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Foundations of Politics (M1036)

15 credits, Level 4

Spring teaching

On this module, you'll explore central concepts and issues in political theory, examining both how politics is and how it ought to be. You'll engage with key questions, such as:

• why should we obey the state?
• is democracy the best form of government?
• what makes a just society?

You'll start with fundamental and enduring questions in political theory and move on to more recent debates. Each week builds on the analysis from previous weeks, helping you develop a cumulative understanding of the subject. By the end of the term, you’ll have a foundational understanding of central questions in political theory and begin forming your own answers to these questions.

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 150 hours of work. This breaks down into about 22 hours of contact time and about 128 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2024/25. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum.

We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.