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This course offers an introduction to political ideologies. The first part of the course focuses on different Marxist and non-Marxist approaches to the study of ideology. After the notion of "ideology" is introduced, three blocks devoted to main traditional ideologies (liberalism, socialism and conservatism) follow. Finally, the course shifts its attention to the concluding critical block featuring post-material ideologies and populism.
Last update: Halamka Tomáš, Mgr., Ph.D. (30.09.2021)
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The course aims to offer the students a decent understanding of ideologies as an organizing cluster of political concepts as well as an insight to some of the most influential ideas and texts in liberal, socialist and conservative traditions of political thought. Participation in the seminar should improve the students’ analytical, writing and argumentative skills and it is devised to support, broaden and further develop knowledge gained in compulsory courses on political philosophy. It is therefore highly recommended to attend this course after taking the compulsory classes focused on political philosophy. Last update: Halamka Tomáš, Mgr., Ph.D. (21.09.2020)
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All compulsory sources as well as other recommended sources can be found at the Moodle page of the course. For a list of compulsory literature see "syllabus" section here. Last update: Halamka Tomáš, Mgr., Ph.D. (02.10.2024)
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Course Grading: Attendance: Obligatory (maximum of 2 absences) Active Participation: 10% Assignments: 40% (2x20%) Final Exam: 50%
Attendance Attendance is obligatory in this course. Each student is allowed to miss the class twice. More unexcused absences will prevent the student from taking the final exam and completing the course. Active Participation Students are expected to actively and meaningfully engage in class discussions. Therefore, reading the texts in advance of the class is of paramount importance.
Assignments Each course participant has to submit two assignments. The assignments must relate to the text discussed at the seminar. More specifically, each assignment should concentrate on a particular issue or idea in the text that the student finds interesting. The selected issue can either be analysed as such or related to other thinkers, historical parallels, temporal context or contemporary politics of the present day. Each student is expected to briefly (3 minutes) introduce the assignment in their own words in class. Each assignment has to be made for different seminars and submitted at least 24 hours before the seminar class starts. The required length of one assignment is 800–1200 words. The use of secondary literature or other additional resources is highly recommended. The assignments are to be submitted via Moodle. The assignment topics have to be selected via Moodle poll by October 15.
Final Exam The final oral exam is focused on one of the main course topics and related literature. The student selects a random number (1-12) corresponding with the respective class session by lot. Topics which were covered in the student's assignments are excluded. See Moodle course page for further details. Grading Scale The Faculty of Social Sciences uses the following A-F grading scale
Last update: Halamka Tomáš, Mgr., Ph.D. (02.10.2024)
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Part I – Ideology as an Object of Study Class 1: Introduction to the Study of Ideologies Reading: Heywood, A. - Political Ideologies, 7th Edition (chapter 1, pp. 1-23)
Class 2: Marx's Notion of Ideology Reading: Marx, K., Engels, F. - The German Ideology (selections of Part One Feuerbach, Opposition of the Materialist and Idealist Outlook, pp. 29-30, 33-44, 47-58, 67-71)
Class 3: Non-Marxist Approaches to Ideology Reading: Freeden, M. – The Morphological Analysis of Ideology (c. 7, pp. 115-135 in The Oxford Handbook of Political Ideologies) Recommended only: Freeden, M. – Ideology Between Method and Meaning: The Gateway to the Political (audio) AND Freeden, M – Ideology: A Very Short Introduction
Part II - Liberalism Class 4: Liberalism I Reading: Mill, J. S. – On Liberty (c. 1 and 3) AND Green, T. H. - Liberal Legislation and Freedom of Contract (c. 3.22, pp. 135-138 in the Reader)
Class 5: Liberalism II Reading: Rand, A. – What Is Capitalism? (video) AND Obama, B. – Speech at Osawatomie (video) Assignment alternative: Lib Dem Manifesto
Part III - Socialism Class 6: Socialism I Reading: Owen, R. – Address to the Inhabitants of New Lanark (excerpt, c. 5.37, pp. 239-242 in the Reader) AND Kautsky, K. – The Dictatorship of the Proletariat (c. I-IV, pp. 3-32)
Class 7: Socialism II Reading: A) Cohen, G. A. – Why not Socialism? OR B) Fraser, N. – Cannibal Capitalism (Preface and c. 6, pp. xii-xvii, 141-157) Assignment Alternative: Labour Manifesto
PART IV - Conservatism Class 8: Conservatism I Reading: Burke, E. – Reflections on the Revolution in France (pp. 26-33: Price's Third Claim, 74-84: English prejudices, 139-147: Burke's plan, 208-210: Conclusion) AND Kirk, R. - Ten Conservative Principles (c. 4.32, pp. 203-209 in the Reader)
Class 9: Conservatism II Reading: Scruton, R. - Why I became a conservative (newspaper) AND Boot, M., Brooks, D.- Conservatives Assess Trump (c. 4.35, pp. 223-228 in the Reader) Assignment alternative: Conservative Manifesto
PART V – Beyond Traditional Ideologies Class 10: Populism Reading: Mudde, C; Kaltwasser, R. – Populism: A Very Short Introduction (c. 1 and 4, pp. 1-20, 62-78) Assignment alternative: Any “Populist” Party Manifesto.
Class 11: Postmaterialism I Reading: A) Inglehart, R. – The Silent Revolution, pp. 3-39; Inglehart, R. - The Rise of Trump and the Xenophobic Populist Parties: The Silent Revolution in Reverse (video) OR B) Shiva, V. – Earth Democracy (Preface + c. Principles of Earth Democracy, pp. vii-xxix, 9-11) Assignment alternative: Green Party Manifesto
Class 12: Postmaterialism II Reading: Freeden, M. - Green Ideology: Retreat and Regrouping (c. 14, pp. 526-550 in Ideologies and Political Theory) AND Falkvinge, R. – The Pirate Wheel (model) AND Falkvinge, R. – The Pirate Party: The politics of protest (Tedx Talk video) Assignment Alternative: Czech Pirate Party Manifesto (in Czech)
Class 13: Concluding Remarks No literature Last update: Halamka Tomáš, Mgr., Ph.D. (03.10.2024)
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The Course is primarilly offered for the 2nd and 3rd year students who have already completed the compulsory courses in political philosophy. Last update: Halamka Tomáš, Mgr., Ph.D. (12.09.2024)
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