| Dozent/in |
Pawel Bacal, MA |
| Veranstaltungsart |
Masterseminar |
| Code |
HS261650 |
| Semester |
Herbstsemester 2026 |
| Durchführender Fachbereich |
Politikwissenschaft |
| Studienstufe |
Bachelor
Master |
| Termin/e |
Mi, 23.09.2026, 12:15 - 14:00 Uhr, Externer Standort, HS6
Fr, 09.10.2026, 09:15 - 17:00 Uhr, 2.A07
Sa, 10.10.2026, 09:15 - 15:30 Uhr, 3.B55
Fr, 30.10.2026, 09:15 - 17:00 Uhr, 3.B57
Sa, 31.10.2026, 09:15 - 15:30 Uhr, 3.B57 |
| Weitere Daten |
Die Einführungsveranstaltung der Blockseminare findet statt am Mittwoch, 23.09.2026 von 12:00 - 14:00 Uhr im |
| Umfang |
2 Semesterwochenstunden |
| Turnus |
Blockseminar |
| Inhalt |
The aim of the seminar is to familiarise students with the ongoing transformation of politics and to put this transition in perspective by offering a long-term view. Politics seems to be in turmoil today – on the one hand, we are said to be witnessing its decay and rise of anti-politics, and on the other, there are laments over more areas being politicised. In the international sphere, there are calls to go beyond states and move toward planetary politics. The course takes on all these developments to rethink how we can conceptualise politics today. By taking a long-term view, the course invites students to think about politics not as a single idea but rather as a historically contingent phenomenon. As such, it provokes the question of how the contemporary challenges will impact our thinking about politics. Additionally, by tracing the history of politics as a concept, the course offers some theoretical principles of conceptual history, including the constitutive nature of concepts, their role in historical change, and the temporality of concepts – all of which can also be used to understand contemporary phenomena.
The course is structured in two intensive weekend blocks.
Block 1 introduces the major theoretical traditions and historical trajectories of the concept of politics in Western political thought, tracing its history from the late Middle Ages (when it entered the European vocabulary) to the late 20th century. Sessions will be structured around understanding the key readings, complemented by additional readings presented during the sessions. Active participation is fostered through an interactive lecture format, brief discussions, and mini reflection exercises.
Block 2 examines the consequences of these state-building trajectories in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, covering colonial legacies, welfare, science and expertise, European integration, and multi-level governance. In this block, each session begins with a short interactive lecture, followed by student presentations on selected policy areas, and an interactive wrap-up. |
| Schlagworte |
Gender/Diversity |
| Lernziele |
By the end of the seminar, students will be able to:
1. Identify the major phases of the trajectory of the concept of politics in Western political thought from the late Middle Ages to today, and explain the process of conceptual change.
2. Link the trajectory of the concept of politics to the broader question of historical change, taking into account concepts’ role as both indicators and factors of that change.
3. Critically assess how the trajectory of the concept of politics and its legacies continue to influence contemporary issues, such as political institutions, political parties or multi-level governance.
4. Build on the core theoretical principles of conceptual history to identify the role of the concepts in the socio-political context and apply these principles to study other concepts relevant today, such as democracy, state, sovereignty or war.
5. Develop and deliver a concise research presentation that synthesises scholarly evidence, connects historical cases to theoretical debates, and effectively responds to questions and feedback.
|
| Voraussetzungen |
This seminar is primarily intended for undergraduate students in their second year of studies or above. Prior coursework in comparative politics, early modern or modern European history, or political theory is recommended to help contextualise the themes discussed, but is not mandatory. The course is designed to be accessible to motivated students from a range of backgrounds within the social sciences and humanities.
|
| Sprache |
Englisch |
| Anmeldung |
***Wichtig*** Um Credits zu erwerben ist die Anmeldung zur Lehrveranstaltung über das UniPortal zwingend erforderlich. Die Anmeldung ist ab zwei Wochen vor bis zwei Wochen nach Beginn des Semesters möglich. An- und Abmeldungen sind nach diesem Zeitraum nicht mehr möglich. Die genauen Anmeldedaten finden Sie hier: http://www.unilu.ch/ksf/semesterdaten |
| Leistungsnachweis |
Presentation / 4 Credits
Assessment will be based on a 20-minute student presentation (individually or in pairs) in Block 2, followed by a 10-minute Q&A. |
| Abschlussform / Credits |
Benotetes Referat / 4 Credits
|
| Hinweise |
This is an intensive, discussion-based seminar. Its success depends on students’ active engagement. The format is not built around a monologue from the instructor, but around collective analysis and discussion.
Students are expected to actively contribute to discussions, debates, and small-group activities throughout both blocks. The reading list is provided as a resource, but the core concepts and historical narratives will be delivered and worked through interactively during the sessions themselves.
There is no mandatory textbook or set of required readings to be completed before class. The reading list provided in this syllabus serves two purposes:
• Indicative Classics: It lists the foundational texts and authors that inform the lectures and structure of the course.
• Research Resource: It is a starting point for students preparing their presentations. Motivated students are welcome to explore these works to deepen their understanding. |
| Hörer-/innen |
Nach Vereinbarung |
| Kontakt |
pawel.bacal@eui.eu |
| Literatur |
Literature
The full list of readings can be found in the syllabus. The main titles include:
• Arendt, H. (2005). Introduction into Politics. In The Promise of Politics (pp. 93 200). Schoken Books.
• Sartori, G. (1973). What is “Politics”. Political Theory, 1(1), 5–26. https://doi.org/10.1177/009059177300100102
• Viroli, M. (1992). From politics to reason of state: The acquisition and transformation of the language of politics, 1250-1600. Cambridge University Press.
• Palonen, K. (2006). The Struggle with time: A conceptual history of ‘politics’ as an activity (1st edition). Lit.
• Ihalainen, R., López, R., Palonen, K., & Velde, H. te (Eds). (2026). The figure of the politician in modern and contemporary Europe. Berghahn Books.
• Weber, M. (1994). The Profession and Vocation of Politics. In P. Lassman & R. Speirs (Eds), Weber: Political Writings (1st ed, pp. 309–369). Cambridge University Press.
• Havel, V. (1986). Politics and conscience. In Living in Truth (pp. 136–157). Faber and Faber.
• Mair, P. (2013). Ruling the void: The hollowing of Western democracy. Verso.
• Allen, P. (2018). The Political Class: Why It Matters Who Our Politicians Are. Oxford University Press.
• Hay, C. (2007). Why We Hate Politics. Polity Press.
• Louis, M., & Maertens, L. (2021). Why International Organizations Hate Politics: Depoliticizing the World. Taylor & Francis.
• Bickerton, C. J., & Accetti, C. I. (2021). Technopopulism: The new logic of democratic politics (First edition). Oxford University Press.
• Flinders, M. (2012). Defending Politics: Why Democracy Matters in the 21st Century. Oxford University https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:osobl/9780199644421.001.0001
• Burke, A., Fishel, S., Mitchell, A., Dalby, S., & Levine, D. J. (2016). Planet Politics: A Manifesto from the End of IR. Millennium, 44(3), 499–523. https://doi.org/10.1177/0305829816636674
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