module specification

To understand the relevance of political theory to politics and international relations
To understand the different approaches to justifying and criticising political action
To explore the development of political ideas and theories
To develop an understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of current political issues
To encourage students to develop transferable skill in analysis of texts and ideas, articulation of arguments, and presentation of research findings, as well as academic reading and writing.

20th century: including  Isaiah Berlin andJohn Rawls and Robert Nozick;
Political movements including; feminism, nationalism and environmentalism. LO1,LO2,LO3

Each student has 3 contact hours per week over 15 weeks: a two-hour interactive lecture and one hour seminar.
During the teaching period students are expected to devote 9 hours per week to preparation and private study.
Discussion and debate is central to the module, hence, participation in lecture-time is encouraged as well as participative seminars.
Student presentations may be included in seminars.
Research and writing skills are encouraged through classes devoted to practising writing and feedback on writing, as well as the inclusion of writing tasks that are excluded from the final module classification.
Blended learning is achieved through the use of weblearn to suggest on-line resources and activities as well as providing sources for research and writing support, lecture notes, and feedback on assessments.
Employability is addressed through the development of analytical abilities, presentation skills, research and writing practice and encouragement of the ability to think and argue clearly.

1.  Understanding of the development of 20th century political concepts
2. Appreciation of the relevance of political theory to the study of politics and international relations
3. Ability to construct an argument using appropriate texts
4. Ability to present and defend an argument
5. Development of oral and written presentation skills

One short essay, and one extended essay at the end of the module.
In order to achieve the aims of the module the assessed work must demonstrate a developing ability to analyse text and argument in depth.

(Please note: No particular year of publication is given here as political theory texts and textbooks do not change significantly from one year to the next)

CORE

Norman Barry, Modern Political Theory,
David Bouchier and Paul Kelly eds Political Thinkers
Dryzek, Honig and Phillips, The Oxford Handbook of Political Theory, http://0-lib.myilibrary.com.emu.londonmet.ac.uk/browse/open.asp?ID=90559
Barbara Goodwin, Using Political Ideas,
Alan Haworth, Understanding the Political Philosophers
Andrew Heywood, Political Theory.

ADDITIONAL

Paul Kelly, British Political Theory in the Twentieth Century,
Andrew Vincent, Political Theory
Nigel Warburton, Jon Pike and Derek Matravers, Reading Political Philosophy
Sheldon Wolin, Politics and Vision
John Rawls, A Theory of Justice
Isaiah Berlin,
http://faculty.www.umb.edu/steven.levine/courses/Fall%202015/What%20is%20Freedom%20Writings/Berlin.pdf
Robert Nozick, Anarchy, State and Utopia
Valerie Bryson, Feminist  Political Theory
Adam Swift, Political Philosophy