Subject: Early modern and modern political thought

Code: 19164
Centre: Philosophy and Letters
Course: International Studies
Level: Undergraduate
Type: Compulsory
Number of credits: 6
Instructor: Dr. Ren Paddags
Academic year: 2017-18

COURSE TITLE
Early modern and modern political thought

1.1. Course number

19164

1.2. Content area

SOCIAL SCIENCES: POLITICS, ECONOMICS Y AND INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY

1.3. Course type

Compulsory Subject

1.4. Course level

Bachelor (First Cycle)

1.5. Year
3rd

1.6. Semester
2nd

1.7. Credit allotment

6 ECTS credits
1.8. Prerequisites
None
This course is taught in English. Students who are not native English-speakers
must either pass a written examination or provide written proof of at least a
B2 level of knowledge of English.

1.9. Minimum attendance requirement

Attendance is mandatory and will be verified. The subject will not be graded
unless a minimum 75% of attendance is registered. Students unable to attend
the minimum of 75% of the hours of classes must petition the Comisin

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 Subject: Early modern and modern political thought
Code: 19164
Centre: Philosophy and Letters
Course: International Studies
Level: Undergraduate
Type: Compulsory
Number of credits: 6
Instructor: Dr. Ren Paddags
Academic year: 2017-18

Tcnica de Seguimiento del Grado (coordinacion.eint@uam.es) for an

exemption. If the reason for requesting the exemption is a conflict in
scheduling due to courses pending, the student should request the exemption
during the first month of the semester. In all other cases the student should
contact the CTS when the specific occasion arises (illness, work schedule,
etc).

1.10. Faculty data

Profesor Ren Paddags (English section)
Departamento de Historia Contempornea, Facultad de Filosofa y Letras
Office: Mdulo VI, Despacho 313
Telephone: TBD
E-mail: TBD Tutorials: to be
determined

1.11. Course objectives

This course aims to introduce students to the main movements of modern
political thought from a political-philosophical perspective. Beginning with the
origins of the modern state in 16th-century Europe to present-day
globalization, and through the study of classical political authors, this course
explores a wide range of theoretical contributions to debates over the state
and the nation, the social order, the links between religion and politics,
liberties, civil rights, citizenship and collective identities, in order to better
understand political debates in today's world.

The learning objectives and skills stressed by this course include:

General and basic skills:

CG1 Apply acquired knowledge from the social sciences and humanities to analyze
the international system and order.

CG2 Locate and interpret complex information from different fields in the humanities
and social sciences in order to analyze international problems.

CG3 Be familiar with and apply different qualitative or quantitative research

methodologies in order to analyze change in international systems and orders through
time.

CG4 - Be able to transmit orally information, ideas, problems, and solutions to both
specialist and general audiences.

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 Subject: Early modern and modern political thought
Code: 19164
Centre: Philosophy and Letters
Course: International Studies
Level: Undergraduate
Type: Compulsory
Number of credits: 6
Instructor: Dr. Ren Paddags
Academic year: 2017-18

CG5 - Be able to debate global and specific matters, relating concepts and knowledge
from different disciplines after analyzing different ideological, theoretical and
normative positions.

CB1 Show basic knowledge and understanding of a subject area already familiar from
secondary school, and progressing now to a level of advanced textbook knowledge, and
even to a certain degree of familiarity with knowledge at the forefront of the field of
study.

CB2 Apply acquired knowledge to one's future profession, developing and defending
arguments and solving problems within the discipline.

CB3 Develop the learning skills needed to undertake more advanced study requiring a
high level of intellectual independence.

CB4 - Develop the ability orally to transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions
to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

CB5 - Develop the learning skills needed to undertake more advanced study requiring a
high level of intellectual independence.

Cross skills:

CT5 - Learn to reflect on and critically evaluate one's own education.

CT6 - Show receptiveness and respect in the exchange of concepts and ideas, valuing
independent learning and staying up to date, while fomenting proactive and critical
attitudes toward knowledge.

CT7 - Develop participatory, committed, respectful and cooperative attitudes while

working in groups, while showing initative and willingness to take risks.

CT8 - Acquire the ability to discover, critically analyze and justify the ethical
implications of strategies for study and research into different levels of social relations.

Specific skills:

CE6 - Learn and understand the basic features of the globalization of social, economic
and political activities.

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 Subject: Early modern and modern political thought
Code: 19164
Centre: Philosophy and Letters
Course: International Studies
Level: Undergraduate
Type: Compulsory
Number of credits: 6
Instructor: Dr. Ren Paddags
Academic year: 2017-18

CE12 - Analyze and understand the basic features of political and constitutional systems
and regimes from a historical and comparative perspective.

