Power, Politics and Governance

Recommended Prerequisites

Skills in social theory, sociological theories, political theory, political sociology and political science are recommended.

Teaching Methods

The curricular unit mobilizes a participative pedagogy, with direct involvement from students in choosing the case studies to be discussed and emphasizing the critical analysis of the phenomena under consideration. The ability for autonomous reflexion is accentuated.

Learning Outcomes

The general objective of this course is to provide advanced knowledge about the political phenomena, aiming to develop a systematic analysis of the major transformations of power, politic and governance phenomena, as well as to capture a diversity of theoretical perspectives on those phenomena.
Students must be able to:
- Understand the different socio-political regulation paradigms of contemporary societies and the changes in the relationship between the state and the civil society;
- Identify and characterise the phenomena of power, politics and governance in the plurality of their different socio-political expressions;
- Recognise the articulation patterns and the transformation dynamics between them.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Different conceptions of power and politics
2. From classic contractualism to modern political theories in the construction of the State
3. Representation, Deliberation and Democracy
4. Political Power (the State) and Capitalism.
5. From historical fascism to the contemporary far-right.
6. Governance in complex societies: from government to governance
7. Governance in complex societies: Crisis of the social contract
8. Governance in risk societies: Reflexive modernization and subpolitics

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Practical essays along the semester : 20.0%
Synthesis work: 40.0%
Frequency: 40.0%

Bibliography

Beck, Ulrich(2015), A Sociedade de Risco Mundial em busca da segurança perdida. Lisboa: Edições 70
Goddard, S. E.; Lawson, G., & Sending, O. J. (Eds.). (2025). The Oxford Handbook of International Political Sociology. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Santos, Boaventura Sousa (2022), A Gramática do Tempo. Para uma Nova Cultura Política. Lisboa: Edições 70
Ferreira, António Casimiro (2016), Política e Sociedade- Teoria Social em tempo de Austeridade. Porto. Vida Económica
Levi-Faur, David (2012) (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Governance. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Lukes, Steven (2005), Power: A Radical View. London: Palgrave Macmillan
Jon, Pierre; Peters, B. Guy (2002), Governing Complex Societies - Trajectories and Scenarios. London: Palgrave Macmillan
Nash, Kate (2010), Contemporary political Sociology. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell Publications.
Pierson, Christopher (2004), The Modern State. New York: Routledge
Weffort, Francisco (2001). Os Clássicos da Política. São Paulo: Editora Ática