Module Descriptors
HISTORY OF POLITICAL THOUGHT
HIPO40345
Key Facts
Health, Education, Policing and Sciences
Level 4
30 credits
Contact
Leader: Martin Brown
Email: M.T.Brown@staffs.ac.uk
Hours of Study
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: 78
Independent Study Hours: 222
Total Learning Hours: 300
Assessment
  • 1 x profile of a Political Thinker - 1400 words weighted at 35%
  • 1 x Source commentary - 600 words weighted at 25%
  • 1 x Essay - 2000 words weighted at 40%
Module Details
Module Resources
Recommended Library books and journals in the University library, and use of online resources.
Data projection in lectures if available.
The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook.
Module Indicative Content
The module introduces students to some of the important political thinkers and some of the major political ideologies. Thinkers will include some of the following among others: Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Wollstonecraft, Marx and Mill. The ideologies will include some of the following: liberalism, conservatism, socialism, feminism, nationalism and anarchism. The aims are to facilitate an understanding of some of the most influential thinkers in the history of political thought; to facilitate an understanding of the nature of the political ideologies to be studied; and to encourage analysis of the work of the thinkers and the features of the ideologies. There will be focus upon concepts, key tenets and arguments.
Module Additional Assessment Details
1 x Profile of a Political Thinker (35%) 1400 words, Learning outcomes 1,3,4
1 x Source commentary (25%) 600 words, Learning outcomes 1,3,4
1 x Essay (40%) 2000 words Learning outcomes 1,2,3,4

Key Information Set Data: 100% Coursework

Module Texts
Iain Hampsher-Monk, A History of Modern Political Thought (Wiley-Blackwell, 1993)
James Babb, A World History of Political Thought (Edward Elgar, 2018)
Andrew Heywood, Political Ideologies: An Introduction, sixth edition (Palgrave Macmillan, 2017)
Mark Bevir (ed), Encyclopedia of Political Theory (Sage, 2010)
Module Learning Strategies
The lectures introduce the main themes and arguments of the module content developing definitions, comparisons and contrasts of ideas and ideologies in the history of political thought. The seminars provide for follow-up discussion and analysis of the themes from the lectures. The independent study element should be used for background reading, reading for the seminars, and preparation of the written assignments.

Key Information Set Data:
26% Scheduled Teaching & Learning Activities
74% Guided Independent Study