POLITICAL STUDIES UNDERGRADUATE HANDBOOK 2008

The Department is housed on the 5th Floor of the Leslie Social Science Building.
The Departmental letter code is POL.
The Department can be contacted by email at politics@humanities.uct.ac.za.
Website: www.uct.ac.za/depts/politics

Professor and Head of Department:
R A Schrire, BCom Cape Town MA American University Washington PhD Calif

Professors:
R G Cameron, MPubAd PhD Cape Town
R Mattes, MA Delaware PhD Illinois Urbana-Champaign
A Seegers, MA Pret PhD Loyola

Associate Professors:
A Butler, MA Oxon PhD Cantab
A Nash, MA Stell PhD Cape Town

Senior Lecturers:
J Akokpari, BA(Hons) Ghana MA International University of Japan PhD Dalhousie
T Reddy, BSocSc(Hons) Natal MA PhD University of Washington
M Simons, BA(Hons) Cape Town
H J Stephan, BA University of California Berkeley PhD Georgetown

Lecturers:
Z Jolobe, MSocSc Cape Town
G Naidoo, BBibl Hons(PubAd) MA(PubAd) Durban-Westville MBA Edinburgh PhD Pretoria

Administrative Officer:
Ms R Maree, PG Cert Management Studies Buckinghamshire

Administrative Assistant:
Ms J Polzin, BMus HDE(PG)Sec Cape Town

Senior Secretary:
Ms P Msutu, BTech Public Management CPUT

Majors

The following majors can be taken as part of the general BA / BSocSc programme:

• POLITICS

• PUBLIC POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION

A double major combination of Politics and Public Policy and Administration is possible.

NOTE: No 2000- or 3000-level POL course can be counted towards more than one major.

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Requirements for a major in Politics (POL):

Prerequisites:

General comments on prerequisites:

The prerequisites for students registered for either the Commerce or the Humanities PPE programme (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) will differ slightly from those printed above.  Please consult your Programme Convenor.

Requirements for a major in Public Policy and Administration (PPA):

Prerequisites:

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Note on prerequisites and sub-minima:

Students should note the following:

Note on supplementary and re-examination procedures:

Opportunities for further examinations in the case of borderline failures may be provided before the results are finalised.

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COURSE OUTLINES

POL1004F INTRODUCTION TO POLITICS

(NOTE: This course may also be offered in Summer/Winter Term - please consult the Centre for Open Learning.)

First-year, first-semester course, 3 lectures and 1 tutorial per week.

Convenor: Professor Robert Schrire.

Entrance requirements: Faculty admission.

Course outline:
An introduction to key concepts in Political Studies including power, authority, legitimacy and class. These concepts will be applied to the study of comparative and international politics. The case study of South African politics constitutes an application of the conceptual and theoretical material to contemporary politics.

DP requirements:
Completion of all written tests, essays and assignments as stipulated in the course handbooks and at least two-thirds of tutorials.

Assessment:
Coursework counts 50%; June two-hour examination counts 50%.

POL1005S INTERNATIONAL POLITICS (was POL226F)

First-year, second-semester course, 4 lectures per week, 1 tutorial per week.

Convenor: Dr John Akokpari.

Entrance requirements: POL1004F.

Course outline:
This course provides a survey of fundamental issues and concepts in international relations. In particular, it analyses the interface of globalisation and international politics and the extent to which this affects the behaviour of actors in the international system.

DP requirements:
Completion of all written work/tests and at least two-thirds of tutorials.

Assessment:
Coursework counts 50%; October/November two-hour examination counts 50%.

POL2002S POLITICAL THEORY

Second-year, second-semester course, 4 lectures per week, 1 tutorial per week.

Convenor: A/Prof. Andrew Nash.

Entrance requirements: POL2038F.

Course outline:
This course is an introduction to the fields of political theory, political philosophy and political ethics focussing on themes such as freedom, democracy, citizenship and the state.

DP requirements:
Completion of all written work/tests and at least two-thirds of tutorials. 

Assessment:
Coursework counts 50%; October/November two-hour examination counts 50%.

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POL2018F SOUTH AFRICAN POLITICS II

Second-year, first-semester course, 3 lectures and 1 tutorial per week.

