IRS 205: Political Thought Since Hobbes

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, the students should be able to:

1. explain the extent to which relatively modern political thought relates to sovereignty and democracy;
2. explain the extent to which modern political thought relates to politics and religion;
3. explain the extent to which modern political thought relates to terrorism and political identity; and
4. explain the contributions of Hobbes, Locke, Kant, Marx, Nkrumah, Azikiwe to modern political thought.

Course Contents

Analysis of post 17th century normative political thought with emphasis on liberal democratic traditions. Marxism-Leninism and the thoughts of people like Fanon, Senghor, Nkrumah and many others. Relatively modern, relating to modern day concepts such as sovereignty democracy, fascism, liberalism, human rights, politics and religion, terrorism and political identity. Contributions of Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jean Rosseau, Emmanuel Kant, Nietzsche, Karl Marx, Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Kenneth Kaunda to modern day political thought.