Introduction to Political Science
Cod: 41031
Department: DCSG
ECTS: 6
Scientific area: Political Sciences
Total working hours: 156
Total contact time: 15

This course studies the political phenomenon from the perspective of the political players, the organization and the spaces of power. The course promotes the theoretical and conceptual learning of Political Science, its methodologies of study and analysis, according to the significance of the discipline to the understanding of contemporary societies. The purpose is to apply the concepts and methodologies studied during the course to the social and political reality, characterising and analyzing several specific situations of daily life.

  1. Political Power
  2. Government
  3. State 
  4. Society

Students are expected
• to understand Political Science, its concepts and importance within contemporary societies;
• to relate and apply the studied concepts to the political reality, while featuring typical situations;
• to critically evaluate the acquired knowledge;
• to apply the acquired knowledge considering the professional and academic situations.

 

Basic Concepts
Power Legitimacy
Power organization
Power limits
Spaces for the exercise of political power / Political ideologies

 

Core Reference:

Lara, António de Sousa. (2013) Ciência Política: Estudo da Ordem e da Subversão. Lisboa: ISCSP.
Complementary Bibliography

DRYZEK, John S, Bonnie HONIG & Anne PHILLIPS (eds) (2008) The Oxford Handbook of Political Theory, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

FERNANDES, António José (2010), Introdução à Ciência Política, Lisboa: Porto Editora.
HEYWOOD, Andrew (2003), Political Ideologies, Cambridge: New York, Palgrave Macmillan.
MALTEZ, José Adelino. (2007) Metodologias da Ciência Política. Lisboa: Bulhosa

MEIRINHO, Manuel (2003) Participação Política e Grupos de Cidadãos Eleitores. Lisboa: ISCSP
MEIRINHO, Manuel (2004) Participação Política e Democracia - O Caso Português. Lisboa: ISCSP


 

E-learning.

Continuous assessment is privileged: 2 digital written documents (e-folios) during the semester (40%) and a final digital test, Global e-folio (e-folio G) at the end of the semester (60%). In due time, students can alternatively choose to perform one final exam (100%).