British Politics and Legislative Studies

British Political History since 1945

The UK's political history after World War Two: from Eden to the EEC and from Wilson to the 'Winter of Discontent', encounter the people, ideas and policies that have shaped modern Britain.

Introduction to Political Ideologies

Political action is collective action among people who share beliefs. This module explores the most important formulations of these collective views. It explores political ideologies that defend the status quo, those who wish to reform it, and those that seek a radically different political reality.

British Government

In the age of Brexit who governs Britain? Discover the workings of the British state and where power lies. From the uncodified constitution, the Office of Prime Minister and Cabinet government to Whitehall, English local government, Scottish and Welsh devolution to the great parties of state: the Conservative Party and the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats. Encounter the traditions, institutions and political parties which govern Britain.

Introduction to Policy-Making

This module provides an introduction and explanation of the plural theories and models of policy making before applying these theories and models to the practice of policy-making, via a series of case studies of policy-making in practice.

Introduction to Comparative Politics

This module introduces Comparative Politics, one of the major building blocks for the study of Politics. It introduces “the study of the state” and some of the main concepts used by politics scholars, like political culture, political parties, executives, legislatures and constitutions.

Introduction to Global Political Economy

You'll gain the tools to understand and explain developments in the global political economy and be introduced to international political economy, one of the main sub-disciplines of politics and international relations. You will trace the evolution of ideas, institutions and policies related to global financial markets, transnational production, global division of labour, gender and climate change.

The Contemporary House of Commons

The Contemporary House of Commons module provides a distinctive opportunity not only to study the role of the House of Commons in the UK political system, but also to engage with practitioners, to develop skills of advocacy and to engage in research of primary sources, and to do so through small-group extended seminars, ensuring continuous engagement with fellow students and with the module leader, who is also parliamentarian.

Electoral and Voting Systems

You will study in depth the basic principles and the workings of a variety of electoral and voting systems used in the UK and around the world. You will explore the implications of electoral and voting systems for democracy and political representation. Your assessment in the form of a policy brief will prepare you for future interactions with policy-makers.

Political Research

In this module you will begin the journey of becoming an independent and autonomous political researcher. You will learn more about how Political Research – especially that conducted within the School of Politics and International Studies – is produced, and be equipped with the understanding and skills necessary to design your own political research project. This module will prepare you for the Final Year Project and for putting into practice your own programme of research.

Parliament in the UK: Approaches to Reform

Parliament in the UK: Approaches to Reform provides students with an opportunity to assess Parliament in the content of a constitution in flux, to debate the merits of constitutional reforms, and to engage with practitioners, to develop skills of advocacy- not least through an adversarial debating format – and to engage in research of primary sources, and to do so through small-group extended seminars, ensuring continuous engagement with fellow students and with the module leader, who is also parliamentarian.

Rethinking Political Economy

Rethinking Political Economy enables students to explore plural perspectives drawn from the history of ideas in political economy from its early development in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries to the contemporary rethinking of political economy. Particular focus is placed upon the confrontation both of historical power imbalances, notably the relocation of the previously marginalized perspectives of female political economists to the very centre and cutting edge of the discipline, and urgent issues of human development, notably inequalities in income and wealth, and mitigation of and adaptation to human-induced climate change

The Global South and Development

Explore the challenges of development for the Global South from a cross-regional comparative political economy perspective. You'll gain an understanding of the theoretical and practical debates around development, and their implications for international relations. You'll also examine the role of states, markets, international organisations, non-governmental organisations and civil society in fostering (or inhibiting) development. 

History of Political Thought

The history of political thought provides us with experiences of a wealth of perspectives on issues that still occupy central places in human life: the role of power in our collective relationships; the duties of the citizen and the obligations of the state; what it means to be free or equal or oppressed. This module explores some of the most influential and challenging positions from ancient Greek times to the late-nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The module explores the feminist thinkers and others who were and are viewed as radicals, as well as more moderate figures, whose influences remain today.

Understanding America

You'll be introduced to the political culture and institutions of the United States of America and the environment in which those institutions operate. Having considered these domestic issues, you'll examine the USA’s international role and behaviour. You'll examine the complex relationship between these domestic and international aspects of American politics.