Convenor: Dr Thiven Reddy.

Entrance requirements: POL1004F and POL1005S, or by special permission of the course convenor.

Course outline:
This course introduces students to the political system of post-Apartheid South Africa, major policies, and some issues of contemporary debate. The first part of the course focuses on the transition process, and the main political institutions such as the constitution, executive, parliament, and the electoral and political party system. The second part examines a few significant themes of contemporary South African politics, viz. issues of identity, regional foreign policy and macro-economic policy.

DP requirements:
Completion of all written tests, essays, assignments and tutorials.

Assessment:
Coursework counts 50%; June two-hour examination counts 50%.

POL2022F STATE, MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

Second-year, first-semester course, 4 lectures per week, 1 tutorial per week.

Convenor: A/Prof. Anthony Butler.

Entrance requirements: POL1004F/S, POL1005S or any 1000-level ECO, SOC, PHI, PSY, SAN or HST course.

Course outline:
This course introduces basic concepts, methods and theories related to the analysis of the modern South African state, its policy-making processes, and its public administration. The course explores the roles and growth of the public sector, the organisation of South African government under the new constitution, how policy is made and implemented, the interface between public and private sectors, and the human development and policy challenges facing the national government.

DP requirements:
Completion of all written tests, essays and assignments.

Assessment:
Coursework counts 50%; June two-hour examination counts 50%.

POL2034S THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Second-year, second-semester course, 4 lectures and 1 tutorial per week.

Convenor: Dr Harry Stephan.

Lecturers: Professor Robert Schrire and Dr Harry Stephan.

Entrance requirements: POL1004F or any two 2000-level ECO courses.

Course outline:
An introduction to the politics of international economic institutions and non-state economic actors. State responses to the global economy, including mercantilism and liberalism, are explored, and the implications of globalisation and changes in the nature of sovereignty are examined.

DP requirements:
Completion of all written tests, essays and assignments.

Assessment:
Coursework counts 50%; October/November two-hour examination counts 50%.

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POL2036F INTRODUCTORY POLITICAL ECONOMY

(Not offered in 2008)

POL2037S PUBLIC AND DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

Second-year, second-semester course, 4 lectures per week.

Convenor: Dr Goonasagree Naidoo.

Entrance requirements: POL2022F.

Course outline:
This course provides an introduction to concepts, ideas and theories of Public and Development Administration.

The first section of the course is concerned with an introduction to public administration and the work that shaped the current contours of the field. A comprehensive overview is given of public administration, public management and governance. There are at least four identifiable eras in the study of public administration which the course broadly focuses on: the classical approach (Scientific management, administrative theories and bureaucratic model); the neo-classical era (Human relations approach and behavioural systems school-motivation theories and leadership theories); the contemporary era (Systems approach and environmental approach) and the transcendental era (new public management paradigm).

The second section of the course introduces students to the changing understandings of development administration/management in the previous 70 years; the discourse of development; the objectives of developmental local government as prescribed by the state; the opportunities for and challenges to South African local government in its constitutionally defined developmental mandate; the current debate on the end of development and the ascendancy of poverty eradication, and case studies as a methodological approach to putting theory to practical application.

DP requirements:
Completion of all written tests, essays, assignments and response papers.

Assessment:
Coursework counts 50%; October/November two-hour examination counts 50%.

POL2038F COMPARATIVE POLITICS

Second-year, first-semester course, 4 lectures and 1 tutorial per week.

Convenor: Mr Zwelethu Jolobe.

Lecturers: Mr Zwelethu Jolobe and Prof. Annette Seegers

Entrance requirements: POL1005S.

Course outline:
This course introduces students to the major concepts, approaches, themes and topics of inquiry in the field of comparative politics. The course is designed to relate specific theories and relevant case studies and/or empirical evidence. The first part of the course focuses on the broad theme of democratisation and the second on violent processes of political change.

DP requirements:
Completion of tests, essays and tutorial presentations.

Assessment:
Coursework counts 50%; June two-hour examination counts 50%.

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POL3013S SOUTH AFRICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT AND TRADITIONS

Third-year, second-semester course, 4 lectures and 1 double-period tutorial per week.

Convenor: A/Prof. Andrew Nash.

