political parties, special interest groups)? Which are the values, materialists and "post materialists", of the citizens? What about political participation of the citizens? Which are the principal determinants of the vote? Is there a citizenship’s crisis?

Evaluation methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

The evaluation is twofold: on the one hand, a multiple-choice questions exam and, on the other hand, individual works during the semester. Practical information about the course will be delivered and explained by each professor in class.

Other information

Depending on the evolution of sanitary conditions and consequently of the sanitary code, the teaching and evaluation mode will possibly change, in whole or in part, to remote mode via one or several computer tools provided by the University.  Students enrolled in the course will be informed by e-mail.

Faculty or entity

ESPO