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From State to Global Politics

  • Module code: PO7012
  • Year: 2018/9
  • Level: 7
  • Credits: 30
  • Pre-requisites: None
  • Co-requisites: None

Summary

This module will enable you to acquire a thorough understanding of the multifaceted character of politics by outlining key orthodox and critical paradigms in political theory as well as examining different normative frameworks within an evolving global politics. It combines the examination of theories and ideologies concerning the state with a historical and issue-based exploration of the interplay between different political actors including states, intergovernmental organisations, multinational corporations, NGOs and the civil society in the context of normative frameworks for global governance.

Aims

  • To allow students to study politics at the postgraduate level focusing in particular on approaches and methodological issues;
  • To provide students with a historical and thematic overview of the theories of the state from which to explore their normative and contested character;
  • To enhance students' awareness of important shifts in the evolution of the international system and of their relevance;
  • To engage students in debates about different dimensions of state and international politics about current concerns in the global arena, with a particular focus on the interaction between relevant political actors;
  • To develop students' ability to reflect critically on such debates and to analyse competing interpretations applied to various cases, contexts and processes.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

  • Articulate a range of key concepts concerning state and global politics;
  • Demonstrate an enhanced knowledge of historical processes and transformations of the international political system;
  • Engage with theoretical debates at the level appropriate for postgraduates concerning state and international politics;
  • Examine critically the interaction between various agents and power structures and frameworks in the international system;
  • Communicate a critical and coherent argument both orally and in writing, observing academic conventions about core concepts and issues.

Curriculum content

Part I

  • Ontological, epistemological and methodological Issues
  • State politics – conceptual clarifications
  • Traditions
  • Ideologies
  • Institutions
  • State and law
  • State and war
  • Sovereignty, nationalism and politics in the global system

 Part II

  • The evolution of the global political system: imperialism, Cold War, post-Cold War and interdependence
  • Normative frameworks: ideas, values and choices
  • Actors in the international arena
  • Contemporary issues in international politics

Teaching and learning strategy

The module will be delivered through a programme of one hour lectures and one hour seminars. The lectures will provide the background to specific aspects of the module content. Seminars will provide opportunities for students to pursue these issues in more depth and to engage in critical debates with their peers. In addition to the taught time amounting to 44 hours, independent study and critical reflection constitute essential parts of this module.

Breakdown of Teaching and Learning Hours

Definitive UNISTATS Category Indicative Description Hours
Scheduled learning and teaching Lectures, seminars and workshops 44
Guided independent study 256
Total (number of credits x 10) 300

Assessment strategy

The module aims to develop students' critical awareness of a wide range of theoretical, normative, structural and empirical issues related to the state and global politics and their ability to use them in articulating coherent arguments.

Students will be assessed formatively throughout the duration of the module, through seminar debates, group work and discussions which provide opportunities for students to link the learning outcomes to the thematic content of the module and to hone relevant critical and communicative skills.

Summative Assessment

There is a two-part summative assessment strategy for this module:

An in-course assessment consisting of:

-          A 2 hour seen exam which engages students with theoretical debates concerning state and global politics – 40%

An end of-course assessment consisting of:

-          An Essay (3500 words) – 60%.

 

Mapping of Learning Outcomes to Assessment Strategy (Indicative)

Learning Outcome Assessment Strategy
Articulate a range of key concepts concerning state and global politics Formatively: though seminar work Summatively: Seen Exam and Essay
Demonstrate an enhanced knowledge of historical processes and transformations of the international political system Formatively: though seminar work Summatively: Seen Exam and Essay
Engage with theoretical debates at the level appropriate for postgraduates concerning state and international politics Formatively: though seminar work Summatively: Seen Exam and Essay
Examine critically the interaction between various agents and power structures and frameworks in the international system Formatively: though seminar work Summatively: Essay
Communicate a critical and coherent argument both orally and in writing, observing academic conventions about core concepts and issues Formatively: though seminar work Summatively: Seen Exam and Essay

Achieving a pass

It IS NOT a requirement that any major assessment category is passed separately in order to achieve an overall pass for the module.

Bibliography core texts

Beeson, M. and Bisley, N. (eds) (2010) Issues in 21st Century World Politics, Basingstoke: Palgrave.

Lijphart, A (1999) Patterns of Democracy, New Haven: Yale University Press.

Bibliography recommended reading

Allen, T. (2000) Poverty and development, 2nd ed., Oxford: OUP.

Ball, T. and Dagger, R (2008) Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, 7th ed., Harlow: Longman.

Bronner, S. E. (ed) (1997) Twentieth Century Political Theory: A Reader, London: Routlegde.

Calvocoressi, P. (2009) World politics since 1945, 9th ed., Harlow: Pearson Education.

Castles, S. (2009) The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World, 4th ed., Basingstoke: Palgrave.

Dunleavy, P. and O'Leary, P. (1987) Theories of the State: The Politics of Liberal Democracy, Basingstoke: Macmillan.

Edkins, J. and Zehfuss, M. (2009) Global Politics: A New Introduction, London: Routledge.

Edwards, A. and Townshend, J. (eds) (2002) Interpreting Modern Political Philosophy: From Machiavelli to Marx, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Hay, C. et al. (eds) (2006) The State: Theories and Issues, Basingstoke: Palgrave.

Held, D. (1989) Political Theory and the Modern State: Essays on State, Power and Democracy, Cambridge: Polity Press.

Josselin, D. (2001) Non-State Actors in World Politics, Basingstoke: Palgrave.

Marsh, D. and Stoker, G. (2010) Theory and Methods in Political Science, 3rd ed., Basingstoke: Palgrave.

Poggi, G. (1990) The State: Its Nature, Development and Prospects, Cambridge: Polity Press.

Vincent, A. (1995) Modern Political Ideologies, 2nd ed., Oxford: Blackwell.

Willets, P. (2011) Non-governmental Organizations in World Politics: the Construction of Global Governance, London: Routledge.

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