Entrance requirements: POL3032F or POL3030F.

Course outline:
A critical study of some major sources and traditions of South African political thinking from about 1900 to the present.

DP requirements:
Completion of all essays, assignments and at least two-thirds of tutorials.

Assessment:
Coursework counts 50%; October/November two-hour examination counts 50%.

POL3029S THIRD WORLD POLITICS

Third-year, second-semester course, 3 lectures and 1 tutorial per week.

Convenor: Dr Thiven Reddy

Lecturers: Dr Thiven Reddy and Mr Zwelethu Jolobe

Entrance requirements: POL3032F, or with special permission by the course convenor.

Course outline:
This course examines political developments in the Third World through the lens of theory and selected case studies. The first part of the course introduces and analyses some key experiences shared by Third World countries. These include colonialism, the challenges of post-colonial "development" and the opportunities and constraints posed by globalisation. We will study how these processes impact on the politics of these societies. The second part of the course provides an in-depth analysis of the politics of Brazil, India and South Africa in comparative perspective.

DP requirements:
Completion of coursework requirements as stipulated in course handbook(s).

Assessment:
Coursework counts 50%; October/November two-hour examination counts 50%.

POL3030F CONFLICT IN WORLD POLITICS

Third-year, first-semester course, 4 lectures and 1 tutorial per week.

Convenor: Professor Annette Seegers.

Entrance requirements: POL2038F and POL2002S, or with special permission by the course convenor.

Course outline:
An examination of conflict in world politics.

DP requirements:
Completion of all written tests, essays and assignments.

Assessment:
Coursework counts 50%; June two-hour examination counts 50%.

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POL3032F POLITICAL ANALYSIS

Third-year, first-semester course, 4 lectures and 1 tutorial per week.

Convenor: Associate Professor Robert Mattes.

Entrance requirements: POL2002S.

Course outline:
This course is intended to introduce students to the basic steps and methods involved in empirical political science research. Students will focus on the logic of forming questions and testing hypotheses, conceptualisation, operationalisation, measurement and basic data analysis. An applied research project will also develop skills in a computer-based statistical and analysis package.

DP requirements:
Completion of all class assignments and tests.

Assessment:
Coursework counts 50%, June two-hour examination counts 50%.

POL3037F POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION

Third-year, first-semester course, 4 lectures and 1 tutorial per week.

Convenor: A/Prof. Anthony Butler.

Entrance requirements: POL2037S.

Course outline:
This course explores why conflict over public policy is inescapable. Policy makers try to reconcile antagonistic interests and to accommodate competing demands. Public policy also introduces judgements about fairness, equity and human dignity that cannot be reduced to technical issues for resolution by policy makers and officials. The course first investigates initiatives to provide all South African citizens with electricity, clean water, and a benign environment. It goes on to investigate government’s contested initiatives to provide citizens with good schooling and to develop an appropriate response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

DP requirements:
Completion of all written tests, essays and assignments.

Assessment:
Coursework counts 50%; June two-hour examination counts 50%.

POL3038S URBAN POLITICS AND ADMINISTRATION

Third-year, second-semester course, 3 lectures and 1 tutorial per week.

Convenor: Professor Robert Cameron.
Lecturers: Professor Robert Cameron and Ms Mary Simons.

Entrance requirements: POL3037F.

Course outline:
The first section of the course locates South African local level politics and administration in the context of national and provincial state reform, and examines the significance of local implementation and service delivery for policy outputs and for the policy process as a whole. A theoretical framework for understanding local government reorganisation is developed and a comparative analysis undertaken of local government reorganisation with particular reference to metropolitan areas. There is in addition a focus on contemporary reforms which have affected South Africa's contemporary urban governance, such as the new mega-cities, politics-administration interface and developmental local government.

The second section of the course introduces students to an overview of contemporary urban political and administrative challenges and opportunities. These challenges and opportunities occur in a context of global and local conditions. The course examines and compares good solutions to urban problems in third and first world cities. In its focus on delivery-level administration and politics, the course provides both intellectual and practical closure to the major sequence of courses on public administration, management and the policy process.

DP requirements:
Completion of all written tests, essays and assignments.

Assessment:
Coursework counts 50%; October/November two-hour examination counts 50%.

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