2008/09 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

PIED2600 The Age of Ideology

20 creditsClass Size: 120

Module manager: Dr John Schwarzmantel
Email: J.J.Schwarzmantel@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2008/09

This module is approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module should attract anyone interested in political ideas and their historical development in the period of 'modernity'. It is a broad survey course which covers the familiar ideologies of Left and Right, but also new ideologies like feminism and environmentalism. The last two centuries have been dominated by the struggle between Left and Right, stemming from the French Revolution, and the conflict between the 'great isms' of politics: liberalism, socialism, conservatism, nationalism, fascism, anarchism, communism, and these are all covered in this module. But the module also raises debate about whether these ideologies have lost their capacity to mobilise people, and whether we are in a post-modern or post-ideological age in which questions of identity and more fragmented loyalties replace the ideologies which stemmed from the French Revolution. What are the new ideologies, like environmentalism and feminism, that are challenging the old established ideologies of Left and Right? Have concepts of 'Left' and 'Right' lost their significance as terms of debate? Does 'The Third Way' provide a convincing alternative to traditional socialism? For further information see the School of Politics and International Studies website. If you cannot find the answer to your question then email J.J.Schwarzmantel@leeds.ac.uk

Objectives

On completion of this module, students will be able to understand the development and present relevance of those political ideologies and doctrines which have dominated political and social life in Europe and North America for the past two centuries. They will be able to understand the problems and tensions within each of these central political ideologies, and the view of 'the good society' which each presents, as well as the way in which each ideology has found expression in social and political movements. In addition, students will have the necessary knowledge to discuss the contemporary relevance of these central political doctrines, and the ability to weigh up the strengths and weaknesses of central themes of political debate.

Syllabus

This module discusses some of the central ideologies which have dominated the politics of the modern world since the era of the American and French Revolutions of the end of the 18th century. It opens with a presentation of the central strands of the political thought of those revolutions and the challenge which they presented to the old order. The module then investigates the development of ideas of liberalism and socialism, conservatism and nationalism, as ideologies which developed or reacted against the ideas of the two revolutions. It concludes with an examination of the continued relevance of these ideological traditions to the conditions of late 20th century politics and the challenge to the revolutionary tradition of ?post-modernist' theories and movements.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	11	1.00	11.00
Seminar	11	1.00	11.00
Private study hours			178.00
Total Contact hours			22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

One non-assessed essay of 2500-3000 words.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	2,500-3,000 words	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	2 hr 00 mins	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 03/04/2009

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