Political Representation UK-Style
| Module title | Political Representation UK-Style |
|---|---|
| Module code | POL3242 |
| Academic year | 2019/0 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Dr Ekaterina Kolpinskaya (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 12 | 12 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 25 |
|---|
Module description
Amidst the lengthy political turmoil of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, the ability of elected political institutions in Britain to represented Britons is coming under increasing scrutiny. This module uses a combination of research informaed qualitative and quantitative techniques to examine trends in political representation in the UK at the local, devolved and national levels and explores policy initiatives aiming to improve the quality of political representation. The module is suitable for non-specialist students and those on interdisciplinary pathways. It does not have pre-requisites and is an excellent fit for students interested in representation and British politics.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The module aims to examine trends in political representation in the UK at different levels of politics.
It combines a theoretical and conceptual understanding of representation with concrete applications in a UK context. It draws on academic literature, policy initiatives and empirical data from Britain and comparable cases from around the globe, as well as the analysis of data from Hansard, devolved legislatures and local councils, the Representative Audit of Britain and the Audit of Political Engagement. Integration of comparative elements and engagement with recent experimental studies done in the UK and overseas enable students to explore practical ways of improving the quality of political representation and assess their strengths and challenges. The module builds on the existing scholarship, including theoretical (e.g., Hannah Pitkin, Anne Phillips, Jane Mansbridge, Michael Saward) and empirical (Sarah Childs, Rosie Campbell, Christina Wolbrecht) research of the concept and practice of representation. Taking this research as a starting point, the module moves beyond the traditional focus of parliamentary representation and representation of traditionally under-represented, visible groups such as women and ethnic minorities and applies the concept of representation to ‘invisible’ groups such as the working class, disabled and LGBTQ+ people. This broadens the scope of the module and uses the representation lens to address wider issues of dissatisfaction with the quality of democracy at different institutional levels.
The module is taught through a combination of seminars and labs. Seminars introduce students to the topic of the week while relying on students’ familiarity with the assigned readings and their participation in simulation games and exercises. Labs enable students to address representation-related questions linked to the assignments by testing theoretical and empirical models on text and survey data.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate detailed knowledge of theoretical and empirical approaches to the study of representation
- 2. Critically evaluate and empirically apply these approaches to study political representation in the UK
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of concepts, approaches and methodologies in the area of political representation and their social and political implications and ability to contextualise them within the broader discipline of politics
- 4. Develop and present coherently and reflectively, orally and in writing, evidence-based arguments relevant to the module content
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Communicate effectively and accurately in the content of debates and in writing in different formats, i.e. posters, research notes and reports
- 6. Undertake tasks and complete research assignments with minimum guidance, while critically reflecting on the learning process and feedback
- 7. Select, synthesise and analyse information from a range of sources to develop coherent, evidence-based and logically sound arguments
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
- Political representation – what is it, and why (and how) does it matter?
- Politics of presence? Symbolic, descriptive and substantive political representation
- Modelling and measuring political representation
- Levels of political representation – from local to national politics
- The under-represented (using the Audit of Political Engagement)
- ‘The Good Parliament’ – push, pull and prevent effects of the political system on political representation
- Changing the rules
- Does representation trickle up or down? From Parliament to devolved legislatures to local councils – and back again
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | 256 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 20 | Seminar discussions |
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 14 | Simulation games and exercises |
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 10 | Primary data analysis in the labs |
| Guided independent study | 95 | Completing readings assigned for the module on a weekly basis |
| Guided independent study | 20 | Preparation of formative assignment 1 (critical reviews). Selecting and analysing 2 research articles, writing up critical reviews |
| Guided independent study | 40 | Preparation of assignment 1 (research essay). Conducting research, synthesing and analysing evidence, writing up results |
| Guided independent study | 30 | Preparation of assignment 2 (poster presentation). Conducting research, analysing data and writing up results, designing visualisations |
| Guided independent study | 14 | Preparation of formative assignment 2 (research report outline). Researching and writing up a research report outline |
| Guided independent study | 45 | Preparation of assignment 3 (research report). Conducting research, collecting and analysing data and writing up results |
| Guided independent study | 12 | Receiving and reflecting on feedback |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical review of 2 articles/books | 2 x 500 words | 1-7 | Written feedback |
| Research report outline | 750 words | 1-7 | Written feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research essay | 30 | 2,500 words | 1-7 | Written feedback |
| Poster presentation | 20 | A1 flipchart sheet poster, including 1 table/graph | 1-7 | Oral and global feedback |
| Research report | 50 | 3,500 words, including at least 1 table/graph | 1-7 | Written feedback |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research essay | Research essay (2,500 words) | 1-7 | August/September reassessment period |
| Poster presentation | Poster presentation (A1 flipchart sheet poster, including 1 table/graph ) | 1-7 | August/September reassessment period |
| Research report | Research report (3,500 words, including at least 1 table/graph) | 1-7 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Bird, K., Saalfeld, T. and Wust, A. (2011) The Political Representation of Immigrants and Minorities: Voters, Parties and Parliaments in Liberal Democracies. London: Routledge.
Cairney, P. (2007) ‘The Professionalisation of MPs: Refining the ‘Politics-Facilitating’ Explanation’, Parliamentary Affairs, 60(2), 212-233.
Campbell, R., & Cowley, P. (2014) ‘What voters want: Reactions to candidate characteristics in a survey experiment’, Political Studies, 62(4), 745-765.
Childs, S., & Krook, M. L. (2008). Critical Mass Theory and Women’s Political Representation. Political Studies, 56, 725–736.
Deschouwer, K., Depauw, S. (Eds) (2014) Representing the People: A Survey Among Members of Statewide and Substate Parliaments. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Heath, A. F., Fisher, S. D., Rosenblatt, G., Sanders, D., & Sobolewska, M. (2013). The political integration of ethnic minorities in Britain. OUP Oxford.
Norris, P. (1997) ‘The puzzle of constituency service’, The Journal of Legislative Studies, 3(2), 29-49.
Norris, P., & Lovenduski, J. (1995). Political Recruitment: Gender, Race and Class in the British Parliament. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Pitkin, H. (1967). The Concept of Representation. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Rehfeld, A. (2006). Towards a general theory of political representation. Journal of Politics, 68, 1-21.
Saggar, S. (2000). Race and representation: electoral politics and ethnic pluralism in Britain. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Saward, M. (2011). The Representative Claim. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Searing, D. (1994). Westminster’s World: understanding political roles. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.
Weldon, S. L. (2002). Beyond bodies: Institutional sources of representation for women in democratic policymaking. The Journal of Politics, 64, 1153-1174.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
Audit of Political Engagement https://www.hansardsociety.org.uk/publications/reports/audit-of-political-engagement-16
Durose, C., Gains, F., Richardson, L., Combs, R., Broome, K., & Eason, C. (2011). Pathways to Politics http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/publication/research-report-65-pathways-politics
Representative Audit of Britain http://parliamentarycandidates.org/project/representative-audit-of-britain/
The British Election Study https://www.britishelectionstudy.com/
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 22/07/2019 |
| Last revision date | 09/09/2019 |
