University of the West of England

MODULE SPECIFICATION

(Template revised October 2005)

Code: UPPNJB-30-3 Title: Theories of Justice Version: 3

Level: 3 UWE credit rating: 30 ECTS credit rating: 15

Module type: Standard

Owning Faculty: Social Science and Humanities Field: Politics

Valid from: September 2008 Discontinued from:

Contributes towards: Awards up to BA

Pre-requisites:

Co-requisites: none

Excluded combinations: none

Learning outcomes:

On completion of the module students are expected to demonstrate:

• knowledge of the principal features of several important contemporary theories of justice (components A and B)

• the ability to apply these theories to a series of substantive political issues (components A and B)

• the capacity to evaluate and criticise the different approaches of such theories to these issues (components A and B)

• the ability to communicate clearly and effectively in different written forms (components A and B)

• the ability to engage in the critical analysis of abstract theories (components A and B)

• the ability to assess the compare and contrast the validity of competing arguments (components A and B)

Syllabus outline:

Topics will include a number of theories of justice by leading thinkers (including Barry, Benhabib, Habermas, Kymlicka, Parekh and Phillips); and a number of practical political issues (including freedom of speech, language rights, political representation and citizenship education)

Teaching and learning methods:

• a weekly lecture will introduce the central themes of each topic for discussion

• weekly seminars will take a variety of forms, including student-led discussion, structured debate and textual analysis

Reading Strategy:

Students will be expected to purchase at least one of a small number of alternative text-books.

Chapters from several key works will be available electronically via the Library’s Digital Collections.

Students are expected to identify all other reading relevant to their chosen topic for themselves. They will

be encouraged to read widely using the library catalogue, a variety of bibliographic and full text databases,

and Internet resources. It will be expected that assignment bibliographies and reference lists will reflect the range of reading carried out.

Indicative Reading List:

The following list is offered to provide validation panels/accrediting bodies with an indication of the type and level of information students may be expected to consult. As such, its currency may wane during the life span of the module specification. However, as indicated above, CURRENT advice on readings will be available via other more frequently updated mechanisms.

Barry, Brian. Culture and Equality: An Egalitarian Critique of Multiculturalism (Polity Press, 2000).

Benhabib, Seyla. The Claims of Culture: Equality and Diversity in the Global Era (Princeton University Press, 2002).

Festenstein, Matthew. Negotiating Diversity: Liberalism, Democracy and Cultural Difference (Polity Press, 2000).

Habermas, Jürgen. Between Facts and Norms: Contributions to a Discourse Theory of Law and Democracy (Polity Press, 1997).

Kenny, Mike. The Politics of Identity: Liberal Political Theory and the Dilemmas of Difference (Polity Press, 2004).

Kymlicka, Will. Contemporary Political Philosophy: an Introduction, 2nd ed. (Oxford University Press,

Modood, Tariq. Multiculturalism: a Civic Idea (Polity Press, 2007).

Parekh, Bhikhu. Rethinking Multiculturalism: Cultural Diversity and Political Theory (Macmillan, 2000).

Phillips, Anne. Multiculturalism without Culture (Princeton University Press, 2007).

Assessment

Weighting between components A and B A: 50 B: 50

ATTEMPT 1

First Assessment Opportunity

Component A (Controlled conditions)

Description of each element Element weighting

1. Examination (3 hours) 50%

Component B

Description of each element Element weighting

1. Book review (1500 words) 20%

2. Essay (3000 words) 30%

Second Assessment Opportunity (further attendance at taught classes is/is not required)

Component A (Controlled conditions)

Description of each element Element weighting

1. Examination (3 hours) 50%

Component B

Description of each element Element weighting

1. Book review (1500 words) 20%

2. Essay (3000 words) 30%

SECOND (OR SUBSEQUENT) ATTEMPT: Attendance at taught classes is/is not required.

Specification confirmed by …Approved by Chair’s action on behalf of VARC……Date: 07.07.08