Political Science

Teacher(s)

Baudewyns Pierre; Piron Jonathan (compensates 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?

Learning outcomes

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?

Teaching methods

The course relies on an online course available on Moodle for each each ‘quadrimester’ (Q1, Q2, Q3) and the content of the weekly sessions, following a schedule that will be announced in the beginning of the course.

Evaluation methods

The evaluation is continuous and ends before the exams’ session. The final grade (from 0 to 20 points) is made of four components:

• • Writing of a short paper
  • Writing of a short paper and peer-review
  • Mid-term exam (MCQ), in a computer room (upon registration)
  • Final exam (MCQ), in a computer room (upon registration)

Practical information about the course and the evaluation will be delivered and explained by each professor in class and presented in a written document sent by e-mail to all registered students after the first session 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