STV2100 – Contemporary Political Theory: Challenges and Opportunities
Course content
Politics, both domestically and internationally, raises a host of vital normative questions. How should resources, rights, political power, and burdens be distributed? How should we ideally respond to injustices committed by state and non-state actors? And which real-world constraints (should) shape our normative evaluations and prescriptions?
This course focuses on recent developments within core issues of normative political theory. In particular, the course focuses on wealth distribution and taxation, access to natural resources, the politics of climate change, shifts in immigration patterns, the rights of minorities, the politics of warfare, the rise of non-majoritarian institutions, and the importance of globalization.
In each case, the course employs normative political theory to examine these topics, assess their importance, and help prescribe potential remedies.
Learning outcome
Knowledge
You will gain knowledge about recent developments in the following areas:
- domestic and international distributive justice
- theories of territorial rights
- theories of climate justice
- theories of immigration ethics and minority rights
- theories of just war and the legitimacy of humanitarian intervention
- theories of domestic and global democracy
Skills
You will learn:
- how to distinguish between empirical and normative analysis
- how to assess and evaluate normative theories and arguments
- how to develop and structure normative arguments
- how to employ normative methods in argumentation
- how to apply normative theories to specific cases to evaluate the relative rights and obligations of individuals and collectives
- how to use normative theory prescriptively suggest remedies to problems
- how to think about the relationship between normative (ideal) theories and the non-ideal world in which they are employed
- be able to communicate academic knowledge in writing and orally
General competence
You will:
- develop your analytical skills
- develop your skills in assessing normative arguments and theories
- develop the ability to use normative methods and theories
- gain experience in writing academic texts
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.?
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.?
This course is not available for single course students.?
Recommended previous knowledge
Teaching
Lectures and seminars.
Compulsory activities:
- Attend the first seminar
- Attend two of the following four seminars
- Write an outline for your seminar paper
- Present your seminar paper
- Hand in your finalized seminar paper
The seminars are taught in English, and the papers handed in must be written in English.
See the seminar guidelines for more information about the seminars.
See the faculty`s rules for reassignment of seminar groups and requirements for compulsory activities.
Absence from compulsory activities:?
If you are ill or have another valid reason for being absent from compulsory activities, your absence may be approved or the compulsory activity may be postponed.
Access to teaching:?
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, and does not have to in order to take the exam. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Examination
Three hour school exam.?
You must have passed the compulsory activities in order to sit the exam.?
Previous exams and guidelines.
Examination support material
Students may use dictionaries at this exam. Dictionaries must be handed in before the examination. Please read regulations for dictionaries permitted at the examination.?
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.?
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.?
Resit an examination
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.