Political Theory

PS5221    Radical Political Thought (Discontinued)

PS5315    Seminar in Political Theory 
Modular Credits: 4 
Workload: 0-3-0-2-5 
Prerequisite(s): Nil 
Preclusion(s): Nil 
Cross-listing(s): Nil 

This is a core module in political theory designed for students in any subfield of political science. It selectively examines both the history of the subject and current ideas, theorists, and methodologies. Particular attention is given to alternative understandings of the activity of theorising (e.g. scientific explanation, historical explanation, cultural interpretation, moral prescription, and philosophical analysis of concepts and presuppositions) and to debates about the character and aims of political theorising.

PS5403    Globalisation, Modernity and Politics (Discontinued)

PS5601    Game Theory for Political Science 
Modular Credits: 4 
Workload: 0-3-0-2-5 
Prerequisite(s): Nil 
Preclusion(s): Nil 
Cross-listing(s): Nil 

Introduces students to the rudiments of game theory within political science. Provides all students with the ability to solve simple games. Students evaluate "applied theory" articles in the major journals. Readings draw from basic texts on game theoretic modelling and applied articles in various subfields of political science.

PS6221    Advanced Seminar in Political Theory 
Modular Credits: 4 
Workload: 0-3-0-2-5 
Prerequisite(s): Nil 
Preclusion(s): Nil 
Cross-listing(s): Nil 

This module addresses the following issues. How can we explain the relationship between Man’s Nature and Reasonable Science? Is there a relationship between these variables in the first place, and if so, are they co-variant? Indeed, what does “reason” have to do with “science”? Is man naturally predisposed to scientific study and does man’s reasoning necessarily create knowledge? The main teaching objective is to encourage greater interest in political science and political theory. The secondary teaching objective is to prepare students for the master and doctoral writing stage in political science. Learning objective is to provide students with the ability to analyse politics critically using relevant work in political thought.


PS6222    Theories of Justice 
Modular Credits: 4 
Workload: 0-3-0-2-5 
Prerequisite(s): Nil 
Preclusion(s): PS5207, PS6207 
Cross-listing(s): Nil 

This module introduces students to modern and contemporary theories of distributive justice and procedural ethics. With an emphasis upon the 20th century, this module examines recent writings on discourse ethics, deliberative democracy and Kant’s, Rawls’ and Nozick’s liberal responses to utilitarianism. A section of the module is also devoted to rational choice theory and various non-normative theories of justice. Students interested in Political Theory should read this module.


PS6312    Global Civil Society 
Modular Credits: 4 
Workload: 0-3-0-2-5 
Prerequisite(s): Nil 
Preclusion(s): Nil 
Cross-listing(s): Nil 

Global civil society is a highly contested and nebulous product of globalisation. In its most popularly-invoked definition, global civil society is taken to refer to that quasi-independent realm of transnational political coordination and conscientious protest not formally controlled by sovereign states. This module studies the roots of such a form of political action through frameworks such as transnational social movements, ad-hoc nongovernmental coalitions and counter-hegemonic ideological resistance. Case studies of examples of globally-networked philanthropic and conscientious non-state actors will illuminate elements of a transnational civil society and the debates surrounding their reason for existence.

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