Political Science

Code:

CC007

Acronym:

CPOL

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Political science

Instance: 2010/2011 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Journalism and Communication Sciences
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Communication Sciences

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
CC	24	Plano Oficial a partir de 2008/2009	2	-	5	52	135

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Politics as the organisation and control of society is of key importance in today’s world. The functioning and structure of political systems affects almost everything in people’s daily lives. Indeed, society is not all about politics, but everything can be about politics. In this sense, in the Western world, political institutions are playing an ever-increasing role in the organisation of society. One of the core elements of politics, power, does not let anyone escape its control. Power today has new forms and new objectives. It is therefore worthwhile highlighting a new power: the ‘fourth estate’, that of the media.
The Political Science course unit tackles the main issues of politics, like power, democracy, political parties, ideology, the state, government, political institutions, and others.
The themes and the forms of representation are chosen based on the learning required by journalist or communicator undergraduates.
At the end of the semester, students must understand the key concepts of politics, in order to better prepare information and communications on this subject.

Program

I - INTRODUCTION
1.1. The concept and scope of Political Science
1.2. Current methods of Political Science
1.2.1. "Behaviourism"
1.2.2. Mathematisation of Political Science
II - POLITICAL THEORY
2.1. Concept of power
2.2. Max Weber’s thought
2.3. Forms of power
2.4. The separation of powers
2.5. Politics, society, moral, ethics
III - IDEOLOGY
3.1. Right-wing
3.1.1. Liberalism
3.1.2. Conservatism
3.2. Left-wing
3.2.1. Socialism
3.2.2. Marxism
3.2.3 Communism
3.2.4. Anarchism
3.3. Totalitarianism
3.3.1. Nationalism
3.3.2. Fascism
3.3.3 Nazism
IV - STATE
4.1. Concept
4.2. Old forms of political power
4.3. Historical evolution of the state
4.4. Characteristics of modern state
4.5. Welfare state (social state)
V - DEMOCRACY
5.1. Concept
5.2. Historical fundamentals of democracy
5.3. Current theories of democracy
5.3.1. Sociological theories
5.3.2. Economic theories
5.3.3. Philosophical theories
VI - PARTICIPATION
6.1. Concept
6.2. Forms of participation
6.3. Universal suffrage
6.4. Electoral systems
6.5. The electoral system in Portugal
6.6. Referendum
VII - POLITICAL PARTIES
7.1. Interest groups and social movement
7.2. Political parties
7.3.1. Origin
7.3.2. Definition
7.3.3. Role
7.3.4. Systematisation
7.3.5. Funding
VIII - ADMINISTRATION
8.1. Concept
8.2. Representation and parliament
8.3. Government
8.4. Public administration and public policies
8.5. Judiciary

Mandatory literature

Bobio, Norbert; Matteucci, Nicola e Pasquino, Gianfranco; Dicionário da Política I, II, Universidade de Brasilia, 1991. ISBN: 85-230-0308-8
Porta, Donatella Della; Introdução à Ciência Política, Editorial Estampa, 2003. ISBN: 972-33-1839-3
Caminal, Badia Miguel (editor); Manual de Ciencia Política, Tecnos, 1999. ISBN: 84-309-3363-8

Complementary Bibliography

Marquaes, António Bessa e Nogueira, Jaime Pinto; Introdução à Política I, II, III, Verbo, 2002
Moreira, Adriano; Ciência Política, Almedina, 1992
Sartori, Giovanni; A Política, universidade de Brasilia, 1981
Rados, Milan; A Política Externa da União Europeia, O Espírito das Leis, 2003. ISBN: 972-9020-03-5
Rados, Milan; Mundo e Comunicação, uma história política contemporânea, Afrontamento, 2008. ISBN: 978-972-36-0943-1

Teaching methods and learning activities

The usual social sciences teaching approach will generally be used, i.e. the expository method. We will use all sorts of audiovisual aids, i.e. boards, overhead projector, transparencies, thematic maps, etc.

Evaluation Type

Evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Description	Type	Time (hours)	Weight (%)	End date
Attendance (estimated)	Participação presencial	52,00
	Exame	2,00
	Trabalho escrito	81,00
	Total:	-	0,00

Eligibility for exams

- attending at least 75% of classes
- written assignment and oral presentation
- final exam

Calculation formula of final grade

- exam: 65 % (13 points)
- assignment 25 % (5 points)
- attendance 10 % (2 points)

Examinations or Special Assignments

written assignment, presented orally

Classification improvement

- As provided in the FLUP Assessment Regulations