Module SGIA3211: CULTURE AND CONFLICT IN AMERICAN POLITICS

Department: Government and International Affairs

SGIA3211: CULTURE AND CONFLICT IN AMERICAN POLITICS

Prerequisites

• Democratic Government (POLI2041) AND Foundations of Western Political Thought (POLI2171).

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To build upon knowledge of democratic politics and of political thought acquired at Level 2 in order to expose the roots and present significance of important traditions of political thought and political culture in American politics. Its two parts focus respectively on American political thought and culture and on current political controversies.

Content

• The module consists of a series of 2-hour seminars accompanied by a programme of lectures. The lectures deal with political-cultural and ideological traditions within the long-term political development of the United States. The seminars consider, and interpret in the light of the lecture material, various current political-cultural controversies, such as those relating to abortion, crime and scandal.

Learning Outcomes

• Students will acquire knowledge and understanding of:
• Elements of political philosophy and the history of political thought relevant to the origins and development of American political culture.
• Methods of cultural interpretation and normative political critique used in the analysis of American politics and political development.
• Specific political controversies in the United States.
• The stakes involved in political controversy and implications for the contested and dynamic nature of politics as both a field of human activity and an academic subject.

• Students will acquire the ability to:
• Describe, interpret and evaluate political theories, concepts, institutions and processes in the American context, as they bear on current political controversies.
• Place current American political controversies in an appropriate historical and interpretive context.
• Effectively utilise diverse sources, including some primary sources in both political thought and current political controversy.
• Understand the significance of political culture in the conduct of politics in America.

• Students will further develop their ability to:
• Assess the suitability and quality of resources for research purposes.
• Flexibly adjust and adapt their use of knowledge and the application of intellectual skills to different forms of study: philosophical-cultural analysis and policy debate.
• Utilise C&IT with discrimination in the investigation of current political issues.
• Review, reinforce and integrate their knowledge independently in preparation for an examination.
• Demonstrate these and the above acquisitions in written form under pressure of time and without supporting materials.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Teaching is by a combination of seven 1-hour lectures, eight 2-hour seminars (to include an introductory seminar) and a 2-hour revision consultation period.
• The lectures and their associated reading lists provide materials for the understanding of historical, political-cultural and political-theoretical context of current political controversies.
• The seminars focus on the controversies themselves, with interpretive material brought in from the lectures and lecture reading lists as appropriate. They enable students to present their findings orally and allow collective discussion and critique of the results.
• Formative assessment is by two essays, testing the engagement of the student with and performance in the module as it proceeds. The first, of maximum length 2,000 words, will be focused on the material delivered in lectures and via the associated reading list. The second, of maximum length 3,000 words, will be focused on the material discussed in seminars and in their associated reading list.
• Summative assessment is by 2-hour sectionalized examination, allowing students to demonstrate acquisition of knowledge and analytical capacity over the range of the module and to show the ability to organize recalled material under pressure of time.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

One presentation. One essay, 2,000 words maximum length.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University