166-407 Contemporary Political and Social Theory

Admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth-year honours in political science or postgraduate programs in political science.

This subject examines contemporary debates in political and social theory with a particular focus on developments within and challenges to liberal democracy. Initially the difficulties of liberalism in the face of social change will be analysed in the light of theories of postmodernism, postindustrialism and McDonaldisation. From this basis recent theories of democratic renewal are discussed including those concerned with the 'Third Way', social capital and civil society. Alternative theories of political renewal in complex, pluralistic societies will then be examined focusing in particular on the way that they understand violence, disagreement and incivility. The subject concludes by evaluating recent radical democratic theories which are concerned with establishing a new ethical framework through which we can rethink political disagreement.

• possess the ability to explain and analyse complex ideas in a lucid fashion;

• be capable or organising their work into a coherent structured argument;

• be able to identify and access relevant research to the topic;

• display evidence of an analytical approach to theoretical debates;

• be able to explain the implications of theories for practical politics;

• demonstrate a thorough and critical understanding of the literature relevant to the topic.

An essay of 5000 words 100% (due at the end of semester).

A subject reader will be available.