Course summary

How does the political world function? Why and how are decisions made? How should politics and society be organised? If these questions fascinate you, this degree could be for you. Delve into your political interests and explore answers to the questions you’ve always wanted to ask. Choose a specialism and learn how to think critically so you can make your contribution to debates about politics. Political Theory, Comparative Politics and the study of Political Systems provide the core of this degree, then you can choose options across the full range of modules or focus on specific pathways. You will tackle questions relating to the nature and distribution of power, the advantages and disadvantages of different political systems, gendered and racialised aspects of politics, and the role of ideology in determining political outcomes. You will critique how politics works in a number of different nations and question the appropriate level to analyse politics from the individual to the global system. You will also consider how the work of political theorists can help explain the ways in which politicians intervene in questions of economy, law-making, conflict and the regulation of our daily lives. You will apply these ideas to everyday political problems such as immigration, poverty, war and climate change.