POLn4004 Major Issues in Political Science

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 7 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. et Mgr. Jiří Baroš, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. et Mgr. Jiří Baroš, Ph.D.
Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Lucie Pospíšilová
Prerequisites
Ability to read scholarly text in Czech and English; willingness to participate in in-class discussions
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 7 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The course deals with major problems and political phenomena, as reflected in 20th and 21st century political philosophy. The course is divided into three main parts, structured around basic political concepts which lie at their core. The first part will be devoted to issues related to sovereignty, authority, legitimacy, nationalism or political representation. In the second part will focus on questions of political, social, distributive etc. justice, assessing both liberal positions and those critical of liberalism. The last part will open some issues of international/global political theory. Lectures and in-class discussions are supplemented by two full-fledged debate seminars.
Learning outcomes
Upon completing the course, students will be able to:
identify the main traditions, arguments, and figures in the 20th and 21st century political philosophy
analyze, compare, and critically assess the main contributions to the most important debates in the field of political philosophy
synthesise particular philosophical positions and independently construct arguments regarding current phenomena such as democracy, human rights, globalization, and global poverty

understand particular philosophical/theoretical positions (or such background of "ordinary politics") and construct arguments applying to contemporary political problems and developments
Syllabus
  • 1. Introductory lesson. Basic questions of political theory of democracy. Democracy, constitutionalism, and human rights 2. State and sovereignty 3. Power, authority and legitimacy 4. Nations, nationalism, and multiculturalism 5. Pluralism, tolerance and diversity 6. Political representation in democracy 7. Capitalism vs. socialism 8. Active Citizenship in the Context of Migration 9. Fairness, equity, redistribution: health and inequality, social determinants of health, global poverty 10. Debate Seminar I. Theme/Theses: In the face of the migration crisis, do states have the right to close borders, or political philosophy's responses to the conflict between the claims of immigrants and those of the native population 11. Public holiday - (Dis)recognition and structural injustice: social and political exclusion Note: The topic will not be part of the final exam, but it is possible to write a written preparation on it 12. Public holiday - (Dis)recognition and structural injustice: social and political exclusion 13. Debate Seminar II. Theme/Theses: Unconditional basic income for all: Yes or No?
Literature
    required literature
  • Gaus, Gerald. 2010. The Idea and Ideal of Capitalism. In: George G. Brenkert a Tom L. Beauchamp (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Business Ethics. Oxfrod: Oxford UP, 73–99
  • Hejnal, Ondřej. Bezdomovec jako klient represe: Diskursivní reprodukce potřebných a nepotřebných chudých. In: Lupták, Ľubomír a kol., Neoliberalismus a marginalita. Studie z českého reálkapitalismu. Brno: Doplněk, 2013, 137–152
  • Gellner, Ernst. Nacionalismus. In: Pohledy na národ a nacionalismus. Ed. Miroslav Hroch. Praha, SLON, 2004, s. 403–417
  • Rawls, John. Oblast politična a překrývající konsensus. Reflexe, 24, 2003, s. 41-67
  • Talisse, Robert B. Democracy and Moral Conflict. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2009, s. 11–41
  • Mair, Peter. 2013. Ruling the Void: The Hollowing of Western Democracy. London: Verso, 1–16
  • Schmitt, Carl. Politická theologie. Praha, OIKOYMENH, 2012, s. 9–30
  • Lukes, Steven. Power: A Radical View. London, MacMillan, 1984, s. 9–25
  • Baroš, Jiří. Demokracie, konstitucionalismus a lidská práva. In: Demokratizace a lidská práva. Eds. Jan Holzer a Pavel Molek. Praha, SLON, 2013, s. 75–124
  • Skinner, Quentin. O státě. Praha, OIKOYMENH, 2012, s. 55–103
  • Pogge, Thomas. 2008. Uznávána i porušována mezinárodním právem: lidská práva globálních chudých, in: Marek Hrubec, ed., Sociální kritika v éře globalizace. Praha, Filosofia, s. 179–237
  • Barša, Pavel. Politická teorie multikulturalismu. Brno, CDK, 2003, s. 65–94
  • Gaus, Gerald. 2010. The Idea and Ideal of Capitalism. In: George G. Brenkert a Tom L. Beauchamp (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Business Ethics. Oxfrod: Oxford UP, 73–99
  • Baršová, Andrea, Barša, Pavel. Přistěhovalectví a liberální stát. Imigrační a integrační politiky v USA, západní Evropě a Česku. Brno: Mezinárodní politologický ústav, 2005, s. 19–49
  • Rosanvallon, Pierre. Democratic Legitimacy. Impartiality, Reflexivity, Proximity. Princeton, Princeton University Press, 2011, 1–14
  • Foucault, Michel. Subjekt a moc. In: Myšlení vnějšku. Praha, Hermann a synové, 1996, s. 195–226
  • Miller, David. Nationalism. In: The Oxford Handbook of Political Theory. Eds. John S. Dryzek, Bonnie Honnig, and Anne Phillips. Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2008, s. 529–543
  • Legutko, Ryszard. O toleranci. In: Ošklivost demokracie a jiné eseje. Brno, CDK, 2009, 82–109
  • Holländer, Pavel. Suverenita státu (paradoxy a otazníky). In: Lisabonská smlouva a ústavní pořádek ČR. Eds. Aleš Gerloch, Jan Wintr. Plzeň, Aleš Čeněk, 2009, s. 87–114
  • Uhde, Zuzana. 2006. Proč jsou kvóty strašákem? Gender, rovné příležitosti, výzkum 7(1): 6–10
  • Barry, Brian. Why Social Justice Matters. Cambridge: Polity, 2005, kap. 6 (Health), s. 70–94
  • Lánský, Ondřej. Je třeba zavrhnout liberalismus? K jednomu problému modernity. Praha: Filosofia, 2015, 31–86
  • Barša, Pavel, Strmiska, Maxmilián. Národní stát a etnický konflikt. Soudobé nacionalismy v politologické perspektivě. Brno, CDK, 1999, s. 19–45
  • Cohen, G.A. 2009. Why Not Socialism? Princeton: Princeton UP, 1-82
  • SCHMITT, Carl. Politická theologie : čtyři kapitoly k učení o suverenitě. Translated by Jan Kranát - Otakar Vochoč. Vydání první. Praha: Oikoymenh, 2012, 52 stran. ISBN 9788072984015. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, position papers, debate seminar, in-class discussions
Assessment methods
(1) At least three position papers (0–3 points each, maximum 9 points). Position papers (300–600 words each) should consist of three parts: (A) summary of the main arguments of the assigned reading(s); (B) critical assessment of the most interesting, most problematic, most unacceptable etc. argument(s); and (C) sugestions for clarification or further seminar discussion.

(2) In-class activity (0–1 points; maximum 8 points, of which 4 count towards the grade and 4 are a possible bonus)
(3) Debate seminars (3 bonus points for winners and competent refereeing; 2 points for a valiant defence of the losing position)

(4) Final oral exam (0–24 points) based on the content of lectures and assigned readings
OR
Final Essay (ca. 5,500–6,000 words, 0–24 points)
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
Teacher's information
For additional and detailed information see the course syllabus, which is available in the Study Materials section within the Information System
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
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