Understanding the European Union

The EU has a population of almost 450 million people and host the world’s the largest single market. The module identifies the main EU institutions and explains where power lies in EU decision-making. EU policies which will be assessed include environmental/climate policy, Economic Monetary Union (EMU) and the Single European Market (SEM). The module focuses also on the EU’s relations with the UK (pre- and post-Brexit), USA, China and Global South countries. The EU has emerged as an environmental leader on the international level and has frequently tried to use its ‘market power’ to transfer its goals, norms and values to the international level. The EU’s impact therefore goes well beyond the territory of its currently 27 Member States.

Dissertation

Choose a topic you are passionate about and make an original contribution to research by designing, carrying out, and delivering a 10,000-word thesis. Over the course of your final year you will conduct independent research, supported by an academic supervisor.

Comparative Legislatures

Examine how legislatures fit within systems of government. You'll explore the Westminster model, US Congress, and the Brazilian, German, South African and Chinese parliaments.

Culture Wars

What causes the culture wars? Explore the controversies. From identity politics to free speech and BLM to transgenderism.

Politics of the Environment

Analyse attitudes towards the environment and the politics of the environmental movement, pressure groups, political parties, states, the EU and international organisations.

Dangerous Minds

Study the relationship between ideas, the people who promote them, and political practice. From Plato, to Machiavelli, explore just how influential and dangerous ideas can be.

UK Politics in an Age of Decline and Renewal

Explore topics that have been implemented by the Cameron-Clegg coalition, May and Johnson Governments since the May 2010 General Election. You'll investigate the politics of austerity, reform of public services and the NHS, the welfare state, Brexit and the response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Contemporary Political Philosophy

How should we think about justice, equality, liberty and democracy? Explore ways of addressing these topics through critical readings of leading political philosophers.

Germany in the New Europe

This module assesses the reunified Germany and its role in the new Europe. You'll learn about Germany's political parties, its government and its main policies.

Political Thought of the Right

This module offers a thorough education in the political thought of the “Right” from the upheavals of the ancient world to those of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. It introduces you to the lives and works of major authors from various traditions—conservatives, nationalists, radical individualists—whose ideas have made lasting contributions to the contemporary politics of the “Right” in both theory and practice, and for better and worse. Together we will read and debate a straightforward module anthology of classic texts by authors from diverse cultures and traditions: from the war between Athens and Sparta and mediaeval laudations of the English constitution, to radical and dangerous visions of moral counter-revolution, national rebirth.

Brave New World: The Internet

This timely, fascinating module is about the Internet revolution and its impact on our lives, on politics and society. The module combines theory with practical case studies and thus is very relevant to all students who utilise the Internet for their daily activities. The module balances the raison d'être of the Internet, freedom of expression, against no less important principle: social responsibility, and ponders what responsibilities we have as Internet users and as readers of information, what are the responsibilities of Internet intermediaries, and what are the responsibilities of the government and of the international community at large to ensure an innovative and secure digital environment.

While observing friendship and romance on the Internet, the module also questions whether self-regulation work. Is government regulation required to tackle terrorism, racism, child pornography and cyberbullying?

Troubled History: Irish Politics and Anglo-Irish Relations

In this module you will examine the evolution and contemporary relevance of the political relationships between Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain.  You will be introduced to the emergence of these relationship from the Ulster plantation to the Act of Union 1800, through the Home Rule movement, War of Independence and partitioning of Northern Ireland, and further through the Troubles, the Good Friday Agreement and the impacts of Brexit.  The purpose will be to equip you to critically engage with contemporary aspects of Anglo-Irish relations with a sound understanding of their historical, cultural, religious and economic influences

Democracy and Legitimacy in the European Union

This module analyses the real-world challenges of democracy and legitimacy in the European Union, and situates them in the context of contemporary theoretical and conceptual debates. In addressing these issues, you will consider the following questions: is the EU politically legitimate? What are the limits of democracy beyond the national state? Can the EU’s democratic deficit be addressed by strengthening the European and/or national parliaments? Will the EU ever be democratic if it lacks a demos? Is public support necessary for the EU to be legitimate? The module is practically-oriented module, assessed by a 4500-word, independently produced policy paper which accounts for 100% of the final mark.