BASS Politics and Sociology

Liberalism is the dominant ideology that has shaped the Western world. The protection of liberal values tends to be viewed as the main purpose of contemporary liberal democratic states. These values include freedom and the equal moral worth of all humans.  Yet, in stark contrast to these values, liberalism was founded by thinkers defending and taking part in colonial enterprise. Liberals have defended slavery and put forward deeply racist views. What does this historic link between liberalism and empire imply for liberalism today, as a foundational ideology of Western states? Is modern liberal political thought marred by a history of colonialism and racism? And how is colonialism theorised within contemporary liberal political thought? This course studies the historical roots of liberalism, focusing on their links to European empires and settler colonialism, and their implications for contemporary political theory. The first half of the course looks at foundational thinkers like John Locke and John Stuart Mill, as well as the racism embedded in social contract theory. It also looks at liberals who opposed colonialism. The second part focuses on contemporary liberal political theories on territory, self-determination, borders and feminism. It asks whether liberalism provides the tools for resisting colonialism and racism, or whether it still has imperialistic urges.

Please note that the pre-requisites are POLI10702 and at least one of either POLI20881 or POLI20961 (so you don't have to have taken all three).

The course unit aims to:

Equip students:

• To critically evaluate the relevance of the history of ideas
• To deepen their knowledge of the history of liberal thought
• To analyse the role of empire and colonialism in normative theorising
• To critically assess the analytic employment of concepts such as empire, liberalism, colonialism and racism
• To reflect on the historical origins of liberalism and their contemporary significance

Student should be able to

Knowledge and Understanding: 

• Understand the debates on the historical links between liberalism and empire
• Understand critical and analytical approaches to the relevance of colonialism and racism for modern liberal thought
• Understand how colonialism is normatively theorised within liberal political theory

Intellectual skills: 

• Analyse the role of colonialism in key debates within modern liberal thought
• Assess the relevance of the history of ideas
• Construct, critique and defend arguments

Practical skills: 

• Independent research to support essay writing
• Writing skills
• Analysing texts

Transferable skills and personal qualities:  

• Critical thinking
• Constructive criticism and engagement with peers
• Independent working and research

Indicative topic list:
1.    Introduction: What is Liberalism and Empire?
2.    Locke, Mill and Civilisation 
3.    Anticolonials – Diderot, Wollstonecraft and Kant
4.    Racial Liberalism
5.    The Significance of the History of Ideas
6.    Historic Injustice
7.    Empire and Global Justice
8.    Borders and Colonialism
9.    Responsibility to Protect and Imperialism
10.    Decolonising Liberalism

Description of T&L Methods

The course will be taught on the basis of ten two-hour lectures and ten one-hour seminars. Students will be expected to read key texts in advance of seminars to enable direct engagement with the texts and broader informed discussion. The seminars will comprise a mix of question-and-answer sessions and small group work. They will thus provide opportunities to engage with peers, develop arguments and seek clarification from the module leader. 

• Analyse the role of colonialism in key debates within modern liberal thought
• Assess the relevance of the history of ideas
• Construct, critique and defend arguments

• Independent research to support essay writing
• Writing skills
• Analysing texts

• Critical thinking
• Constructive criticism and engagement with peers
• Independent working and research

1000 word book review (30%)

3000 word essay (70%）

Politics staff will provide feedback on written work within 15 working days of submission. Students should be aware that all marks are provisional until confirmed by the external examiner and the final examinations boards in June. For modules that do not have examination components the marks and feedback for the final assessed component are not subject to the 15 working day rule and will be released with the examination results. You will receive feedback on assessed essays in a standard format. This will rate your essay in terms of various aspects of the argument that you have presented your use of sources and the quality of the style and presentation of the essay. If you have any queries about the feedback that you have received you should make an appointment to see your tutor. On assessments submitted through Turnitin you will receive feedback via Blackboard. This will include suggestions about ways in which you could improve your work in future. You will also receive feedback on non-assessed coursework, whether this is individual or group work. This may be of a more informal kind and may include feedback from peers as well as academic staff. You will also have the opportunity to receive feedback on essay plans.

Bell, Duncan (2016), Reordering the World: Essays on Liberalism and Empire, Princeton: Princeton University Press

Mills, Charles (2015) ‘Decolonizing Western Political Philosophy’, New Political Science