Course Syllabus

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Welcome to PLSC 007: Contemporary Political Ideologies

Overview

CATEGORY INFORMATION
Credits 3
Prerequisites None
Delivery Web (Canvas, https://psu.instructure.com)
Dates See the Calendar.
Instructor See the Orientation module under the Modules tab.

Description

This course is primarily concerned with ideology as the currency of contemporary political theorizing, organizing and debate. It views the different “-isms” that constituted political groups, standpoints of political critique or policy prescription in terms of the concepts around which they cohere. As the belief systems that underlie political action, ideologies are empirically observable views about human nature, history and the scope and purpose of government. Ideologies implicitly or explicitly suggest an ideal form of socio-political organization that articulates obligation and establishes criteria for evaluation. The course will investigate how different ideologies understand the political community, the role of government, access to knowledge, institutional legitimacy and change. Students will learn to identify the value commitments various ideologies entail, how those values shape the perception of political problems and the actions they necessitate. We will focus on ideologies as traditions of thought developed through contentious political action with attention both to the unique features of each ideology and the ways that they overlap in theory and practice.

The course begins by examining the concept of ideology, the relationship between ideology and political culture and the role of ideology in facilitating collective action to support or challenge institutions. We will look at the various ways ideologies are understood, the elements that comprise them (language, symbols, myths), and their role in contemporary political life. Then we will examine the three “classical” ideologies (liberalism, conservatism, socialism), as well as several others that have been historically consequential (fascism, nationalism, anarchism), and three that have had increasing significance during the last few decades (feminism, ecologism, religious fundamentalism).

Objectives

Some things to keep in mind:

  • This course is not about political platforms as presented in the mass media. It is not about the word association and sound byte game that presents Democrats as liberals or socialists who like big government solutions to things and Republicans as conservatives who are doing their best to save us all from the claws of government.
  • You will not find help for the assignments for this course in online essay retailers that provide easy definitions of ideologies and political culture and neatly classify political parties according to those definitions. The best way to succeed in the course is to read the book and pay attention to the lectures.
  • It is hard to identify and study ideologies in the American political scene because there are two dominant parties that subsume a range of different political commitment. People might agree about aspects of government for completely different reasons. They might converge in support of a particular candidate because that candidate represents some aspects of their ideology or is the best available or most likely to win. Many democracies have proportional representation electoral systems, which make small parties viable, resulting in more ideological coherence or “purity” in party platforms. In Europe, for example, where 21 of 28 countries use proportional representation systems, we see a much broader range of party positions so it is easier to study political ideologies through political parties. 
  • Since the game of politics is persuasion, people are more likely to vote for the people or parties that best symbolize their beliefs regardless of whether their policies would manifest their beliefs in practice. We might be interested in the relationship between people’s beliefs and the policies they support but we have to move beyond the catch phrases, symbols and mudslinging that characterize partisan politics in order to see whether or in what sense they are consistent.
  • Despite the introductory level of the course you will have to read and think critically. The material is not conducive to memorizing and regurgitating key points. You will be required to reflect, analyze and recognize relationships between different theories and practices.

Online Learning and Attendance

This course has been developed to promote asynchronous learning. The instructor and students do NOT meet on a designated day and time each week. For each lesson, there is a timeframe to complete all activities and assignments, and you may work at your own pace within that timeframe. However, you must adhere to the due dates outlined on the Calendar. (Due dates can also be viewed under the Syllabus tab.) You should log into the course daily to check for updates, review lessons, and participate in activities.

Materials

Texts and Other Materials

The following texts are required:

  1. Freeden, Michael (2003) Ideology: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press. ISBN: 978-0192802811*
  2. Festenstein and Kenny (2005) Political Ideologies: A Reader and a Guide. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0199248377 

*E-Book Option: An online version of your text is available at no cost as a Penn State Libraries E-Book, which is indicated by an asterisk (*). You can access the E-Book through the Library Resources link on the course navigation menu. Some E-Books will only be available online, while others will be available to download in full or in part. You may choose to use the E-Book as an alternative to purchasing a physical copy of the text. For questions or issues, you can contact the University Libraries Reserve Help (UL-RESERVESHELP@LISTS.PSU.EDU).

