BIRKBECK University of London FACULTY OF CONTINUING EDUCATION
Academic Year
2006-2007
Course Code
FFPO001UACB
Subject Area
Politics
Course Title
Understanding Politics
Type of Course
Certificate and Diploma in Politics
Class Venue
To be announced
Induction Day
Saturday 23rd September 2006, 11.00 – 3.00pm.
Please contact the Executive Officer: g.goode@bbk.ac.uk to reserve a place,
only those who have reserved a place will be admitted.
First Meeting
Tuesday 26 September 2005, 6.00-9.00pm
Term Dates
26 September – 12 December 2004
09 January – 27 March 2007
Saturday Schools
14th October 2006, 4th November 2006,
13th January 2007, 3rd March 2007
Module Taught by
Email:
Dr Kevin Manton, Dr Christoph Meyer
c.meyer@bbk.ac.uk
Please see our website http://www.bbk.ac.uk/ce/politics for more information
about the Politics programme.
___________________________________________________________________
Entry Requirements
This course is open to anyone with an interest in and enthusiasm for the subject.
Students should have good written and oral skills in English and be willing to work
independently outside of the class. Students will need to be able to commit 6-8 hours
per week, in addition to classes, to read core texts in preparation for classes and to
complete course work.
Course Description
Aristotle said politics was the ‘Master Science’: the door through which lay an
understanding of all other subjects. This specially designed core module aims to
open this door for you, providing you with the basic skills, methods, concepts and
theories in the study of politics. It is an intensive course divided into two parts.
The first part (A) is aimed at conveying key skills and concepts through the study of
political issues and ideas. There will be 6 hours school designed to give you an
introduction to the discipline by having a more in-depth discussion on two selected
themes: Democratic Participation and collective Problem-solving.
The second part (B) analyses the modern state as the key focus for most
contemporary political science analysis. It aims to equip students with a more
sophisticated and historically sensitive understanding of how this system of collective
This syllabus has the approval of the Politics Subject Team for the academic year 2006/7.
This syllabus may be updated.
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decision-making has evolved, changed and spread over time in response to
economic, social, ideological and cultural changes. The historical perspective will be
complemented by a conceptual comparative one, which focuses on key functions
and sub-systems of the state such as bureaucracies, parties and the media. Selected
aspects will be deepened through day schools, which will comprise lecture, seminar
and workshop elements.
The course is specifically designed for students, who are new to higher education or
the subject area and plan to progress to a degree in political science or a related
discipline at Birkbeck or elsewhere.
Course Aims
To increase students’ interest in and knowledge of the thought-provoking and
fascinating subject of politics. This course will develop students’ understanding of
the nature of political behaviour, the forms it assumes; the institutions through which
political conflict is processed; and the ideologies that motivate and shape political
thought and action nationally and internationally. At the end of the course students
should have an understanding of what Aristotle meant.
Part A of the integrated course aims to equip students with the generic study skills
necessary to succeed in higher education, particularly, note-taking, research,
referencing, time management, and essay writing. It also aims to provide students
with a basic understanding of the key questions, concepts and methods used in the
discipline of political science
Part B concentrates on providing students with an in-depth introduction to political
science analysis revolving around the classical triad of political institutions, processes
and policy outcomes as applied to domestic, transnational and international settings.
Part B also aims to increase students’ awareness and understanding of the social,
economic and ideological dynamics, which have shaped political institutions and
processes over time.
Student Outcomes
At the end of the course students will have a developed understanding of national
and international politics. They will know about the various approaches to the study
of politics. They will comprehend the structures, workings and pros and cons of
major political institutions; they will have an increased awareness of the policymaking process and the outcomes it has produced in this country’s recent history,
and they will have come to understand that many of the beliefs of ‘common sense’
are ideological opinions or political constructs, not facts or natural phenomena. They
will thus have a greater understanding of current affairs. They will, in short, be
political animals.
In addition, students have learned to critically assess arguments and theories and to
develop their own assessment using logic, concepts and evidence. Students have
gained the confidence and means to articulate and debate their ideas and views in
the class-room. They can work independently and organise their time efficiently.