CE14 Understand different theoretical perspectives on development and the future of

international cooperation for development (skill specific to the mention in International
Cooperation).

CE22 Acquire both historical and present-day perspectives on international economic

relations, institutional mechanisms, and their impact on national economies.

CE23 Understand concepts and theories of economic development and their

application to national and international policies of cooperation.

CE25 Identify the main periods in the history of the social sciences and of political
and social thought, as well as their presentday trends.
1.12. Course contents
SYLLABUS:

1. The Modern Revolution in Political Thought

2. The Origin of Modern Political Thought

3. Moderating Modern Political Thought

4. The Beginning of Historicism

5. The Radicalization of Modern Political Thought

6. The End of Modern Political Thought?

1.13. Course bibliography

Students will be required to read carefully approximately 500 pages of texts
by the main authors studied during the course, and then will be expected to
comment upon them in discussion classes. Sources for readings include:

STRAUSS, Leo, and CROPSEY, Joseph: History of Political Philosophy (3rd

edition). University of Chicago Press, 1987.

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 Subject: Early modern and modern political thought
Code: 19164
Centre: Philosophy and Letters
Course: International Studies
Level: Undergraduate
Type: Compulsory
Number of credits: 6
Instructor: Dr. Ren Paddags
Academic year: 2017-18

SKINNER, Quentin: The Foundations of Modern Political Thought, Cambridge

University Press, 1978. (2 vols.).

POCOCK, J. G. A.: Virtue, Commerce and History. Essays on Political Thought

and History, Chiefly in the Eighteenth Century. Cambridge University Press,
1995.

BURNS, J. H. (ed.): The Cambridge History of Political Thought, 14501700.

Cambridge University Press, 1991.

GOLDIE, Mark N and WOKLER, Robert (eds.): The Cambridge History of

EighteenthCentury Political Thought. Cambridge University Press, 2006.

STEDMAN JONES, Gareth and CLAEYS, Gregory (eds.): The Cambridge History
of NineteenthCentury Political Thought. Cambridge University Press, 2011.

BALL, Terence (ed.): The Cambridge History of TwentiethCentury Political

Thought. Cambridge University Press, 2003.

2. Teaching methodology

1. Inclass Lectures: focus on the presentation of the basic theoretical

contents of the course.

2. Inclass Discussions: provide opportunities to review, challenge, and

discuss the texts in regard o the basic themes of the course, and to
make oral presentations of group work.

3. Activities beyond the Classroom: individual or group tutorials,

discussions, documentary films, etc.

3. Student workload
Number
of Percentage
hours
In the Class lectures 42 h 33%

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 Subject: Early modern and modern political thought
Code: 19164
Centre: Philosophy and Letters
Course: International Studies
Level: Undergraduate
Type: Compulsory
Number of credits: 6
Instructor: Dr. Ren Paddags
Academic year: 2017-18

classroom Discussion classes (minimum)

Tutorials 3h = 50 hours
Other activities 3h
Final Exam 2h
Outside Practical work (short papers, etc) 38 h
67%=
the Weekly Study (3h x 14 weeks) 42 h
100 hours
classroom Studying for the Exam 20 h
Total work load: 25 horas x 6 ECTS 150 h

4. Evaluation procedures and weight of components

in the final grade

Attendance and participation in discussion classes: 10%

Individual presentations: 20%
Written essays: 30%
Exam: 40%

Students who fail to pass the course during the regular semester have a
second opportunity in the yearend evaluation period in JuneJuly. The
evaluation will consist of an examination and/or written work, to be indicated
by the professor during the month of May.

Evaluation (ordinary and extraordinary) for students exempted from

attendance

Students who have received official exemption from attendance from the CTS
will be graded as follows:

Final Exam: 50%

Additional written papers and examinations on semester readings or about
practices: 50%

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 Subject: Early modern and modern political thought
Code: 19164
Centre: Philosophy and Letters
Course: International Studies
Level: Undergraduate
Type: Compulsory
Number of credits: 6
Instructor: Dr. Ren Paddags
Academic year: 2017-18

5. Course calendar
Week Contents Contact hours Independent study time

1 Introduction to the Course 3 3

and Theme 1
2 Theme 2 3 5
3 Theme 2 3 5

4 Theme 2 3 5

5 Theme 3 3 5

6 Theme 3 3+3 5

Week Contents Contact hours Independent study time

7 Theme 3 3 8

8 Theme 3 3 8

9 Theme 4 3 8

10 Theme 4 3 8

11 Theme 5 3 8

12 Theme 5 3 8

13 Theme 5 3 8

14 Theme 5 3 8

15 Theme 6 3 8

16 Examination 2

*This timetable is provisional and non-binding

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