University of the West of England

MODULE SPECIFICATION

Code: UPPNFF-30-1 Title: Ideas and Power Version: 2

Level: 1 UWE credit rating: 30 ECTS credit rating: 15

Module type: standard

Owning Faculty: Social Science and Humanities Field: Politics

Valid from: October 2008 Discontinued from:

Contributes towards: Awards up to BA (Hons)

Pre-requisites: None

Co-requisites: None

Excluded combinations: None

Learning outcomes:

On completion of the module students are expected to demonstrate:

    1. a knowledge of a range of important political ideas (assessed in all components and elements)

    2. an understanding of the role that such ideas play in political analysis and argument (assessed in all components and elements)

    3. an understanding of the work of a number of key political thinkers (assessed in all components and elements)

    4. an ability to gather information from a variety of sources (assessed in all components and elements)

    5. the beginnings of an ability to apply political ideas in systematic argument (assessed in all components and elements)

    6. the beginnings of an ability to express ideas clearly in a variety of forms (assessed in all components and elements)

Syllabus outline:

The range of topics covered each year will be chosen from the following list:

    • Concepts and theories in politics

    • Human nature, the individual, society

    • Politics, government, the state

    • Sovereignty, the nation, supranationalism

    • Power, authority, legitimacy

    • Law, order, justice

    • Rights, obligations, citizenship

    • Democracy, representation, the public interest

    • Freedom, toleration, liberation

    • Equality, social justice, welfare

    • Property, planning, the market

    • Tradition, progress, utopia

Teaching and learning methods:

Teaching will follow a lecture/seminar format. A weekly lecture will introduce the central themes of each topic for discussion. Weekly seminars will take a variety of forms, including student-led discussion, structured debate and textual analysis.

Reading Strategy:

Students will be expected to buy one textbook for essential reading. A series of further readings will also be provided either in a reader or in digitised form. The module handbook will contain a list of further reading for each seminar topic. A good range of these items will be available in the short loan collection. There will also be use of online texts. Formal opportunities for students to start to develop their library and information skills are provided within the module.

Indicative Reading List:

The following list is offered to provide validation panels/accrediting bodies with an indication of the type and level of information students may be expected to consult. As such, its currency may wane during the life span of the module specification. However, as indicated above, CURRENT advice on readings will be available via other more frequently updated mechanisms.

Barry, Norman. An Introduction to Modern Political Theory, 4th ed., Palgrave, 2000.

Bronner, Stephen. Twentieth Century Political Theory: A Reader, Routledge, 1997.

Cohen, Andrew and Christopher Wellman eds. Contemporary Debates in Applied Ethics, Wiley Blackwell, 2004.

Goodwin, Barbara. Using Political Ideas, 5th ed., John Wiley, 2007.

Heywood, Andrew. Political Theory: An Introduction, 3rd ed., Palgrave, 2004.

Hoffman, John and Paul Graham. Introduction to Political Theory, Longman, 2006.

Kymlicka, Will. Contemporary Political Philosophy: An Introduction, 2nd ed., Oxford University Press, 2001.

Lafollette, Hugh ed. Ethics in Practice, Wiley Blackwell, 3rd ed., 2006.

Miller, David. Political Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, 2003.

Miller, David ed. The Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Political Thought, Blackwell, 1991.

Swift, Adam. Political Philosophy: a Beginner's Guide for Students and Politicians, 2nd ed., Polity, 2006.

Wolff, Jonathan. An Introduction to Political Philosophy, 2nd ed., Oxford University Press, 2006.

Assessment

Weighting between components A and B A: 50% B: 50%

ATTEMPT 1

First Assessment Opportunity

Component A (Controlled conditions)

Description of each element Element weighting

1. Exam (3 hours) 50%

Component B

Description of each element Element weighting

1. Essay skills exercise (1,500 words) 25%

2. Essay(1,500 words) 25%

3. Essay (1,500 words) 25%

(The best two of three elements to count.)

Second Assessment Opportunity (further attendance at taught classes is/is not required)

Component A (Controlled conditions)

Description of each element Element weighting

1. Exam (3 hours) 50%

Component B

Description of each element Element weighting

1. Essay (3,000 words) 50%

SECOND (OR SUBSEQUENT) ATTEMPT: Attendance at taught classes is not required.

Specification confirmed by …………………………………………………Date ……………………………

(Associate Dean/Programme Director)

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