PO1IPI-Introduction to Political Ideas

Module Provider: School of Politics and International Relations
Number of credits: 20 [10ECTS credits]
Level: 4
Terms in which taught: Autumn, Spring and Summer
Module Convenor: Dr ADT Cromartie
Pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Module version for: 2009/0

Email: a.d.t.cromartie@reading.ac.uk

Aims:

Assessable learning outcomes:
At the end of this course students should be able

- to give an account of the functions played by the modern liberal state
- to describe the strengths and weaknesses of representative democracy and the rationales of various
electoral systems
- to decribe the strengths and weaknesses of utilitarianism
- to give an account of the tension between majority (or plurality) rule and individual and group rights
- in this connection, to describe the special problems raised by such problems as pornography, hate
speech, abortion, and unpopular or inhumane religious practices
- to relate the themes of the course to the problems posed by agitation on behalf of animals and the
environment

Additional outcomes:
Effective oral presentation.
Awareness of theoretical concepts ('democracy', 'sovereignty', 'the state') that can be deployed in all areas of the programme.
Awareness of the principal traditions of modern political theory, especially liberalism, conservatism, socialism, and anarchism.
Informed and critical use of primary and secondary resources, including intelligent use of internet sources.
Enhanced confidence in, and effectiveness of, oral and written communication through seminar discussions, presentations and essays.
Rigorous and consistent referencing.

Outline content:
This module will introduce students to Political Theory through an examination of problems raised by daily political practice in representative democracies. It will start by asking what a state is for (would anarchism be morally or practically superior?). Then it will examine the arguments for (and against) democracy, especially in its 'representative' version. Special consideration will be given to the legitimacy or otherwise of various electoral systems. Students will be alerted to the merits and the drawbacks of a strict utilitarian approach. Attention will then turn to limitations on democracy imposed by individual or group rights, including such hard cases as pornography, hate speech, abortion, and inhumane religious practice. The course will conclude by considering the challenge to conventional political theory posed by a suggested broadening of moral and political concern to include non-human species and the environment.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
16 lectures and 10 classes requiring some preparatory reading, oral presentations and written essays. 1 revision class.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	8	8
Tutorials/seminars	5	5	1
Practicals
Other contact (eg study visits)
Total hours	13	13	1
Number of essays or assignments	1	1
Other (eg major seminar paper)

Assessment:
Coursework:
Students will write one c1500 word essay in each of the Autumn and Spring terms. Non-submitted essays will be awarded a mark of zero. The overall coursework mark will be an average of the two essay marks.
Relative percentage of coursework: 40%
Penalties for late submission: In accordance with University policy a penalty of a reduction of 10 marks to essays which are submitted up to one week after the original deadline, and a zero mark thereafter will be applied.
Examinations: One three-hour examination paper to be taken at the time of Part 1 examinations.
Requirements for a pass: 40%
Reassessment arrangements:
(i) Re-examination in August/September.
(ii) Coursework which already bears a confirmed mark of 40% or more will be carried forward unless a student opts to re-submit this element as well as taking the examination. Any coursework with a mark of less than 40% should be re-submitted. In both cases the deadline for re-submission is 1 August.
Students are allowed to resubmit coursework on the same topic as for a previous attempt, and coursework which had previously been submitted late can be re-submitted for a second attempt. If circumstances warrant it, a single, longer piece of coursework might be set instead of the two normally required. It should also be noted that re-submitted coursework should be resubmitted by e-mail, not on Blackboard.
Visiting Students: Visiting students taking this module who opt not to take the examination will be required to submit a total of 6,000 words written work in accordance with arrangements made by the module convenor.

Last updated: 7 December 2009