POLS 11315 - Political Theory and Process

Course Aim/ Intended Learning Outcomes: 

Upon successful completion of this course unit, every student should be able to:

  1. Describe the nature and the scope of the subject of political science.
  2. Explain the key concepts, theories and methods used in the study of political phenomena in the subject of political science.

Course Content:

Introduction to the Political science, nature, scope and study approaches, a brief description of development and political and social theories on state & its role. Theory of separation of power, law and rule of law, democracy, Aristocracy, capitalism, socialism.
POLS 12315 - Government and Politics in Sri Lanka
Course Aim/ Intended Learning Outcomes: 
Upon successful completion of this course unit, every student should be able to:
  1. Describe the structure, functions political development of the political system of Sri Lanka satisfactory
  2. Describe the development of government and politics Sri Lanka
  3. Describe the internal and external political factors that have influenced to government reform in Sri Lanka  

Course Content:

Introduction of government & constitutional development in British colonial & post-colonial period, a basic study of executive, legislative and judiciary of 1972& 1978 constitution, political party systems, political organizations, public administration & Government institutions.
POLS 21312 - Western Political Thought

Course Aim/ Intended Learning Outcomes: 

Upon successful completion of this course unit, every student should be able to:
  1. Demonstrate on political thinkers and their ideological in the Western Political Thought
  2. Demonstrated their contribution to develop the Western Political Theory
  3. Apply their ideologies o study political process.

Course Content:

Introduction to western political thought, philosophy and theory, Political thought in classical Greek era: Plato, Aristotle. Political thoughts in roman era; St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas. Period of renaissance and reformation; Luther, Calvin. Political thoughts in modern era; Machiavelli, Thomas Hobbes, Rousseau, School of Liberalism; Bentham, John Stewart Mill, School of socialism; Karl Marx, Engels, Kant, Lenin 

POLS 21322 - Comparative Government

Course Aim/ Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course unit, every student should be able to:
  1. Describe what is comparative Government and Politics
  2. Critically appraise the approaches of studying comparative Government & Politics.
  3. Analyze comparative government and Politics, which based on a range of countries, is especially suited to the task of revealing contrasting perspective on Political Science subject matters
  4. Compare and contrast political institutions and processes across countries and to derive generalizations.

Course Content:

Introduction:  Emergence, Definitions and the importance of studying Comparative    Government and Politics. Classifying traditional and modern approaches of studying comparative politics: System analysis; Structural functionalism; Behaviouralism; Historical approach; Sociological approach; Philosophical approach and etc.  

Structures and Institutions:  Study of the silent features and the functions of; Executive, Legislature and Judicial Power ,Democratic Institutions in Comparative Perspective; Constitutions: Types of Constitutions, The       impact of constitutions (constitutional rigidity), Democracy and Autocracy, Political Regimes: Political Regimes
I:  Presidentialism vs. Parliamentarism, Political Regimes II: Centralization vs. Decentralization Political Regimes III:  Federalism vs. Territorial Institutions.
POLS 22312 - Eastern Political Thought
Course Aim/ Intended Learning Outcomes: 
Upon successful completion of this course unit, every student should be able to:
  1. Demonstrate on political thinkers and their ideological in the Eastern Political Thought
  2. Demonstrate their contribution to develop the Eastern Political Theory
  3. Apply their ideologies o study political process.

Course Content:

Introduction to Eastern Political Thought, and philosophy and theory. Ancient Hindu political thought, Buddhist political thought, Kautilya and “Arthashaatra”, Chinese political thought, Mao-Setung and Indian political thought; Mahathma Ghandhi, Sri Neheru

POLS 22322 - Political and Economic Development

Course Aim/ Intended Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course unit, every student should be able to: 
  1. Demonstrate the theories on Political Economy
  2. Analyze the impact of Political Policy decisions on Economy
  3. Demonstrate the role of international organizations an Economies of developing countries.

Course Content:

Development of Capitalism and its influence political economy in the world, Socialist theories on political economy, Neo -Liberalist theories, Inter-Dependency Theory, Agrarian reforms in former post-colonial states. Socio-economic and political impact on closed and open economy, Globalization and its impacts to the developing world, Political and economic policy changes in former Soviet Russia and China . Role of international monetary institutions for the developing countries, Role of the Multinational institutions of the contemporary world and Trade war between China and USA.

POLS 31312 - Citizenship and Human Rights

Course Aim/ Intended Learning Outcomes: 

Upon successful completion of this course unit, every student should be able to:

  1. Identify the basic concepts, theories and philosophical foundation of human rights
  2. Critically Analyze the importance of international human right standards, norms, and mechanism.
  3. Investigate the specifics of the regional human right system and their protection mechanisms
  4. Identify the basic characteristics of group right and international humanitarian law.
  5. Analyze the relationship between citizenship and Human Right concepts 

Course Content:

An introduction of philosophical and historical foundation of human rights: theories of rights and concepts and classifications of human rights and duties. International Human Rights Norms, standards and Mechanisms: The United Nations Charter and the development of human rights Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948, Regional Human Rights; European convention, Latin American and African standards, Basic features of group rights and humanitarian law. Human Rights and the mechanism for protecting them in the context of Sri Lanka.
Citizenship - Introduction of the basic concept,  its development under democratic governments and  the relationship between human rights and citizenship . 
POLS 31322 - Public Administration
Course Aim/ Intended Learning Outcomes: 
Upon successful completion of this course unit, every student should be able to 
  1. Able to lead and manage in public Service.
  2. Participate in and contribute to the policy process.
  3. Analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems, and make decisions.
  4. Articulate and apply a public service perspective.
  5. Interact productively with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry.
  6. Engage in ethical decision-making and critical thinking in public administration.
  7. Communicate clearly and effectively within the field of public administration.

