Political Analysis: Behaviour, Institutions, Ideas
Module title | Political Analysis: Behaviour, Institutions, Ideas |
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Module code | POL2026 |
Academic year | 2024/5 |
Credits | 15 |
Module staff | Dr Dario Castiglione (Convenor) |
Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
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Duration: Weeks | 11 |
Number students taking module (anticipated) | 50 |
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Module description
You will be asked to reflect on what it means to study politics: how we explain political action and political institutions, and how we understand what people do, what they say or argue, and why they act and argue in certain ways in a political context. In discussing these different approaches, you will also be asked to engage with substantive issues of political analysis: What is rational choice? Are political actors selfish? Why people trust each other? Is collective action possible? Do institutions matter? Is political reality a ‘construction’? Are political categories gendered? Is ideology dead? Are concepts contested? Can we argue about values?
There are neither pre-requisite nor co-requisite modules. This module is recommended for interdisciplinary pathways.
Module aims - intentions of the module
To introduce you to the key approaches to the study of politics and to some of the main theoretical debates on the relationship between political action, structures and ideas. The study of these approaches will be linked to the development of key concepts and ideas in political research. More specifically, the module aims to provide you with an introduction to the nature, limitations and possible applications of various ways of studying political behaviour, political relations and institutions, and political ideologies and values.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. identify, categorise and explain the basic nature, limitations and the study of politics;
- 2. assess and judge a range of approaches to the study of politics;
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. identify and discuss the major concepts in Politics and IR and deploy them in appropriate circumstances;
- 4. engage in sympathetic interpretation and reasoned criticism of theories and approaches in Politics and IR;
- 5. use logic and reasoning to evaluate arguments about Politics and IR;
- 6. construct well-structured rigorous political arguments based on logical deduction;
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. communicate effectively;
- 8. research and critically evaluate information;
- 9. apply techniques and theories in appropriate contexts.
Syllabus plan
Whilst the precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover all or some of these main topics:
- The study of Politics: Explaining, Understanding, Evaluating
- Rational choice and political action
- Rational actors or rational fools? Substantive and procedural rationality
- Collective action and social choice
- Trust in Politics
- Social Capital and democratic participation
- Do Institutions matter?
- Constructing political reality
- Feminism and Ideologies
- Concepts in political language and political analysis
- Norms and political argument
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
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26.5 | 123.5 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
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Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 16.5 | Overview of topics by module convenor in weekly Lectures |
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 10 | Small group discussion of key texts in weekly Tutorials |
Guided independent study | 40 | Reading and preparation for tutorials |
Guided independent study | 83.5 | Research and writing of essays |
Formative assessment
Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
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Optional Formative Essay Outline | 300 words | 1-9 | Written comments and personal feedback in office hours if requested |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
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100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
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One short essay on a topic covered in first part of module | 30 | 1,200 words | 1-9 | Written comments provided in an Assessment Sheet; personal feedback in office hours if requested |
One essay in answer to questions on topics covered by the second part of module | 70 | 2,200 words | 1-9 | Written comments provided in an Assessment Sheet; personal feedback in office hours if requested |
0 | ||||
0 | ||||
0 | ||||
0 |
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 |
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One short essay on a topic covered in first part of module | One short essay on a topic covered in first part of module (1,200 words) | 1-9 | August/September re-assessment period |
One essay in answer to questions on topics covered by the second part of module | One essay in answer to questions on topics covered by the second part of module (2,200 words) | 1-9 | August/September re-assessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Della Porta, D and M. Keating, eds. (2008) Approaches and Methodologies in the Social Sciences. A Pluralist Perspective, Cambridge
Marsh, David and Gerry Stoker, eds. (2002) Theory and methods in political science. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Hay, Colin (2002) Political Analysis: A Critical Introduction. Basingstoke: Palgrave.
Elster, Jon (1989) Nuts and Bolts for the Social Sciences. Cambridge University Press
Kahneman, D. (2011), Thinking Fast, Thinking Slow. Allen Lane
Olson, M. (1965), The logic of Collective Action, Harvard UP
Donald Green and Ian Shapiro (1994) Pathologies of rational choice theory. Yale UP
Hollis, M. (1989) The Cunning of reason: Cambridge University Press.
Freeden, M. (1996), Ideologies and Political Theory, Oxford UP
Bellamy, R. (1993) Theories and Concepts of Politics. Manchester: MUP.
Connolly, W. (1993) The terms of political discourse, Princeton UP
Goertz, G. (2005), Social Science Concepts: A user’s guide, Princeton UP
Castiglione, D., J. van Deth, and G. Wolleb (2008), The Handbook of Social Capital, Oxford UP
March, J. and J. Olsen (1989), Rediscovering Institutions, Free Press
Harding, S. ed. (1987) Feminism and methodology, Indiana UP
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/
Credit value | 15 |
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Module ECTS | 7.5 |
Module pre-requisites | None |
Module co-requisites | None |
NQF level (module) | 5 |
Available as distance learning? | No |
Origin date | 30/01/2013 |
Last revision date | 01/03/2022 |