Library Services

Penn State Libraries provides a wide variety of services and resources. To learn how to take advantage, refer to the Online Student Library Guide at http://guides.libraries.psu.edu/onlinestudentlibraryguide. This guide, more generic than your specific course guide linked above, serves as your starting point for access to all that Penn State Libraries can offer you as an online student. Use this guide if you have questions on library services offered to you, how the library can help you, how to use the library, or what resources you can access via the library! The guide will connect you to important pages and resources within Penn State Libraries and save time from you searching for the information you need.

Grading

Final letter grades will be assigned based on the scale below.

Scale

LETTER
GRADE		 MINIMUM % MAXIMUM %
A 95 100
A- 90 94
B+ 87.9 89
B 83.33 87.8
B- 80 83
C+ 75 79
C 70 74
D 60 69
F 0 59

Due Dates

All assignments are due by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the date indicated on the Calendar. (Due dates can be also be viewed under the Syllabus tab.) Please be aware that Canvas follows the Eastern Time (ET) time zone. Assignment due dates adhere to this time zone, and it is your responsibility to submit assignments accordingly. If you are outside of the ET time zone, you can set your Canvas account to sync to it. Refer to the Set a Time Zone article in the Canvas Guide at https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-10622.

As a general rule, you will NOT be able to go back and make up missed assignments. It is your responsibility to keep up with your assignments. Students with an excused absence (e.g. hospitalization, jury duty, family emergency, or military service) may be asked to produce proper documentation in order to make up graded work. All make-up work is at the discretion of the instructor.

Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or spouses with unique circumstances (e.g. upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, disabilities, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.

Notes

  • To Do List: Some assignments may not appear in the To Do list under the Home tab. Use the Calendar or Syllabus to ensure that you are fully aware of assignment due dates.

Assignments

Basic information about each assignment group is provided below. For detailed directions about an individual assignment, see the assignment information under the Modules tab.

You can expect meaningful feedback on assignments within seven days of their due date.

ASSIGNMENT
GROUP		 % of grade
Weekly Reading Quizzes 10
Weekly Discussions
 25
2 Exams
 40
Final Exam 25
Total 100%

Quizzes

Weekly quizzes will keep you on track with the reading and provide an opportunity to review the concepts. These quizzes are provided to encourage critical reading. Students can take the quizzes as many times as they like during the week they are assigned. The highest grade will be recorded. The quiz questions should be regarded as practice for the exams.

Discussions

Weekly participation in discussions by answering questions, posing questions and/or commenting on other students’ posts. The discussion forum is interactive, not just a soapbox. It is intended to simulate the kind of discussion we would have about these ideas if we were meeting in person.

Grading Rubric for Discussion Posts

Discussion post grades are based on the quality of students’ contribution to the discussion. Students can earn a maximum of 12 points per week. Points will be allocated according to the criteria in the table below. As you can see, each post can earn a maximum of 4 points, thus a minimum of three posts per week is necessary for full credit – at least 4 quality posts is advised.

POINTS CRITERIA

4

Comment is accurate, original, relevant, well written, demonstrate active engagement with the readings and promote critical discussion of the issues
3

Comment lacks at least one of the above qualities but demonstrate active engagement with the readings

2

Comments based on personal opinion or experience rather than the readings

1

Comment adds no critical or informational dimension to the discussion but it contributes social value, collegiality

0

Comment adds nothing to the discussion

 

Timeline

Discussion boards will be open for each lesson from Monday morning (9am ET) until Sunday at 11:59pm ET. The discussion will occur throughout the week so please do not save your contribution until the end.

Exams

The first exam will be multiple choice and short answer questions drawn from the readings and lectures.

The second exam is a "take home" essay exam.

Final Exam

The final essay is cumulative. It will include multiple choice, short answer and essay questions. The essay questions will require synthesis of the concepts presented at the beginning of the class in relation to specific ideologies and specific references to the readings.

Grading & Exam Policy

  • Exams must be taken during the week that they are due. You will be allotted 90 minutes for each exam. Once the exam is started you must finish it within the 90 minute window.
  • Discussion posts cannot be made up.
  • Quizzes cannot be made up.
  • The final exam will be open for a few days. Once you start the exam you must complete it within 3 hours.