Course Content:
Introduction to Public Administration: Meaning, Nature, Scope and Significance of Public Administration, Public and Private Administration: It’s Role in Developed and Developing Societies. Environmental Influences.
Evolution of Public Administration as an independent discipline: New Public Administration; and New Public Management Perspective. Approaches to the study of Public Administration-Behavioral, System and Structural - Functional Approach.
Structure of Organization: Chief Executive – Role and Functions. Line and Staff Agencies. Forms and Bases of Organization, Departments, Corporations, Companies, Boards and Commissions.
Accountability and Control: Concept of Accountability and Control, Legislative, Executive and Judicial Control over Administration. Citizens and Administration. Public Personnel Administration: Concept, Nature, Scope and Significance. Bureaucracy: Meaning, Concepts, Types, Recent Trends and its Role in Modern Society. 
Public Administrative System in Sri Lanka with Reference to Civil Services and Administrative Services: Recruitment, Training, Promotion and Salary Administration.
POLS 32312 - International Politics
Course Aim/ Intended Learning Outcomes: 
Upon successful completion of this course unit, every student should be able to:
  1. Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the core concepts, theoretical approaches, and methods used in the study of international politics and foreign affairs.
  2. Ability to analyze key global issues and problems with the aid of the theoretical and conceptual tools.
  3. Ability to think critically, analyze information, and express their ideas clearly, both orally and in writing concerning the theory and practice of international relations.
  4. Assess and evaluate various policy prescriptions designed to address transnational problems.
Course Content:
Introduction to International Politics: Explaining International Politics, Rise of the Modern State System: war, peace and International Politics. Realism and International Politics, Liberalism and International Politics, Marxism and International Politics, Origins of World War II.
The Cold War and the Rise of U.S. Hegemony: End of the European Era: Versailles to Munich the Cold War and its causes: the cold war and the Korean war, ISIS as revolutionary state. Explaining the long peace and the Soviet collapse.
New World Order: Gulf War: the new world order in theory and practice. Yugoslavia and Somalia: why nations go to war. Rwanda, Iraq War.
Economic and Transnational Issues: Free trade: the nature of political economy, winners and losers: truth about free trade. Globalization and North-South relations: international assistance and poverty. Environment, Identities: Conflict and Cooperation: the clash of civilization. Justice and Human Rights. 
National Power: List the elements of national power. Measure the national power that using internationally recognized formulas. Express the advantages and disadvantages of national power and politics. Estimate factors affecting national power to international politics. Setup determinants of national power.
National interests/objectives: Interpret national interests. Use national interests to identify behavior of state.
POLS 32322 - Foreign Policy and Diplomacy

Course Aim/ Intended Learning Outcomes: 

Upon successful completion of this course unit, every student should be able to:
  1. Display a deeper understanding of the history of diplomacy and how the development of diplomatic practices has been affected by and in turn has affected the conditions of international relations and foreign policy;
  2. Analyze and understand diplomacy as an instrument of statecraft and as an institution of historical and contemporary international society;
  3. Identify and understand the various forms and expressions of diplomacy in the contemporary world;
  4. Critically Analyze processes of international mediation and negotiations from a theoretical as well as practical point of view.

Course Content:

Theoretical and empirical introduction to foreign policy: Definitions and nature of foreign policy, who makes foreign policy? Which factors influence foreign policy making? Foreign policy decision making process, Determinants of foreign policy, Objectives of foreign policy, 
Actors of foreign policy: State, International organizations, Regional groupings, NGOs, Economic agents. Media. 
Process of position making: Where does foreign policy come from? Key Stakeholders: Public, Media, Allies, International community, Dynamics of contestation and negotiation over Foreign Policy, Dynamics of representation of Foreign Policy, The Foreign Policy Process: leaders, bureaucrats, practitioners, how significant are these different actors in influencing foreign policy?
Key national stakeholders of foreign policy: EU, USA, emerging economies, third world and their key interests and approaches.
Sri Lankan Foreign Policy: The evolution of Sri Lankan foreign policy, Alignment behavior, setting and institutional body, key abilities 
Diplomacy as an instrument to implement foreign policy: Legal framework, negotiation process, organization of diplomatic services.
Diplomatic Relations: Political actors, Qualities in a diplomat.
The Art of Negotiation: Pre-negotiations, Around the Table, Negotiations (Diplomatic Momentum, Packaging Agreements and Following Up).
Diplomatic and consular service of Sri Lanka

Contacts

 

Department of Political Science,

Faculty of Social Sciences,
University of Kelaniya,
Sri Lanka.

Telephone: 0112903833

E-mail: hodpols@kln.ac.lk

 

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