# Welcome! To the MSc Political Theory 2025/26  --- <style> .reveal { font-size: 32px; } </style> # Introductions --- ### The MSc teaching team this year * Prof Paul Apostolidis * Prof Katrin Flikschuh (can't be here today; find her in CBG.4.23 Wed 12-2pm) * Dr Sarah Goff * Dr Vincent Harting * Prof Leigh Jenco * Dr Bruno Leipold * Prof Kai Spiekermann (convener) --- ## Our New Cohort ### Hands up: Do you have a degree in * Politics? * Philosophy? * History? * Other Social Sciences? * Other Humanities? * Natural Sciences? * Something Else? --- ### Distance London - Your Hometown * <100 km * \>100 and <500 km * \>500 and <2000 km * \>2000 and <5000 km * \>5000 km --- ## What Do You Expect from the MSc in Political Theory? ## :bulb: --- # Practical Information --- ## Essential tools at LSE - [Calendar 2025/26](https://www.lse.ac.uk/resources/calendar2025-2026/Default.htm) ==make sure it's the 25/26 one!== - [Timetables](https://info.lse.ac.uk/current-students/timetables) - [Degree Regulations](https://www.lse.ac.uk/resources/calendar2025-2026/programmeRegulations/taughtMasters/2025/MScPoliticalTheory.htm) - [LSE for You](https://lfy.lse.ac.uk) - [New LfY](https://portal.lse.ac.uk/s/) --- ### The Degree Architecture | Autumn Term | Winter Term | | ----------- | -------- | | GV4H4 (Foundations) | Half-Unit 1 | | Half-Unit 2 | Half-Unit 3 | | Half-Unit 4 | Half-Unit 5 | | |Dissertation | || :arrow_right: 2.5 units to choose! --- ### Courses Offered by The Key Teaching Team GV408 Contemporary Disputes About Justice (Harting) GV498 Multiculturalism (Apostolidis) GV4B6 Kant's Political Philosophy (Flikschuh) GV4D7 Dilemmas of Equality (Goff) GV4F5 Advanced Study of Key Political Thinker: Rousseau (Leipold) GV4G7 Marx and Marxism (Leipold) GV4H1 Chinese Political Thought (Jenco) GV4H3 Feminist Political Theory (Goff) GV4H5 The Political Phil. of Environmental Change (Spiekermann) GV4K2 Postcolonial and Comparative Political Theory (Jenco) GV4L4 Critical Theory and Political Action (Apostolidis) GV4M6 Modern African Political Philosophy (Flikschuh) --- We will introduce the courses in more detail a bit later... --- ## How to Think About Course Choice - Survey versus Deep Dive - History of Political Thought vs. Contemporary - Extend your knowledge base - Term balance :scales: --- ## By Term | Autumn Term | Winter Term | | ----------- | -------- | | GV4D7 -- Equality | GV408 -- Justice | | GV4F5 -- Rousseau | GV498 -- Multicul | | GV4H1 -- Chinese PT | GV4B6 -- Kant | | GV4L4 -- Critical T | GV4H3 -- Feminism | GV4M6 -- M African PP | GV4H5 -- Environment | | GV4H4 -- Foundations | GV4G7 -- Marx | | | GV4K2 -- Postc. & Comp. | | | | _Sorry for these labels_ :slightly_smiling_face: --- ## Other Listed Courses There are more courses listed in the regulations -- you can choose them _without_ approval: GV4E2 Capitalism and Democracy GV4K7 Conflict and Cooperation: Key Debates LL4BW Law and Political Thought PH416 Philosophy, Morals and Politics (full unit!) --- ## Unlisted Courses - You may also choose one _half unit_ of unlisted courses - But: - Access outside GV is not controlled by us - Assessment standards can differ - We do not encourage combining listed options outside GV with further unlisted options :exclamation: An unlisted course may only be chosen with my permission! The quickest way to ask for approval: [Approval Form](https://forms.office.com/e/B2JCPW5w7W) --- ## Information About The Mechanics of Course Choice - Opens: 10am Thu 25 Sept (opens today for browsing) - First round offer deadline: Fri 26 Sept noon :warning: - Closes: Fri 10 Oct - Enrol in 4 units including GV4H4 and GV499 - Check timetables to avoid clashes - LLXXX course are offered first-come, first-served - Don't panic: we have plenty of courses on offer --- ## Course Introductions GV408 Contemporary Disputes About Justice (Harting) GV498 Multiculturalism (Apostolidis) GV4B6 Kant's Political Philosophy (Flikschuh) GV4D7 Dilemmas of Equality (Goff) GV4F5 Advanced Study of Key Political Thinker: Rousseau (Leipold) GV4G7 Marx and Marxism (Leipold) GV4H1 Chinese Political Thought (Jenco) GV4H3 Feminist Political Theory (Goff) GV4H5 The Political Phil. of Environmental Change (Spiekermann) GV4K2 Postcolonial and Comparative Political Theory (Jenco) GV4L4 Critical Theory and Political Action (Apostolidis) GV4M6 Modern African Political Philosophy (Flikschuh) --- ## Some Things to Try Out We run our research seminar Thursdays 4-6pm * First meeting **2 October**, launching and discussing Tom Parr's new book * Please [register.](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/empowering-workers-in-an-age-of-automation-book-launch-tickets-1558920666679)  --- ## Some Things to Try Out (ctd.) Thu 4-6pm, CKK.1.07 * 16 October: Daniel James (TU Dresden), “Racism and Racialised Oppression” * 30 October: Jeff Spinner-Halev (UNC), “Liberal Democratic Theory and the Rebuilding of the Administrative State” * 13 November: Agnes Tam (Calgary), “The Social Normativity of Social Norms: A Pluralist Account” * 4 December: Alex Guerrero (Rutgers), “Three Bad Arguments Against Lottocracy” * 11 December: Pablo Gilabert (Concordia), “Why We Should Support Working Artists” (MSc students welcome if space permits) --- ## Some Things to Try Out (ctd.) - Check out LSE's extensive public speaker programme - Try to attend an LSE lunchtime concert in the Shaw library - Check out SU Societies - Enjoy London's cultural life - ... --- # Questions # :question: These slides are availabe here: [https://www.kaispiekermann.net/msc](https://www.kaispiekermann.net/msc)