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.

Source commentary (25%), Learning outcomes Knowledge & Understanding, Analysis, Application

Essay (75%) 2000 words Learning outcomes Knowledge & Understanding, Learning, Analysis, Application

Key Information Set Data:
100% Coursework

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.

1. UNDERSTAND THE WORK OF POLITICAL THINKERS AND THE NATURE OF IDEOLOGIES.

Knowledge & Understanding

2. DETERMINE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PARTICULAR IDEAS AND TO COMPARE AND CONTRAST IDEAS AND IDEOLOGIES.

Learning

3. ANALYSE POLITICAL THOUGHT, IDENTIFYING STRENGTHS OF AND PROBLEMS WITH IDEAS AND IDEOLOGIES.

Analysis

4. DEMONSTRATE COMPETENCE IN ACADEMIC WRITING AND APPLYING APPROPRIATE REFERENCING CONVENTIONS.

Application

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.

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)