POLb1001 Introduction into Political Science

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2023
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Michal Pink, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Lenka Hrbková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Michal Tóth, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Jan Hruška, Ph.D (seminar tutor)
Mgr. František Chalupa (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Václav Šmatera (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Michal Pink, Ph.D.
Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Lucie Pospíšilová
Supplier department: Division of Politology – Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Wed 12:00–13:40 P31 Posluchárna A. I. Bláhy
  • Timetable of Seminar Groups:
POLb1001/01: Mon 2. 10. 14:00–15:40 U42, Mon 20. 11. 14:00–15:40 U42
POLb1001/02: Mon 2. 10. 16:00–17:40 U42, Mon 20. 11. 16:00–17:40 U42
POLb1001/03: Tue 3. 10. 16:00–17:40 U33, Tue 21. 11. 16:00–17:40 U33
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! POL104 Introduction into Pol. Sc. && !NOW( POL104 Introduction into Pol. Sc. )
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 29 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to introduce students to the basic concepts with which political science operates, and to familiarize them with the actors to whom political scientists pay attention. Attention is gradually given to topics such as democracy and authoritarianism, political culture, political ideologies, political parties and their systems, etc. Graduates of the course will be able to use the basic terminology of political science and orient themselves in the fundamental differences in methodological approaches to the study of politics and related phenomena.
Learning outcomes
The graduate of the course is ready to: - use basic political science terminology in practice; - be oriented in the basic concepts and theories of political science; - work with bibliographic data for the needs of professional texts.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction and Organization of the Course 2. Seminar: Working with Sources and Principles of Academic Work 3. Politics and Political Science: Basic Concepts 4. Division of Power in the State 5. Democracy and Authoritarianism, Political Culture 6. Political Ideologies and Identities 7. Elections, Political Parties, and Their Systems I 8. Elections, Political Parties, and Their Systems II 9. State, Government, and Governance 10. Challenges of Contemporary Politics and Political Science 11. Reading Week 12. Seminar: How to Research Politics - Basic Methods for Researching Politics 13. First Examination Term
Literature
    required literature
  • DANZIGER, James N. and Charles Anthony SMITH. Understanding the political world : a comparative introduction to political science. 12th edition. Boston: Pearson, 2016, xxvi, 502. ISBN 9780133941470. info
  • HEYWOOD, Andrew. Politologie. Translated by Zdeněk Masopust. 3. vyd. Plzeň: Aleš Čeněk, 2008, 537 s. ISBN 9788073801151. info
    recommended literature
  • NOVÁK, Miroslav and Lubomír BROKL. Úvod do studia politiky. Vyd. 1. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství (SLON), 2011, 783 s. ISBN 9788074190520. info
Teaching methods
The basic pedagogical method used in the course is a lecture oriented to an explanation of basic terms and classification of political science. Students are preparing to lectures by home-readings of demanded texts.
Assessment methods
1. Submission of an essay and two written assignments on the assigned topics, exclusively to the course submission room in IS. The goal of the written assignments is to present your own perspective on the topic or issue, usually in the context of the assigned literature. The strict length of each assignment is 2700 characters, including spaces, excluding any title page and list of sources. You may receive up to 10 points for the essay. Each of the remaining written assignments may be assessed for a maximum of 5 points. Therefore, a total of 20 points may be awarded. A minimum of 12 out of 20 points is required for admission to the final written paper. If this number is not reached, a maximum of one preparation may be reworked and re-scored. Assignments submitted after the deadline will not be scored. The evaluation will be entered in the IS notebook no later than the Wednesday (inclusive) following the teaching unit with which the assignment was thematically linked. 2. Compulsory attendance at seminars - students are required to attend all seminars on information resources and the seminar in the second part of the course. Any absence must be duly excused by delivering an excuse slip to the FSS MU Study Department/via IS. 3. Final written examination test - test structure: maximum of 55 points (1 question for 15 points and 4 questions for 10 points each). The content of the test is defined by the topics covered and the required literature (including the literature assigned for the seminars).
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught each semester.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
Teacher's information
Teaching at the FSS MU assumes that students are familiar with the study regulations and that they do not engage in fraudulent practices regarding their study obligations, especially copying during exams and plagiarism, which involves presenting other people's ideas as their own and appropriating ideas from other authors without proper attribution. Plagiarism is regarded as one of the most serious ethical violations in academia, as it goes against the mission of the university and the purpose of education. Legally, plagiarism constitutes the theft of someone else's intellectual property. Fraudulent conduct regarding study obligations is not tolerated at FSS under any circumstances. Any instance of fraudulent behavior will be met with the most severe punishment, namely unconditional expulsion from studies. Students are strongly advised to thoroughly familiarize themselves with the issue of plagiarism and the methods to avoid it.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2023, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2023/POLb1001