GV321 Half Unit
Concepts and Controversies in Political Theory
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Prof Leigh Jenco
Availability
This course is available on the BA in Social Anthropology, BSc in History and Politics, BSc in International Social and Public Policy with Politics, BSc in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, BSc in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (with a Year Abroad), BSc in Politics, BSc in Politics and Economics, BSc in Politics and International Relations, BSc in Politics and Philosophy and BSc in Social Anthropology. This course is not available as an outside option to students on other programmes. This course is not available to General Course students.
This course is capped at two groups.
Requisites
Additional requisites:
Students will be expected to have some familiarity with political theory (e.g., having taken GV100 Introduction to Political Theory, GV267 Global Political Thought, GV262 Contemporary Political Theory or some other, relevant module).
Course content
This course is devoted to the advanced study of key concepts and related controversies in political theory, specifically ancient Chinese political thought. Through a survey of foundational thinkers in the Chinese political tradition — including Confucius, Mencius, Xunzi, Laozi and Mozi — we will examine the tensions between the personal and the political, including the role played by cosmological, institutional, and social change in constraining or facilitating human agency. We first gain familiarity with these classical texts before going on to synthesize their diverse perspectives under rubrics of human nature, law, and ritual. We ask how taking these ideas seriously as global political thought can alter our own view of present-day possibility.
This course does not require any prior knowledge of Chinese thought or culture, and all texts will be in English translation. But we will move quickly through the different texts so interest in philosophy and the history of political thought is strongly recommended. The only prerequisite is one prior course in political theory, such as GV100, GV262, or GV267.
Teaching
10 hours of lectures and 15 hours of seminars in the Autumn Term.
This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Autumn Term.
Formative assessment
Essay (1500 words) in Autumn Term Week 6
Students will be expected to submit a 1,500 word formative essay by the end of Week 6 (reading week).
Indicative reading
- Ivanhoe, Philip J. Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy. Edited by Philip J. Ivanhoe and Bryan W. Van Norden. 2nd ed. Hackett Pub Co, 2006.
Historical
- Loewe, Michael, and Edward L Shaughnessy. The Cambridge History of Ancient China: From the Origins of Civilization to 221 B.C. Cambridge, UK; New York: Cambridge University Press, 1999.
Assessment
Course participation (25%)
Essay (75%, 3000 words) in Winter Term Week 1
Class participation will be assessed in the AT.
Key facts
Department: Government
Course Study Period: Autumn Term
Unit value: Half unit
FHEQ Level: Level 6
CEFR Level: Null
Keywords: Political Theory, Chinese Political Thought
Total students 2024/25: 35
Average class size 2024/25: 18
Capped 2024/25: Yes(20)Course selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
Personal development skills
- Self-management
- Team working
- Problem solving
- Communication
- Specialist skills