IR4572 Economy of Anger: Marxism, Psychoanalysis and the Politics of Status

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable

2.00 - 5.00 pm Tue

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr J S Murer

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr J Murer

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

Economy of Anger' explores how the competitive and adversarial ethos of modern capitalism encourages, and may require, violent separations and distinctions within and among social groups. The module explores the motivations of perpetrators of contemporary political violence associated with racism, xenophobia, misogyny, and other expressions from the extreme political right in Britain and the US, and theorizes these acts outgrowths of contemporary capitalism, not as opposition to it. Critical psychoanalytic engagements provide the means to examine the internalisation of violent social imaginaries resulting from anxieties of social displacement, precarity, and alterity. Marxian Psychoanalysis further offers a reflexive praxis to guide new modes of organising social interactions, and thereby recover or build anew inter-subjective engagements with one another and with nature.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS IR2006

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

3-hour Written Examination = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

One 3-hour seminar (x11 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

36

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

275

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Students will demonstrate knowledge of historical, political and economic developments that create the conditions of contemporary capitalism.
  • In addition students will critique these developments and the conditions of contemporary capitalism through the analytic lenses of Marxism and psychoanalysis.
  • The module will develop critical thinking and analytical skills, as well as the ability to closely and critically read texts.
  • Module skills will include conflict literacy and the ability to discern the contributions and combinations of Marxian social critiques with those from psychoanalysis.
  • Transferable and key skills include exposure to research methods, critical thinking, formal writing, and presenting oral arguments.