GV988-7-SP-CO:
Critical Political Theory
2024/25
Government
Colchester Campus
Spring
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Monday 13 January 2025
Friday 21 March 2025
15
06 August 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
MA L20212 Ideology and Discourse Analysis,
MA L20224 Ideology and Discourse Analysis,
MA L202EB Ideology and Discourse Analysis,
MPHDL20D48 Government (Ideology and Discourse Analysis),
PHD L20D48 Government (Ideology and Discourse Analysis)
This module introduces the fundamental concepts and logics of poststructuralist discourse theory, including discussions of Marxism, post-Marxism, deconstruction, and psychoanalysis. Students are invited to engage with contemporary debates in critical political theory, in order to explore the role that the categories of discourse and ideology can play in our understanding of the contemporary world. Attention will be focussed on the emergence and character of political ideologies like populism, neoliberalism, nationalism and socialism, as well as the interpretation, explanation and evaluation of key events and developments, such as the different ideological responses to the global financial crisis, the construction of new political identities, the role of social movements and political protest, and the ecological crisis.
The aims of this module are:
- To introduce key ideas associated with political discourse theory, situating this within the broader field of critical political theory.
- To engage with the work of scholars in political and social theory who draw on a wide range of sources, including psychoanalysis, post-marxism, and contemporary continental philosophy, focusing on the insights these perspectives generate, the visions they project, as well as their take on the prospects for political action and ideological critique in a time of ‘poly-crisis’ (economic, political, and ecological crises, among others).
The module explores associated discussions and debates thematically, focusing on the economy, democracy, and the planetary ecosystem.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Have a good understanding of key principles and concepts of a range of perspectives in critical political theory, including political discourse theory.
- Have a good grasp of a range of concepts and theoretical frameworks with which to understand key aspects of the economy, democracy, and the planetary ecosystem.
- Gain the ability to engage critically with scholars, texts, and concepts discussed in the module.
- Gain the capacity to initiate independent research in critical political theory.
Students will also be expected to make short class presentations but these are not formally assessed. The class presentations are typically based on the seminar readings assigned to specific weeks. Presenters will act as discussants, pinpointing issues that are of special interest and raising questions for discussion.
The module will be delivered via:
2 hour weekly seminar.
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Aslam, A.
et al. (2024) ‘Visionary political theory’,
Contemporary Political Theory, 23(1), pp. 88–113. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1057/s41296-023-00627-3.
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Norgaard, K.M. (2011)
Living in denial: climate change, emotions, and everyday life. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press. Available at:
https://doi-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/10.7551/mitpress/9780262015448.001.0001.
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Fraser, N. (2022) Cannibal capitalism: how our system is devouring democracy, care, and the planet - and what we can do about it. London: Verso.
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Connolly, W.E. (2008)
Capitalism and Christianity, American style. Durham: Duke University Press. Available at:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?pq-origsite=primo&docID=1167577.
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Connolly, W.E. (2017)
Facing the planetary: entangled humanism and the politics of swarming. Durham: Duke University Press. Available at:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?pq-origsite=primo&docID=4792680.
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Chakrabarty, D. (2021)
Climate of History in a Planetary Age. The University of Chicago Press. Available at:
https://www-degruyter-com.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/document/doi/10.7208/9780226733050/html.
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‘Dipesh Chakrabarty, the Global, and the Planetary ~ The Contemporary Condition’ (no date). Available at:
http://contemporarycondition.blogspot.com/2021/08/dipesh-chakrabarty-global-and-planetary.html.
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Mert, A. and Marquardt, J. (2022) ‘Reframing the Anthropocene: Democratic Challenges and Openings for Sustainability’, in B. Bornemann, H. Knappe, and P. Nanz (eds) Routledge Handbook of Democracy and Sustainability. London: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Essay 1 |
24/03/2025 |
|
| Coursework |
Essay 2 |
21/04/2025 |
|
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Prof Jason Glynos, email: ljglyn@essex.ac.uk.
Jason Glynos
Please contact govpgquery@essex.ac.uk
Yes
Yes
Yes
Dr Adrian Florea
University of Glasgow
Senior Lecturer in International Relations
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
Government
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