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for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.
| Unit name |
Rational Choice |
| Unit code |
POLI21203 |
| Credit points |
20 |
| Level of study |
I/5
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
|
| Unit director |
Emeritus Professor. Wickham-Jones |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None
|
| Co-requisites |
None
|
| School/department |
School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences |
Description including Unit Aims
The central aim of this unit is to provide an introduction to the different theories of rational choice. These theories involve the application of various forms of rationality to explain political matters. How and why do individuals make the decisions that they do? How do people interact and choose to co-operate? Do individuals act in a deliberate and calculating way, do they seek to promote their own self-interest? Different techniques will be outlined and their ability to explain political phenomena and problems will be considered in theoretical and empirical forms. Enrolment onto this unit for all students not following it mandatorily is subject to availability.
Aims:
- To acquaint students with contemporary ideas about political science, in the form of rational choice theories and their relationship to political problems;
- to encourage students to develop a more critical approach to politics;
- to analyse some political puzzles using the tools of rational choice and consider potential explanations that those tools offer;
- to encourage students to develop a critical awareness of the limitations of rational choice theory.
Intended Learning Outcomes
- A foundation in some of the key aspects of rational choice theory;
- an understanding of some potential applications of rational choice theory to political issues;
- an ability to write clearly and analytically making use of the relevant material to assess aspects of rational choice theory in a critical fashion;
Teaching Information
10 lectures and 10 seminars over 10 weeks
Assessment Information
- one 2,000 word formative essay.
- one 3,500 word classificatory essay. This essay assesses learning outcomes 1, 2 and 3.
Reading and References
- M. Laver Private Desires, Political Action (Sage)
- Andrew Hindmoor, Rational Choice (Palgrave)
- Stephen Parsons, Rational Choice and Politics (Continuum)
- I. McLean Public Choice (Blackwell)
- D. Chong Collective Action and the Civil Rights Movement (Chicago)
- W. Poundstone Prisoner's Dilemma (Double)
