Faculty : International Relations, Communication and Law

Program : International Relations

Unit : Introduction to Political Science

Code :

Credits : 3 credits

Semester :1

Prerequisite :

Lecturer : Harryanto Aryodiguno, PhD

Content:

Introduction to Political Science is designed to provide you with an introduction to political

science as a discipline. This course provides students with the opportunity to discuss politics as
an activity and political problems, systems, ideologies and processes. This class is designed to
develop students’ basic understanding of political science. It will introduce undergraduates to
the fundamental political concepts and theories, philosophies, methods, and some issues of the
contemporary world.

This is a survey course which will convey a broad and expansive understanding of politics. The
course will start with fundamental concepts so that students can slowly develop an
understanding of politics as political scientists see it. To further understand politics, we
continue our inquiry of political theories and philosophy. Some Greek, German and America
political theorists will be investigated such as Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Kant, Hegel, Marx,
Nietzsche, and Huntington. After building a political foundation, we will consider the three most
essential fields in current political science: comparative politics, international political economy
and international relations. Using the general theoretical framework in those three fields,
students are expected to look into some deeper issues such as conflicts, globalization, regional
integration, and so on. By the end of the class, students should interpret, explore and critique
the problems they encounter in the world of politics.

Course Objectives:
 This is an introductory course in Political Science (PS), designed primarily for those who
have not previously studied the subject.
 Develop critical thinking skill about politics.
 Students will be able to define, using examples, the basic concepts and perspectives used
in political science.
 Student will be able to develop an understanding of the history of political science as well
as the methods, concepts, and language which political scientists use to study and
interpret politics, political regimes, ideologies, political institutions and public policies.

Learning Activities/Classroom Policy

Students are required to be in class and to participate in class assignments actively. Students
will complete a mid-term Exam, group presentations and a final project/paper.

Assessments*

Attendance and Participation 10%

Mid-term Exam/paper 30%

Group Presentations 30%

Final Exam/paper 30%

Grading Policy

A - 85-100
B - 70-84
C - 60-69
D - 55-59
E - <55

References**:

Jonathan Wolff. An Introduction to Political Philosophy, 3 rd edition. Oxford: Oxford Univrsity

Press, 2016.

Pevehouse, Jon and Joshua S.Goldstein: Reading in International Relations. Pearson. 2014.

Efriza, SIP, 2008, Ilmu Politik, Alfabeta, Bandung (EF)

F. Ijswara, SH, LL.M, 1995, Pengantar Ilmu Politik, Binacipta, Bandung (IJS)
 Miriam Budiarjo, 2008, Dasar-dasar Ilmu Politik (Edisi Revisi), PT. Gramedia Pustaka Utama,
Jakarta. (MB)

Robert Dahl, Modern Political Analysis, Englewood Cliffs NJ, Prentice Hall, 1963. (RD)

S. P. Varma, Modern Political Theory, New Delhi, Vikas, 1983. (SPV)

Ball, T. (1988) Transforming Political Discourse: Political Theory and Critical Conceptual
History. Oxford: Blackwell.

Ellen Grigsby. Analyzing Politics: An Introduction to Political Science 4 th Edition. At

http://www.nicat-mammadli.narod.ru/b1.html/b35.pdf

Danziger, James N: A Comparative Introduction to Political Science. Longman. 2011

Gilpin, Robert. 2001. Global Political Economy UNDERSTANDING THE INTERNATIONAL

ECONOMIC ORDER. PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS

Course Schedule

*assignments/projects to be completed on the week indicated.

Assignments
Topics/ and Source**
Week Objectives
Brief Content Assessments

Introduction and a) Syllabus Explanation Q & A, Lecturer Slides

1 review of Syllabus b) Lecture Rules Discussion
c) Scoring System
d) Assignments.
Introduction to a) What is Science Chapter Wolff, Ch. 1-2
political science b) Basic concept of reading
Political Science Ball, Pp. 1-20
2 c) Scope of political Q & A,
science Discussion
d) History of political
science
3 Key Concepts and a) What is Chapter Grigsby, Ch. 2
Methods of Political Methodology, Method reading
Science and approach
b) Approaches Q & A,
in Political Science:
 Tradisionalist, Discussion
Behavioralist and
Rational Choice
Political Theory: a) Analyzing Political Chapter Grigsby, Ch. 4
Examining the Ethical Theory: Plato’s Allegory reading
4 Foundations of of the Cave
Q & A,
Politics
Discussion

Political Ideology a) What are Political Chapter SP. Varma,

Ideologies reading Grigsby
5 b) Democracy, Liberalism,
Conservatism, Socialism Q & A,
and Comunism Discussion

Comparative Politics a) Political Chapter Grigsby, Danziger

Culture reading
b) Political
6 Parties Q & A,
c) Interests Discussion
Groups, Public Opinion
and Election

7 MID-EXAM

International Political a) The New Global Economy Chapter Gilpin

Economy Order reading
8 b) The Nature of Political
Economy Q & A,
Discussion

International Politics a) Concept of Nation Chapter MB, AH, CCR, IJS

b) International Politics reading
c) Domestic Politics
9 Q & A,
Discussion

10 State Auxiliary a) What is state auxiliary Chapter AH, MB

b) The purpose of state reading
auxiliary
c) Forms of state auxiliary Q & A,
Discussion
 Sovereignty a) What is sovereignty Chapter AH
b) Bodinian Sovereignty, reading
c) Hobbesian Sovereignty
d) Kantian Sovereignty Q & A,
e) Internal and external Discussion
11 sovereignty
f) De Jure and de facto
sovereignty
g) Hard and Porous
sovereignty
h) Austin and Pluralist
Sovereignty
Human Rights and a) What is Human Rights Chapter MB, CCR, IJS
Democracy b) What is Democracy reading
c) Correlation between
12 Human Rights and Q & A,
Democracy Discussion
d) Types of democracy

Politics at a) What is international Chapter AH

Internasional stage relations reading
b) Sovereign country
13 c) Nationalism Q & A,
d) Imperialism Discussion
e) Diplomacy

14 Final Exam