University Policies

Academic Integrity

According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity, an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.   

Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic sanctions, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes (see G-9: Academic Integrity).

Unless your instructor tells you otherwise:

  • Always include an in-text citation that includes the author(s) last name(s) and the year the source was published at the end of any sentence or below any image that includes words, images, or ideas you found in a source, always included quoted text within quotation marks, and always include a reference for any source at the end of your paper (ask your instructor about the format you should use).
  • All of your graded coursework must be created by you without help from anyone in the course or otherwise. If you have questions about this, you should ask your instructor before submitting work for evaluation.
  • All course materials you receive or access are protected by copyright laws. You may use course materials and make copies for your own use, but unauthorized distribution and/or uploading of materials without the instructor’s express permission is strictly prohibited. Students who engage in the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials may be held in violation of the University’s Code of Conduct and/or liable under Federal and State laws.

Disability Access

Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources website provides contact information for every Penn State campus at https://equity.psu.edu/offices/student-disability-resources/campus-offices. For further information, please visit the Student Disability Resources website at http://equity.psu.edu/student-disability-resources.

In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation described at http://equity.psu.edu/student-disability-resources/applying-for-services. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus’s disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.

Counseling and Psychological Services

Penn State's Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) office offers residential and distance-based Penn State students non-emergency mental health services in the form of case management, community resource referrals, supportive listening, care giver support, and much more.

Students may request assistance from CAPS regarding a variety of common mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, and stress. CAPS services are designed to enhance students' ability to fully benefit from the University environment and academic experience. Call CAPS at 814-863-0395 (8 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday EST) or submit an inquiry online at https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/form/caps-contact-form to schedule an appointment with a mental health advocate, who can help you address mental health concerns that may interfere with your academic progress or social development. This appointment will include a one-on-one session that can be conducted via telephone, teleconference (Skype, FaceTime, etc.), or locally at Penn State University Park. For more information on services provided through CAPS, please visit the Penn State CAPS website at http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/counseling/. Students enrolled at the World Campus are also encouraged to visit its Mental Health Services page at http://student.worldcampus.psu.edu/student-services/mental-health-services.

Reminder: These services are for non-emergencies only. If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis situation, please call your local crisis center or 911.

Nondiscrimination

Penn State is committed to equal access to programs, facilities, admission and employment for all persons. It is the policy of the University to maintain an environment free of harassment and free of discrimination against any person because of age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, service in the uniformed services (as defined in state and federal law), veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, marital or family status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, physical or mental disability, gender, perceived gender, gender identity, genetic information or political ideas. Discriminatory conduct and harassment, as well as sexual misconduct and relationship violence, violates the dignity of individuals, impedes the realization of the University's educational mission, and will not be tolerated. For further information, please visit the Affirmative Action Office website at https://affirmativeaction.psu.edu/.

Reporting a Bias Incident

Penn State takes great pride to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated and can be reported through Educational Equity via the Report Bias webpage at http://equity.psu.edu/reportbias/.

TEACH Act

The materials on the course website are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for purposes associated with this course and may not be retained or further disseminated.

University Emergency Procedure

In the event of a University-wide emergency, the course may be subject to changes. Exigent circumstances may require alternative delivery methods, class materials, and interactions with the instructor and/or classmates. In addition, there may be revisions to grading policies and the Calendar, including assignments and their due dates.

In the event of a University-wide emergency, please refer to the Canvas website at https://psu.instructure.com for specific information related to the course. For more general information about the emergency situation, please refer to the Penn State website at https://www.psu.edu or Penn State News website at https://news.psu.edu.

To register with PSUAlert, a service designed to alert the Penn State community when situations arise that affect the ability of a campus to function normally, please go to the PSU Alert website at https://psualert.psu.edu/. Subscribers can receive alerts by text message to cell phones, and also can elect to have alerts sent to an email address.

Syllabus Subject to Change

The class will likely adhere to the information outlined in this Syllabus and the Calendar, but adjustments may be made based on what actually transpires during the semester. Remaining in the course after reading this Syllabus will signal that you accept the possibility of changes and responsibility for being aware of them.

Course Summary:

Date Details Due