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77772-01 - Seminar: Key Concepts in Political Theory (3 CP)
| Semester | spring semester 2026 |
| Course frequency | Irregular |
| Lecturers | Maria Birnbaum (maria.birnbaum@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | Concepts matter. They shape how we interpret political events and what actions appear legitimate. Whether groups are labeled freedom fighters, or terrorists, minorities, or indigenous communities, these choices open some political possibilities while closing others. This seminar introduces and unpacks core political concepts—democracy, sovereignty, freedom, power, race, gender, security, and peace—and explores different views of how concepts relate to the world, from objective categorization to seeing concepts as political products and tools. Students will learn to analyze how concepts structure analytical thought, how they guide action in national and international politics, and how they provide the basis for social and political critique. |
| Bibliography | General readings: • Berenskoetter, Felix, ed. 2026. Concepts in International Relations: A New Introduction. SAGE. • Connolly, William E. 1993. The Terms of Political Discourse. Princeton Paperbacks. Princeton University Press. • Mair, Peter 2008. “Concepts and Concept Formation.” In Approaches and Methodologies in the Social Sciences: A Pluralist Perspective , edited by D. D. Porta and M. Keating, 177–97. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. • Ish-Shalom, Piḳi, ed. 2021. Concepts at Work. University of Michigan Press. On Political Theory and Concepts: • Dryzek, John S., Bonnie Honig, and Anne Phillips, eds. 2008. The Oxford Handbook of Political Theory. Oxford University Press. • Bhargava, Rajeev. 2008. Political Theory: An Introduction. Pearson Education India. |
| Comments | All seminars in Political Science are graded. The grading scale ranges from 6.0 to 1.0, with 4.0 being a passing grade. For quality assurance reasons, the number of participants is limited. In the case of over-enrolment, students of Political Science have priority. Selection is based on the date of registration. |
| Admission requirements | All seminars in Political Science are graded. The grading scale ranges from 6.0 to 1.0, with 4.0 being a passing grade. For quality assurance reasons, the number of participants is limited. In the case of over-enrolment, students of Political Science have priority. Selection is based on the date of registration. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Friday | 12.15-13.45 | Pharmaziemuseum, Grosser Hörsaal |
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 20.02.2026 | 12.15-13.45 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Kleiner Seminarraum 02.001 |
| Friday 27.02.2026 | 12.15-13.45 | Fasnachtswoche |
| Friday 06.03.2026 | 12.15-13.45 | Bernoullistrasse 14/16, Kleiner Seminarraum 02.001 |
| Friday 13.03.2026 | 12.15-13.45 | Pharmaziemuseum, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Friday 20.03.2026 | 12.15-13.45 | Pharmaziemuseum, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Friday 27.03.2026 | 12.15-13.45 | Pharmaziemuseum, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Friday 03.04.2026 | 12.15-13.45 | Osterwoche |
| Friday 10.04.2026 | 12.15-13.45 | Pharmaziemuseum, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Friday 17.04.2026 | 12.15-13.45 | Pharmaziemuseum, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Friday 24.04.2026 | 12.15-13.45 | Pharmaziemuseum, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Friday 01.05.2026 | 12.15-13.45 | Tag der Arbeit |
| Friday 08.05.2026 | 12.15-13.45 | Pharmaziemuseum, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Friday 15.05.2026 | 12.15-13.45 | Auffahrt |
| Friday 22.05.2026 | 12.15-13.45 | Pharmaziemuseum, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Friday 29.05.2026 | 12.15-13.45 | Pharmaziemuseum, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Modules |
Modul: Regionaler Fokus B.A. (Bachelor's degree subject: Political Science) Modul: Soziologische Theorie BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Sociology) Modul: Vertiefung Politikwissenschaft B.A. (Bachelor's degree subject: Political Science) Module: Extension Social Sciences B.A. (Bachelor's degree subject: Political Science) Module: Extension Social Sciences B.A. (Bachelor's Studies - Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | 1-6 0,5 |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Politikwissenschaft |