Module SGIA3761: Marx and Marxism

Department: Government and International Affairs

SGIA3761: Marx and Marxism

Prerequisites

• Any Level 2 SGIA module

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• The aims of this course are as follows:
• To explore some of the most important themes in Marx’s social and political theory;
• To explore some contemporary writings in political philosophy that draws on and extends Marx’s ideas;
• To assess what is living and what is dead in Marx and Marxism.

Content

• This course will introduce students to Karl Marx’s social and political theory. Indicative content may include his critique of liberalism, his analysis of religion, his account of alienation, his theory of history, his view of the state, his theory of ideology, his argument that capitalism is inherently exploitative, and his vision of a future communist society. As well as reading the work of Marx, the module will also explore contemporary writings in the Marxist tradition. The focus will be on understanding Marx’s complex arguments, analysing them critically and considering the relevance of those arguments for present problems and debates.

Learning Outcomes

• Through the module students will gain a detailed understanding of:
• Key concepts in Marx’s writings;
• Major debates about Marx’s views in the secondary literature;
• Conceptions of the relevance of Marx’s arguments for contemporary problems and debates;
• Contemporary political philosophy that, in different ways, draws on Marxian ideas.

• Students will develop an enhanced capacity to:
• Read complex texts in the history of political philosophy;
• Assess different interpretations of texts;
• Critically reflect on the strength of an author’s argument;
• Draw links between historical and contemporary thinkers;
• Consider the relevance of ideas for contemporary problems and debates in political philosophy.

• Students will enhance their key skills, including:
• Their ability to reconstruct opaque arguments;
• Their ability to analyse and critique complex positions;
• Their ability to develop work independently, identifying plausible research questions;
• Their ability to plan and complete written assignments.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• The teaching for this module consists in lectures and seminars.
• Lectures will provide an introduction to the topic, focusing on i) how Marx’s thought on this topic should be understood; ii) interpretive controversies relating to it; iii) an overview of criticisms of Marx's ideas. The lectures will provide a basis for students to pursue their own work on this topic.
• Seminars will provide students with an opportunity to explore the topics discussed in the lecture in more detail, considering different interpretations of the texts, and the strengths and weaknesses of the arguments.
• The formative assessment is an essay of 1,500 words. To ensure coverage of different aspects of the course, students must answer a question on a different topic for their summative.
• Summative assessment takes two forms. The first is a 1,000 word encyclopedia entry on a key concept in Marx’s writings. The entry should reconstruct the concept, outline the interpretive disagreements that surround it, and provide a critical response to it. The second form of summative assessment is a 3000-word essay.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

1,500 word essay.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University