PLT1070

Modernity in crisis: citizenship, democracy and identity

Gillian Robinson

6 points - 3 hours per week - First semester - Clayton

Objectives On successful completion of this subject, students should develop an understanding of the specific issues relating to the development of the nation-state in modernity and the way it is shaped by the logics of democracy, capitalism and industrialisation; and develop an appreciation of issues such as identity, citizenship, race and gender and how these shape the contemporary world and their context.

Synopsis This subject examines the ideas and practices of Western societies and rethinks the various logics of modernity in the context of the contemporary nation-state. In particular the concepts of democracy, capitalism and industrialisation are analysed by asking questions about the universal values of freedom and life, and the categories of autonomy, gender and race. These are analysed through notions of identity and citizenship and what these issues might mean for modern men and women.

Assessment Essay (2500 words): 50% - Examination (2 hours): 50%

Recommended texts

Giddens A Beyond left and right: The future of radical politics Polity, 1994

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