POLS302 Contemporary Political Thought
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Mar 03, 2026
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Political Science and International Relations
Muhidin Mulalić
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course examines major theoretical perspectives in contemporary political thought. Its primary aim is to introduce students to the major political ideologies that have shaped modern societies and continue to influence global politics. Students will explore a range of ideologies to understand their core principles, goals, internal logic and critique. Through comparative analysis, the course also encourages students to reflect on their own political beliefs and how these shape their understanding of political events and processes.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Shorten, A. (2016). Contemporary Political Theory. New York: Palgrave.
Additional Literature
Collin Farrelly. (2004). Contemporary Political Theory: A Reader. London: Sage Finlayson Alan. (2003). Contemporary Political Thought: A Reader and Guide. New York: New York University Press Rawls, J. (1971). A theory of justice. Harvard University Press. Nozick, R. (2013). Anarchy, state, and utopia (2nd ed.). Basic BooksTeaching Methods
The teaching methods for this course will include lectures, video clips, and in-class discussions
Students will also be expected to do video talks and panels
Student participation is essential and expected in this class
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Course Introduction | |
| 2 | What is Political Theory? | Shorten, Ch. 1 |
| 3 | Political Community | Shorten, Ch. 2 |
| 4 | Pluralism | Shorten, Ch. 3 |
| 5 | Representation | Shorten, Ch. 4 |
| 6 | Democracy | Shorten, Ch. 5 |
| 7 | Power | Shorten, Ch. 6 |
| 8 | Midterm Exam Week | |
| 9 | Freedom | Shorten, Ch. 7 |
| 10 | Equality | Shorten, Ch. 8 |
| 11 | Justice | Shorten, Ch. 9 |
| 12 | Rights | Shorten, Ch. 10 |
| 13 | Feminism | Assigned Readings |
| 14 | The Future of Political Theory | Shorten, Ch. 11 |
| 15 | Course Revision and Final Exam Preparation |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POLS302.1 | Course | Monday 12:00 - 14:50 | B F1.1 FBA Graduate Seminar Room | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 09:00 - 13:00 | B F2.24 | |
| Wednesday | 09:00 - 13:00 | B F2.24 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Midterm exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Video Talks
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 4
Group Panel
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 4 5
Participation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 3
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture hours
42 hours ⏳ (14 week × 3 h)
Home Study
28 hours ⏳ (14 week × 2 h)
Group Panel
20 hours ⏳ (2 week × 10 h)
Video Talk
6 hours ⏳ (2 week × 3 h)
Midterm Study
17 hours ⏳ (1 week × 17 h)
Final Exam Study
23 hours ⏳ (1 week × 23 h)
Participation
14 hours ⏳ (7 week × 2 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [POLS302] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Mar 03, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| POLS302 | Contemporary Political Thought | 3 | 1 | 6 | MON12:00-15:00 | |||||
| Prerequisite | POLS301 | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Muhidin Mulalić | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 9:00-13:00 Wednesday: 9:00-13:00 |
|||||||
| mmulalic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course examines major theoretical perspectives in contemporary political thought. Its primary aim is to introduce students to the major political ideologies that have shaped modern societies and continue to influence global politics. Students will explore a range of ideologies to understand their core principles, goals, internal logic and critique. Through comparative analysis, the course also encourages students to reflect on their own political beliefs and how these shape their understanding of political events and processes. | |||||||||
| Textbook | Shorten, A. (2016). Contemporary Political Theory. New York: Palgrave. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | The teaching methods for this course will include lectures, video clips, and in-class discussions. Students will also be expected to do video talks and panels. Student participation is essential and expected in this class. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Course Introduction | |||||||||
| Week 2 | What is Political Theory? | Shorten, Ch. 1 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Political Community | Shorten, Ch. 2 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Pluralism | Shorten, Ch. 3 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Representation | Shorten, Ch. 4 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Democracy | Shorten, Ch. 5 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Power | Shorten, Ch. 6 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Midterm Exam Week | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Freedom | Shorten, Ch. 7 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Equality | Shorten, Ch. 8 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Justice | Shorten, Ch. 9 | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Rights | Shorten, Ch. 10 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Feminism | Assigned Readings | ||||||||
| Week 14 | The Future of Political Theory | Shorten, Ch. 11 | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Course Revision and Final Exam Preparation | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final exam | 1 | 30 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm exam | 1 | 20 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | Not Allowed | |
| Video Talks | 1 | 20 | 1, 4 | Not Allowed | |
| Group Panel | 2 | 20 | 1, 4, 5 | Not Allowed | |
| Participation | 1 | 10 | 3 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture hours | 3 | 14 | 42 | Home Study | 2 | 14 | 28 | |||
| Group Panel | 10 | 2 | 20 | Video Talk | 3 | 2 | 6 | |||
| Midterm Study | 17 | 1 | 17 | Final Exam Study | 23 | 1 | 23 | |||
| Participation | 2 | 7 | 14 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 24/03/2026 | |||||||||