- Academic Registry
Course & Unit Catalogues


PL22025: Thinking the world politically

[Page last updated: 03 June 2024]

Academic Year: 2024/25
Owning Department/School: Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
Credits: 10 [equivalent to 20 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 200
Level: Intermediate (FHEQ level 5)
Period:
Academic Year
Assessment Summary: CWES 65%, CWPG 35%
Assessment Detail:
  • Project output Group (CWPG 35%)
  • Essay (CWES 65%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes:
  • Demonstrate the ability to see contemporary politics and political debates in the context of political thought and theory
  • Illustrate a solid understanding of major thinkers in political thought and theory, from antiquity to modernity
  • Understand and discuss political issues making use of the conceptual tools provided by political thought and theory



Synopsis: Exploring the key philosophical traditions upon which contemporary politics is based, you will engage with key political thinkers and topics such as political violence, justice, and democracy. Youll have the opportunity to develop a capacity to contextualise and evaluate current political disagreements, from arguments over freedom of speech to the role of the state, considering ongoing debates in political thought and theory.

Content: Each week, this unit brings into conversation a series of historical and more contemporary thinkers who have had a notable impact on political theory. These thinkers are selected based on their influence, their intellectual rigour, the challenging nature of their ideas, along with their contemporary relevance, and in connection to the teaching staff's theoretical expertise and research interests. The discussions of these thinkers are tied to major themes and critical contemporary political issues.

Course availability:

PL22025 is Compulsory on the following courses:

Department of Economics
  • UHES-AFB11 : BSc(Hons) Economics with Politics (Year 2)
  • UHES-AKB11 : BSc(Hons) Economics with Politics with professional placement (Year 2)
  • UHES-AKB11 : BSc(Hons) Economics with Politics with professional placement and study abroad (Year 2)
  • UHES-AKB11 : BSc(Hons) Economics with Politics with study abroad (Year 2)
Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
  • UHPL-AKB67 : BA(Hons) International Politics and Modern Languages (ab initio French) with year abroad (Year 2)
  • UHPL-AKB68 : BA(Hons) International Politics and Modern Languages (ab initio German) with year abroad (Year 2)
  • UHPL-AKB71 : BA(Hons) International Politics and Modern Languages (ab initio Italian) with year abroad (Year 2)
  • UHPL-AKB72 : BA(Hons) International Politics and Modern Languages (ab initio Mandarin) with year abroad (Year 2)
  • UHPL-AKB70 : BA(Hons) International Politics and Modern Languages (ab initio Russian) with year abroad (Year 2)
  • UHPL-AKB69 : BA(Hons) International Politics and Modern Languages (ab initio Spanish) with year abroad (Year 2)
  • UHPL-AKB67 : BA(Hons) International Politics and Modern Languages (French) with year abroad (Year 2)
  • UHPL-AKB68 : BA(Hons) International Politics and Modern Languages (German) with year abroad (Year 2)
  • UHPL-AKB69 : BA(Hons) International Politics and Modern Languages (Spanish) with year abroad (Year 2)
  • UHPL-AFB53 : BSc(Hons) Politics and International Relations (Year 2)
  • UHPL-AKB53 : BSc(Hons) Politics and International Relations with professional placement (Year 2)
  • UHPL-AKB53 : BSc(Hons) Politics and International Relations with professional placement and study abroad (Year 2)
  • UHPL-AKB53 : BSc(Hons) Politics and International Relations with study abroad (Year 2)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2024/25 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2025/26 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2024/25.
  • Courses and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.