Sem (BA/MEd) Political Ethics, Corruption and Anticorruption
Dozent:innen: Dr. Maria Paola FerrettiKurzname: Sem Pol. ethics
Kurstyp: Seminar
Voraussetzungen / Organisatorisches
Bereich Politische TheorieGültig für folgende vom Institut angebotenen Studiengänge:
- BA Politikwissenschaft Aufbaumodul 2/3
- MEd Sozialkunde (Modul Fachwissenschaftliche Vertiefungt)
Um die (Lern-)Ziele dieses Seminars zu erreichen, ist Ihre aktive und regelmäßige Teilnahme vor Ort erforderlich.
Studierende, die in der ersten Sitzung unentschuldigt fehlen, verlieren ihren Anspruch auf einen Seminarplatz.
Anwesenheitspflicht
Wer in der ersten Sitzung unentschuldigt fehlt, verliert den Anspruch auf den Seminarplatz (Entschuldigung per Mail an Dozent*in ist ausreichend; es ist kein ärztliches Attest erforderlich).Inhalt
This course offers an advanced exploration of normative questions at the intersection of political philosophy and institutional practice. The course examines how ethical standards apply to political actors operating under conditions of disagreement, uncertainty, and institutional constraint.A core theme is the problem of accountability in the exercise of office: what it means to hold political actors responsible when actions and outcomes causally complex, and often morally mixed. Building on this, the course engages the “dirty hands” problem, asking whether political leaders may be justified in performing morally wrong actions for the sake of public goods such as security, stability, or justice. Students will critically assess whether such actions can be excused, justified, or instead signal a breakdown of public ethics.
The course further examines political compromise as both a necessary feature of pluralist democracy and a potential source of ethical concern. When, if ever, do compromises become corrupt bargains rather than legitimate democratic practices? Finally the course turns to corruption and anticorruption. Political corruption has in the last two decades been understood not merely as legal transgression or personal greed, but as a structural phenomenon involving the distortion of public office, the erosion of trust, and the subversion of democratic purposes. The students will be guided to discuss possible remedies in term of anticorruption: its moral foundations, institutional design, and possible unintended consequences. Students will evaluate whether anticorruption measures strengthen accountability or risk becoming technocratic or overly punitive regimes.
Key guiding questions include: What distinguishes legitimate political compromise from corruption? Can “dirty hands” actions be morally justified in democratic politics? How should responsibility be attributed in cases of institutional failure? And what ethical limits should constrain anticorruption efforts themselves? Through these debates, the course equips students to critically analyze the ethics that guides the conduct of politics.
Key readings:
Wendt, Fabian (2026): The Conduct of Politics, Cambridge: C. U.P
Ceva, Emanuela and Maria Paola Ferretti (2021) Political Corruption. The Internal Enemy of Public Institutions, New York: O.U.P.
Vertiefungshinweise
Kurzbeschreibung :
Description
Beschreibung:
This course offers an advanced exploration of normative questions at the intersection of political philosophy and institutional practice. The course examines how ethical standards apply to political actors operating under conditions of disagreement, uncertainty, and institutional constraint.
A core theme is the problem of accountability in the exercise of office: what it means to hold political actors responsible when actions and outcomes causally complex, and often morally mixed. Building on this, the course engages the “dirty hands” problem, asking whether political leaders may be justified in performing morally wrong actions for the sake of public goods such as security, stability, or justice. Students will critically assess whether such actions can be excused, justified, or instead signal a breakdown of public ethics.
The course further examines political compromise as both a necessary feature of pluralist democracy and a potential source of ethical concern. When, if
Termine
| Datum (Wochentag) | Zeit | Ort |
|---|---|---|
| 22.10.2026 (Donnerstag) | 10:15 - 11:45 | 02 617 Seminarraum 1137 - Georg-Forster-Gebäude (Sowi) |
| 29.10.2026 (Donnerstag) | 10:15 - 11:45 | 02 617 Seminarraum 1137 - Georg-Forster-Gebäude (Sowi) |
| 05.11.2026 (Donnerstag) | 10:15 - 11:45 | 02 617 Seminarraum 1137 - Georg-Forster-Gebäude (Sowi) |
| 12.11.2026 (Donnerstag) | 10:15 - 11:45 | 02 617 Seminarraum 1137 - Georg-Forster-Gebäude (Sowi) |
| 19.11.2026 (Donnerstag) | 10:15 - 11:45 | 02 617 Seminarraum 1137 - Georg-Forster-Gebäude (Sowi) |
| 26.11.2026 (Donnerstag) | 10:15 - 11:45 | 02 617 Seminarraum 1137 - Georg-Forster-Gebäude (Sowi) |
| 03.12.2026 (Donnerstag) | 10:15 - 11:45 | 02 617 Seminarraum 1137 - Georg-Forster-Gebäude (Sowi) |
| 10.12.2026 (Donnerstag) | 10:15 - 11:45 | 02 617 Seminarraum 1137 - Georg-Forster-Gebäude (Sowi) |
| 17.12.2026 (Donnerstag) | 10:15 - 11:45 | 02 617 Seminarraum 1137 - Georg-Forster-Gebäude (Sowi) |
| 07.01.2027 (Donnerstag) | 10:15 - 11:45 | 02 617 Seminarraum 1137 - Georg-Forster-Gebäude (Sowi) |
| 14.01.2027 (Donnerstag) | 10:15 - 11:45 | 02 617 Seminarraum 1137 - Georg-Forster-Gebäude (Sowi) |
| 21.01.2027 (Donnerstag) | 10:15 - 11:45 | 02 617 Seminarraum 1137 - Georg-Forster-Gebäude (Sowi) |
| 28.01.2027 (Donnerstag) | 10:15 - 11:45 | 02 617 Seminarraum 1137 - Georg-Forster-Gebäude (Sowi) |
| 04.02.2027 (Donnerstag) | 10:15 - 11:45 | 02 617 Seminarraum 1137 - Georg-Forster-Gebäude (Sowi) |
| 11.02.2027 (Donnerstag) | 10:15 - 11:45 | 02 617 Seminarraum 1137 - Georg-Forster-Gebäude (Sowi) |