Critical Traditions and their Significance

By Prof. Sonali Singh | Banaras Hindu University

Learners enrolled: 277 | Exam registration: 18

ABOUT THE COURSE:
The present course titled, “Critical Traditions and their Significance”, aims at studying some of the significant political theories which have, critiqued the mainstream theories/narratives from different perspectives.
These theories have helped in providing explanations to underlying causes of injustices and exploitations in society; providing practical solutions; and the normative basis for challenging the present unjust and exploitative social structures. The objective of this course is to highlight the role played by these theories in inspiring various struggles for rights, freedom and human emancipation in the past and their relevance in the present.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: B.A., M.A. Ph.D and general audience

PREREQUISITES: Basic knowledge of Political Science

Summary

Course Status :	Completed
Course Type :	Elective
Language for course content :	English
Duration :	12 weeks
Category :	Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit Points :	3
Level :	Undergraduate/Postgraduate
Start Date :	22 Jul 2024
End Date :	11 Oct 2024
Enrollment Ends :	05 Aug 2024
Exam Registration Ends :	16 Aug 2024
Exam Date :	25 Oct 2024 IST
ALERT ON EXAM DATE :	Exam date is subject to change.

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

Page Visits

Course layout

Week 1- Introduction to Critical traditions

Meaning & Nature

Sources and Features of Critical theory

Significance of Critical traditions

Week 2 -Frankfurt School of Critical Theory

Max Horkheimer

Theodore Adorno

Week 3-Frankfurt School of Critical Theory

Herbert Marcuse

Jurgen Habermas

Week 4-Marxism

Critique of capitalism,

Alienation,

Theories of Revolution

Week 5- Post-Marxism

Critique of determinism and dialectical method

Gramsci’s on role of ideas

Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe: The Proliferation of Struggles and the category of the Subject

Week 6-Feminism

Critique of traditional epistemologies

Critique of Science and rationality

Eco-feminism

Week 7- Feminism

Public & Private dichotomy

Equality/Difference debate

Violence against women today

Week 8- Mass society and Republicanism

Critical theory and the analysis of contemporary mass society

Republican notion of freedom

Republican notion of State and Civic Virtues

Week 9- Ecological Critique

Ecological Democracy

Week 10-Ecological Critique

Ecological Citizenship

Week 11- Dalit Narratives

Critique of theory and practice of caste

Critique of modernity

Week 12- Postmodernism

Meaning, Origin & Theoretical aspects

Criticisms of Modernism

Postmodernism: Elements, usefulness for understanding Society & Criticisms

Books and references

Stephen Eric Bronner, Critical Theory, A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, New York, 2011
Fred Rush (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Critical Theory, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2004
Leszek Kolakowski, Main Currents in Marxism ( Volumes 1-3), Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1978
Ernesto Lachlan and Chantal Mouffe, Hegemony and Social Strategy, Verso, London, 1985
Alison Jagger, Feminist Politics and Human Nature, Harvester Press, 1983
Maria Mies and Vandana Shiva, Ecofeminism, Zed Books, New York, 1993
Ann Garry and Marilyn Pearsall (ed.), Women, Knowledge and Reality, Routledge, London, 1996
Andrew Dobson, Green Political Political Thought, Routledge, London, 1995
Andrew Dobson, Justice and Environment, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1998
V.Geetha and S. Rajadularai, Towards a non-brahmin Millennium, Samya, Calcutta, 1998
Philip Petit, Republicanism: A theory of Freedom and Government, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1997
Frederic Jameson, Postmodernism Or the Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism, Duke University Press, Durham, NC, 1999

Instructor bio

Prof. Sonali Singh

Banaras Hindu University

Prof. Sonali Singh is currently working as Professor, in Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, BHU. She was Ms. Agatha Harrison Fellow at University of Oxford, U.K. ( 2010-2012). Presently Member of Academic Council of Mahatma Gandhi Central University, Motihari, Bihar. Awarded Research Grant for Sr. Faculty under Institute of Excellence (IOE) Scheme, BHU, 2021-2024. Awarded World Human Rights Promotion Award, 2001 on the occasion of Global Assembly of Educators for World Peace, Environment and Human Rights on 11th-12th December, 2001, New Delhi. Awarded Prof. Karan Singh Gold Medal, G.D.Birla Scholarship by BHU and many other awards. Best Research Paper Award in 2015 at International Conference organised by SIO and BHU. She has secured First class and First position in M.A. Political Science, BHU, 1995 Her area of specialisation is: Political Theory/ thought, Terrorism Studies, Gandhian thought, Human rights, Women Issues and Spiritual Education She has many published many books, chapters in books and articles in national and international journals. Her latest publication is an article on “ Artificial Intelligence: Implications for human rights in India”, published in Journal of National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi, 2023 She has delivered many invited lectures in national and international forums, namely, at St. Anthony’s College, University of Oxford, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies, (An Autonomous Body under the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India), Kolkata , Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), Bhubaneshwar, etc. She has 18 years of research experience and 10 students have submitted under her supervision and 09 are currently working under her. She is regularly invited as political analyst in leading English and Hindi radio and television channels such as B.B.C., Zee News, NDTV, CNN-IBN, Sahara, Aakashvaani etc.

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.

The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).

Date and Time of Exams: 25 October 2024 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.

Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.

The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.

Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 8 assignments out of the total 12 assignments given in the course.
Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup.It will have the logos of BHU and INI.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- INI team

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