Course syllabus Liberalism and its Critics
Swedish name: Liberalismen och dess kritiker
Course code:
1SS087
Valid from semester:
Autumn Term 2024
Education cycle:
First cycle
Scope:
7.5 credits
Progression:
G1N
Grading scale:
Three-grade scale
Main field of study:
Political Science: Security Studies
Department:
Department of Political Science and Law
Subject:
Political Science
Language of instruction:
The teaching is conducted in English.
Decided by:
Forsknings- och utbildningsnämndens kursplaneutskott (KUS)
Decision date:
2023-10-24
Entry requirements
General entry requirements + Samhällskunskap (Civics) A alternatively Samhällskunskap (Civics) 1b alternatively Samhällskunskap (Civics) 1a1 + 1a2 and
English proficiency equivalent to English B or English 6 is also required.
English proficiency equivalent to English B or English 6 is also required.
Course content and structure
The aim of the course is to create opportunities for the student to gain a deeper understanding of liberalism and some of its most prominent critics. The course covers the political, economic and social dimensions of liberalism. In the first part of the course, some of the liberal tradition's most important theorists are examined. In the second part of the course, the student is introduced to a number of critics of the political, economic and social dimensions of liberalism. The course covers both domestic and global dimensions of the liberal project. Ultimately, at a time when it is common to proclaim both the dominance and the crisis of liberalism, the course creates opportunities for the student to gain a deeper understanding of the assumptions underlying some of the most pressing contemporary political debates.
The course is structured around lectures, compulsory seminars, an individual written assignment in the form of a take-home examination and self-study. The aim of the lectures is to introduce the topic of the week and to highlight key issues in the readings in order to facilitate the student's reading of the course literature prior to the seminar. The compulsory seminars are the most important part of the course and active student participation is expected. The aim of the seminars is to create opportunities for the student to gain a deeper understanding of the course readings and of the key issues, themes and debates regarding liberalism. Seminar questions will be distributed in advance to help the student identify and reflect on the central issues in the readings and to stimulate discussion during the seminars.
Type of Instruction
The course is structured around lectures, compulsory seminars, an individual written assignment in the form of a take-home examination and self-study. The aim of the lectures is to introduce the topic of the week and to highlight key issues in the readings in order to facilitate the student's reading of the course literature prior to the seminar. The compulsory seminars are the most important part of the course and active student participation is expected. The aim of the seminars is to create opportunities for the student to gain a deeper understanding of the course readings and of the key issues, themes and debates regarding liberalism. Seminar questions will be distributed in advance to help the student identify and reflect on the central issues in the readings and to stimulate discussion during the seminars.
Type of Instruction
- Seminars
- Lectures
- Independent Literature Studies
Objectives
Upon completion of the course, the student is expected to be able to:
Knowledge and understanding
Competence and skills
Judgement and approach
Knowledge and understanding
- Explain the central dimensions and assumptions of liberalism.
- Explain some of the most important criticisms directed against liberalism.
Competence and skills
- Critically examine the assumptions on which liberalism rests.
- Critically examine the assumptions made by some of the most important critics of liberalism.
Judgement and approach
- Independently engage in contemporary debates on the strengths and weaknesses of liberalism.
Examination formats
Liberalism and its Critics
Scope: 7.5
Grading Scale: Fail, Pass, Pass with Distinction
The course is examined through a written home examination and through active participation in compulsory seminars.
Active participation in the seminars presupposes that the student orally discusses key issues and problems within the framework of the course based on the course literature.
The examiner may decide that absence from a seminar or participation that does not achieve the grade pass (G) in certain cases can be supplemented with a complementary written assignment. Such an assignment must be submitted or presented within three working days, as from when the examiner communicates such information.
In the case of not fulfilling the requirements for the grade Pass (G) on the written examination the student may be given a complementary written assignment to achieve the grade Pass (G). The student has three working days to complete such task, unless there are special reasons approved by the examiner. Late examinations are not graded unless there are special reasons approved by the examiner.
Grading
For the written home examination the student is graded on a three-point grading scale: Fail (U), Pass (G) and Pass with Distinction (VG). For the seminars the student is graded on a two-point grading scale: Fail (U) and Pass (G). Grading criteria are reported at the latest at the start of the course.
For the grade G on the course, the student must obtain the grade G in the compulsory seminars and the grade G on the written home examination.
For the grade VG on the course, the student must obtain the grade G in the compulsory seminars and the grade VG on the written home examination.
Restrictions in Number of Examinations
There is no limit on the total number of examination opportunities.
Scope: 7.5
Grading Scale: Fail, Pass, Pass with Distinction
The course is examined through a written home examination and through active participation in compulsory seminars.
Active participation in the seminars presupposes that the student orally discusses key issues and problems within the framework of the course based on the course literature.
The examiner may decide that absence from a seminar or participation that does not achieve the grade pass (G) in certain cases can be supplemented with a complementary written assignment. Such an assignment must be submitted or presented within three working days, as from when the examiner communicates such information.
In the case of not fulfilling the requirements for the grade Pass (G) on the written examination the student may be given a complementary written assignment to achieve the grade Pass (G). The student has three working days to complete such task, unless there are special reasons approved by the examiner. Late examinations are not graded unless there are special reasons approved by the examiner.
Grading
For the written home examination the student is graded on a three-point grading scale: Fail (U), Pass (G) and Pass with Distinction (VG). For the seminars the student is graded on a two-point grading scale: Fail (U) and Pass (G). Grading criteria are reported at the latest at the start of the course.
For the grade G on the course, the student must obtain the grade G in the compulsory seminars and the grade G on the written home examination.
For the grade VG on the course, the student must obtain the grade G in the compulsory seminars and the grade VG on the written home examination.
Restrictions in Number of Examinations
There is no limit on the total number of examination opportunities.
Transitional provisions
When the course is no longer offered or when the course content has changed substantially, the student has the right to be examined once per semester during a three-term period in accordance with this syllabus.
Other regulations
The course cannot be included in a degree with another course whose content fully or partially corresponds to the content of this course.
If the Swedish Defence University has formally decided that the student is entitled to receive special educational support due to a disability, the examiner may decide on alternative forms of examination for the student.
On the completion of the course, an evaluation will be conducted under the auspices of the course director, which will form the basis for any changes to the course.
This is an edited version of the syllabus, created to transfer the original to the education database Ladok education planning. For originals, refer to the archive.
If the Swedish Defence University has formally decided that the student is entitled to receive special educational support due to a disability, the examiner may decide on alternative forms of examination for the student.
On the completion of the course, an evaluation will be conducted under the auspices of the course director, which will form the basis for any changes to the course.
This is an edited version of the syllabus, created to transfer the original to the education database Ladok education planning. For originals, refer to the archive.