| Unit name | Theorising Politics |
|---|---|
| Unit code | POLI10006 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Carver |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
N/A |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
N/A |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
N/A |
| School/department | School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
What does it mean to be ‘free’? What would a just society look like? Under what conditions can government be considered legitimate? This unit offers you the opportunity to engage with the politics of knowledge and ideas: who is marginalised, who gets to be heard, and whose ideas shape social and political institutions? You will examine contemporary and classical political theory and consider how the ideas you encounter help justify and understand political movements – or whether such movements rest on the rejection, modification, or extension of the ideas elaborated by classical thinkers. You will reflect critically on the relationship between power and ideas, and begin to evaluate the philosophical basis for individual and collective political action
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This is a mandatory unit for all year 1 students on the Politics and International Relations programmes. The unit offers you the opportunity to develop your knowledge and understanding of key thinkers and ideas in political theory, and apply these tools to the analysis of essential political challenges. The questions you are invited to consider in this unit run through all domains of political action – developing your capability to reflect on core philosophical categories such as justice will facilitate your analysis of responses to a range of issues from climate change to inequality or post-conflict peace-building in subsequent study across your degree programme.
An overview of content:
Political theory is dedicated to exploring normative claims – about how the world should be – and how these are attached to descriptive claims about how the world is. So, in this unit you will examine analytically how questions regarding (for example) what it means to be fair, what equality for all should look like, and how societies should be governed, are answered - while reflecting critically on the empirical basis and ethical stances on which such answers rest. You will be introduced to a variety of classic and contemporary political theories, contextualising these in the light of questions of power, history, culture, religion and secularism, race, class, and gender. You will answer key normative questions for yourself and develop political arguments on a rigorous basis. You will explore how these theories help us understand contemporary political problems, conflicts and struggles. Throughout, the perspectives of those who are marginalised will be highlighted by considering issue- and policy-related debates.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
You will develop knowledge and understanding of theoretical approaches to a wide range of key political problems. On this basis, you will be equipped to provide a robust account of the purpose, objective, and pursuit of political action and engagement – what the world should be like. You will establish a sound conceptual foundation for your own normative understanding of politics.
Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of the unit, students will be able to:
1. Identify rival theoretical perspectives and isolate key points of disagreement.
2. Apply key concepts in political theory to contemporary problems.
3. Develop and communicate political arguments that are rigorous and critical.
4. Formulate your own position on key political issues in a theoretically informed way.
The unit is delivered through a combination of in-person lectures and small group seminars. Lectures are set out to provide students with a broad introduction to the various concepts and case-studies. Seminars offer the opportunity to explore, analyse, critique and deepen the student’s understanding of politics, and to engage in discussion of contemporary and contentious issues with peers and members of staff. Additional asynchronously delivered material may be provided to aid students’ understanding and engagement with the unit material.
The combination of whole cohort and small group sessions offers students a variety of ways to achieve the unit ILOs and prepare students for the summative assessment.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Formative assessment will take the form of 'in-session' participation whereby you will be able to demonstrate critical thinking and questioning in response to reading. You will have the opportunity to demonstrate and check your knowledge and understanding in conversation with your peers and discussion with your tutor. Feedback will be in-session, in response to your engagement.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
When assessment does not go to plan:
Subject to the university regulations for taught programmes, you may be offered an opportunity for reassessment in the failed element(s). This will comprise a task of the same format as the original assessment.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. POLI10006).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
