Contemporary Political and Social Theory

This subject is not offered in 2012.

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Politics and International Studies at Undergraduate level

166-407 Contemporary Political and Social Theory

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject examines contemporary debates in political and social theory with a particular focus on developments within and challenges to liberal democracy. Initially the difficulties of liberalism in the face of social change will be analysed in the light of theories of postmodernism, postindustrialism and McDonaldisation. From this basis recent theories of democratic renewal are discussed including those concerned with the 'Third Way', social capital and civil society. Alternative theories of political renewal in complex, pluralistic societies will then be examined focusing in particular on the way that they understand violence, disagreement and incivility. The subject concludes by evaluating recent radical democratic theories which are concerned with establishing a new ethical framework through which we can rethink political disagreement.

• understand the major challenges to liberal democracy in contemproary political theory.
• be able to explain the implications for political theory of recent social and cultural phenomena such as postmodernism and McDonaldisation.
• grasp theories of democratic renewal such as those associated with risk society, the Third Way and social capital.
• be able to articulate the reasons why there has been a shift towards deliberative politics in recent theory.
• understand the relationship between civility and incivility and their implications for understanding democracy.
• comprehend the growth of pluralistic interpretations of complex societies in relation to political conflict and disagreement.
• be able to explain the reasons behind the emergence of radical theories of democracy and their implications for political ethics.

An essay of 5000 words (100%) due during the examination period.

Hurdle Requirement: Students are required to attend a minimum of 75% of classes in order to qualify to have their written work assessed. Students who fail to meet this hurdle requirement will be deemed ineligible to submit the final piece of assessment for this subject. Regular participation in class is required.

Assessment that is submitted after the due date and up to 10 working days late without an approved extension will be marked on a pass/fail basis only. Assessment that is submitted later than 10 working days will not be accepted or marked. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

A subject reader will be available for purchase from the University Bookshop.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• possess the ability to explain and analyse complex ideas in a lucid fashion.
• be capable or organising their work into a coherent structured argument.
• be able to identify and access relevant research to the topic.
• display evidence of an analytical approach to theoretical debates.
• be able to explain the implications of theories for practical politics.
• demonstrate a thorough and critical understanding of the literature relevant to the topic.