Course: Political Science I

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Course title Political Science I
Course code KPOL/KB002
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Seminary
Level of course Bachelor
Year of study 2
Semester Winter
Number of ECTS credits 3
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Bláha Petr, Mgr. Ph.D.
Course content
1) Basics of political science, its formation, subject of study 2) Political science and its relation to other social sciences 3) Politics and its importance (Policy, Politics and Policy) 4) Basic approach to politics before the emergence of political science 5) State - origin, essence, functions and signs of the state, classification of states - republics x monarchies, simple state x compound, secular x theocratic 6) Democracy - research of democracy in political science (theory, models, authors), definition and basic features of democracy, typology of democracies - direct x indirect democracy, majority x consensual democracy, etc., issues of formation and development of democracy in the Europe and in the world 7) Political ideologies - the essence and function of ideologies, characteristics of key political ideologies (conservatism, liberalism, socialism) 8) Extreme political ideologies (fascism/Nazism, anarchism, communism) 9) Constitution and constitutionality - starting points and development of modern constitutionalism, characteristics, structure, function and classification of constitutions, principles of constitutionality in a democratic state 10) Totalitarianism - definition and characteristics of totalitarianism of the 20th century 11) Authoritarianism - the issue of other types of undemocratic political regimes and their research in political science 12) Transitions to democracy 13) Hybrid democracy

Learning activities and teaching methods
unspecified, unspecified, unspecified
Learning outcomes
The course is designed as an overview and aims to acquaint students with the main thematic areas and problems that are of interest in political science.
The student will gain an overview of key political science disciplines, has knowledge of the topics discussed, which will be used in other more specifically focused political science courses (e.g. Comparative Political Science, The Czech Party System) and the study of political science in general.
Prerequisites
Basic orientation in political ideologies.

Assessment methods and criteria
unspecified
To complete the course is needed: - Seminar work in the range of at least 7 standard pages - Final written test
Recommended literature
  • BERG-SCHLOSSER, D. - STAMMEN, T. Úvod do politické vědy. Praha, 2000.
  • ČERMÁK, V. - FIALA, P. - HOUBAL, D. Pozvání do politologie. Brno, 1994.
  • DOČEKALOVÁ, P., ŠVEC, K. Úvod do politologie. Praha, 2009.
  • HEYWOOD, A. Politologie. Praha, 2004.
  • NOVOTNÝ, L. Politologie. Praha, 2010.
  • PROROK, V., LISA, A. Politologie. Plzeň, 2009.
  • ŘÍCHOVÁ, B. Přehled moderních politologických teorií. Praha, 2000.
  • ŘÍCHOVÁ, B. Úvod do současné politologie. Praha, 2002.
  • TÓTH, R. - KRNO, S. - KULAŠÍK, P. Stručný politologický slovník. Bratislava, 1991.
  • ŽALOUDEK, K. Encyklopedie politiky. Praha, 1999.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester