| CODE | PPL2213 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Political Ethics | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 8 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Policy, Politics and Governance | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Is it possible to talk about 'right' and 'wrong' in politics? Are there standards of moral political behaviour? This study-unit offers answers to these fundamental questions. It does so by examining ethical issues associated with political action and exploring their consequences for society, mostly from a human rights perspective. Beginning with an examination of the philosophical underpinnings of democratic politics and government, the study-unit proceeds to examine the ethical implications for political action of such bitterly contentious issues of public policy as abortion, euthanasia, war, fundamental rights and freedoms, media ethics and genetic engineering. Study-unit Aims: The subject matter of this study-unit is an essential element in the intellectual and moral formation of political actors. Thus, consistent with the objectives of the Higher Diploma in Political Studies, the study-unit aims: (a) to provide students with an understanding of the moral principles underlying political choices and the moral dilemmas inherent in some burning political questions that affect human dignity and the common good, as well as the ability to appraise the ethical implications of policy choices; (b) to gradually create a portfolio of case studies about standards of conduct in Maltese public life. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: (a) explain basic concepts such as 'political ethics', 'standards of conduct in public life', 'fundamental rights and freedoms', 'human dignity', 'conflict of interest' and 'the common good'; (b) read and comment on the propositions of selected political thinkers who have written about political ethics; (c) analyse, with reference to commonly accepted principles of good governance or ethical standards, the political scandals, ethical dilemmas and moral controversies that are frequently associated with policy choices. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to write thoughtful, well-informed appraisals of news reports, committees of enquiry and similar exercises investigating claims about unethical behaviour or moral controversies associated with policy choices, such as abortion, reproductive technologies, and migration. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Brown-Shafii, Susan. 2011. Promoting Good Governance, Development and Accountability. Palgrave Macmillan. Dobel, J Patrick. 2000. Public Integrity. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. Graafland, Johan. 2007. Economics, Ethics and the Market. London: Routledge. Ignatieff, Michael. 2004. The Lesser Evil: Political Ethics in an Age of Terror. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. Little, I M D. 2002. Ethics, Economics and Politics: Principles of Public Policy. Machiavelli, Nicolo'. 2003. The Prince. London: Penguin Books. Veggeland, Noralv. 2009. Taming the Regulatory State: Politics and Ethics. London: Edward Elgar. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | |||||||||
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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