PL30902: Contemporary critical thinkers: theory and praxes
[Page last updated: 05 August 2021]
| Academic Year: | 2021/2 |
| Owning Department/School: | Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies |
| Credits: | 6 [equivalent to 12 CATS credits] |
| Notional Study Hours: | 120 |
| Level: | Honours (FHEQ level 6) |
| Period: |
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| Assessment Summary: | CW 33%, ES 67% |
| Assessment Detail: |
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| Supplementary Assessment: |
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| Requisites: | |
| Aims: | Through key themes and thinkers, this unit will explore various trends in contemporary critical thought. The aim will be to provide students with a more sophisticated understanding of society through an in-depth study of the role of hegemony and power. While the lectures will be predominantly theoretical to provide a sound basis to build upon, students will be expected to engage with praxis through their in-class discussions and assessment. Tapping into the department's key research theme of Politics beyond the mainstream, this unit will be research-led and team-taught. |
| Learning Outcomes: | Upon completion of this unit, the successful student will be able to demonstrate the following:
1. A critical understanding of key critical thinkers and themes central to contemporary debates over power and politics. 2. An understanding and appreciation of the concept of power, hegemony and discourse. 3. An appreciation of the role of critical theory in the development of political praxes. 4. The ability to synthesise in detail the impact of critical theory on the current political debate. 5. A sophisticated understanding of contemporary political theory and philosophy. |
| Skills: | Skills in critical analysis, conceptual thinking, precision in the use of written and spoken language, exercise of independent judgement, reasoned argument and the planning/conduct/reporting of non-quantitative research are developed and assessed in this unit. |
| Content: | Across ten weeks, this unit will look at themes such as democracy, communism, violence, feminism, agonism, post-colonialism, capitalism and autonomy. This unit will focus on authors such as Slavoj Žižek, Jacques Rancière, Judith Butler, Jodi Dean, Cornelius Castoriadis and Alain Badiou |
| Programme availability: |
PL30902 is Optional on the following programmes:Department of Economics
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