Course Objectives

This course will provide students with an overview of the principal ideas in political thinking in the West, from Antiquity up until the present. These political ideas and their history will be discussed with respect to general historical development and in light of the main trends and changes, which characterize Western thought (cf. 3351 Introduction to the History of Ideas). Part of the course concerns those ideas which have made a special impact in Norwegian political thinking and practice.

Course Description

The main focus of the course will consist of: the individual and the state; freedom and authority; the origin of the state; the ideal state; natural laws and positive laws; right and power; religion; reason and tradition as a basis for political legitimacy; human rights and equality; democracy; liberalism and conservatism; socialism; communism; fascism; the welfare state and the minimal state. Students must write a term paper with obligatory supervision. The supervisor must approve the topic for the paper.

Learning Methods

Lectures and seminars 3 - 4 hours per week.

Assessment Methods

The ongoing assessment of the course will include written exercises and/or submitted work which will count for 40% of the final grade. The final written examination will count for 60%. Students must receive passing marks for both the ongoing assessment and the final examination in order to achieve a final passing grade for the course. Graded marks.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean