Course Details in 2024/25 Session

Module Title	LI History of Political Ideas: power, revolution and the state
School	Government
Department	Political Sci & Intern'tl Stud
Module Code	08 37483
Module Lead	Mark Wenman/Richard Shorten
Level	Intermediate Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 1
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-10 hours Seminar-20 hours Guided independent study-170 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	This module introduces students to the history of political ideas, and proceeds through a critical evaluation of the major canon of political thought, from the early modern period (Machiavelli) to the late 19th Century (Nietzsche). The module allows students to consider a sequence of historical political thinkers and texts, whilst at each stage we ask: are their recommendations for political life either desirable or persuasive? Why should visions of the political differ so greatly? And are the problems of these historical thinkers still ‘our own’? In the process of introducing political theory by means of its historical development, students are provided with the capacity to begin to use a range of key concepts effectively (including sovereignty, revolution, imperialism, and exploitation; the common good, rights, liberty, racial, sexual and social justice).
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Understand how key political thinkers fit within a historical development of political thought Use political theoretical concepts to assess the work of those thinkers Use their understanding of the history and development of political thought to develop their own thinking of key political theoretic concepts
Assessment	37483-01 : 1000 word assessment : Coursework (25%) 37483-02 : 2500 word assessment : Coursework (75%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: 1 x 1000 word essay (25%), 1 x 2500 word essay (75%). Reassessment by failed component
Other
Reading List