Module SGIA1231: INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL THEORY

Department: Government and International Affairs

SGIA1231: INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL THEORY

Prerequisites

• None.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• The module lays the basis for a systematic understanding of the role that key political ideals, values and theories play in shaping modern political thought: justifying and critiquing political institutions and public policy, and influencing political behaviour and change.
• It introduces students to the contested nature and boundaries of political ideas and ideologies, offering initial insight into the significance of this contestation for wider human activity.
• It also introduces students to competing theories of justice and demonstrates how arguments in favour of particular interpretations of ideals can be justified and critiqued in order to offer reasoned support or opposition to public policies and political institutions.

Content

• Indicative contents of the module include ideals, theories of justice, arguments and ideologies that have been particularly influential in the western political tradition that can be utilised to provide support for particular public policies and governance arrangements.
• Indicative topics may also include (but not be limited to): Liberty, Equality, Rights, Social Justice, Conservativism, Liberalism, Socialism, and Anarchism.

Learning Outcomes

• During the module, students will begin to develop knowledge and understanding of topics such as:
• ideologies, ideals and theories of justice relevant to contemporary political life.
• prominent arguments in contemporary political philosophy and the history of political thought.
• the underpinning traditions of political thought that sustain specific ideals ideologies and theories of justice.
• how the historical development of ideals and ideologies has influenced the development of political institutions.
• basic techniques and methods for theorising, investigating and evaluating political phenomena from contemporary political theory and historical of political thought.
• the interaction of political structures, political ideas, social groups and individuals in the pursuit of political goals.

• During the module, students begin to develop subject specific intellectual skills. By the end of the module they should be able to:
• accurately summarise and describe theories of justice, interpretations of ideals, and ideologies and arguments in favour of or critical of these.
• identify the nature of differences between different conceptions of justice, ideals and ideologies considered in the module.
• show appropriate sensitivity to historical context in the interpretation of ideals and ideologies.
• identify the argumentative structure of particular interventions and assess their soundness and validity.
• use basic logic, reasoning, argumentation and other critical thinking skills to analyse ideas and arguments.
• apply political theoretical insights to analyse political problems and argue in favour of particular solutions in a variety of contexts.
• Use diverse theoretical sources effectively, including historical and contemporary sources.
• Place specific political systems and phenomena in appropriate historical contexts.
• Understand the significance of political ideas and ideals to the conduct of politics and the justification of public policy.
• Analyse and evaluate competing conceptualisations and justifications of political institutions and policies, producing defensible reason based judgements.
• Begin to adopt a self-critical and independent approach to learning.

• During the programme, students develop a range of practical and transferable key skills. These include:
• Retrieving and using competently and confidently resources to which they have been directed.
• Planning and completing successfully a variety of written assignments.
• Using C&IT in appropriate ways for the retrieval, analysis and presentation of information.
• Producing clear written communication focused on the analysis, comparison and assessment of theoretical literature both historical and contemporary and the ability to improve these skills through receiving feedback.
• Flexibility in applying knowledge to new areas and problems while working to deadlines.
• Project design and management at the individual level.

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

• Teaching and learning is through a combination of lectures, tutorials and discussion board sessions.
• The lectures will provide an introduction to each topic and tutorials an opportunity for clarification, and discussion, as well as a forum in which to try out and evaluate arguments and offer criticism.
• Discussion Board sessions will provide further opportunities for clarification, contestation based on reasoned disagreement and discussion.
• Summative assessment: is by a take home written examination that tests students' acquisition and retention of subject specific knowledge and their skills of description and summary, as well as analysis, argumentation and evaluation skills. As well as the appropriate application of ideas to new examples. It also offers an opportunity for demonstrating suitable breadth and depth of knowledge gained via guided and independent research, deployment of appropriate resources and effective planning, writing and communication within a structured framework.
• Formative assessment: two 1,500 word essays, give students an opportunity to practice understanding of complex ideas, argumentation skills, written and oral communication, and testing the student's ability to research a topic, utilise appropriate methods of scholarly citation, and assess the quality and relevance of sources, and arguments.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Two essays of 1,500 words

■ 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