They have gained the skills to access relevant literature and other sources to
critically assess issues in the field and to present their findings in the classroom or on
paper.
This syllabus has the approval of the Politics Subject Team for the academic year 2006/7.
This syllabus may be updated.
2
Teaching Arrangements
Classes will typically be divided into 2 sections. The first will be a lecture. The
second will be more discursive and will take part in a variety of formats: pairs, small
groups, or whole class. Ample room will be given to discussion, particularly on the
occasion of the day-schools.
Coursework and Assessment
Students taking the integrated, two part core module will have to pass an in-class test
at the end of each Part and submit one essay of 2000 words for Part A and two
essays of 2000 words for Part B. For details about the scheduling please see below.
They also need to demonstrate a sufficient level of in-class participation, including
regular attendance. The weighting of the assessment elements is as follows:
PART A
1st Essay: 40 %
1st In-class test: 50 %
In-class participation: 10 %
PART B
2nd Essay: 25 %
3rd Essay: 25 %
2nd in-class test: 40 %
In-class participation: 10 %
Course Evaluation
During the course students will be asked to complete a Course Evaluation form
which gives the opportunity to provide feedback on all aspects of their learning
experience.
This syllabus has the approval of the Politics Subject Team for the academic year 2006/7.
This syllabus may be updated.
3
Class and Teaching Schedule
PART A: Key Themes and Concepts in Politics
The day schools
Saturday 14th October 2006
Taught by Kevin Manton.
It introduces students to key themes and concepts in political science, which relate to
areas of potential specialization through optional modules. It will also introduce
students to key concepts and terms in political science thinking and how to draw on
different bodies of knowledge and disciplines to solve key problems.
 What is the state?
 What is authority?
 What is legitimacy?
 What is the political science triad?
Essential Reading
Roy Bentley, et al, British politics in focus, 2nd edition, chapter 1.
Andrew Heywood, Politics, chapter 5
Further Reading
R Barker, Political legitimacy & the state
A Ball & B Peters, Modern politics & government
Saturday 4th November 2006
Taught by Christoph Meyer
This day school will focus on method of political analysis and their critical application
in case studies (Defining concepts, using logic in arguments and comparison/process
tracing)
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The pros & cons of various approaches to politics
Classifying and Explaining in political science
The post-modernist and post-positivistchallenge
Essential Reading
Andrew Heywood, Politics, chapters 1 & 2
This syllabus has the approval of the Politics Subject Team for the academic year 2006/7.
This syllabus may be updated.
4
The week-day seminars
Week 1: Key questions themes & debates in the study of politics.
Discussion
Why are some issues considered to be political?
What is power?
What is political conflict?
Essential Reading
Andrew Heywood, Politics, chapter 1
___________________________________________________________
Week 2: Succeeding in Higher Education, Time organisation and selfmanagement
Essential Reading
See respective chapter of Cottrell, The Study Skills Handbook, 2003
Additional Material to be provided.
___________________________________________________________
Week 3: Academic Research and Referencing: How to find and reference the
right kind of information
Essential Reading
See respective chapter of Cottrell, The Study Skills Handbook, 2003
Additional Material to be provided.
___________________________________________________________
Week 4: Preparing for and passing timed assessments
Essential Reading
See respective chapter of Cottrell, The Study Skills Handbook, 2003
Additional Material to be provided.
___________________________________________________________
Week 5: Academic Writing: How to write an academic essay
Essential Reading
See respective chapter of Cottrell, The Study Skills Handbook, 2003
Additional Material to be provided…
___________________________________________________________
Week 6: In-class test, summary and outlook
___________________________________________________________
This syllabus has the approval of the Politics Subject Team for the academic year 2006/7.
This syllabus may be updated.
5
Class and Teaching Schedule
PART B: The State and Global Change
The day schools
Saturday 13th January 2007
Taught by Kevin Manton.
The first will focus on the emergence and transformation of ideology (in particular
nationalism, liberalism and socialism), its relationship to social and economic change,
and its impact on political institutions and behaviour.
Saturday 3rd March 2007
Taught by Christoph Meyer
The second workshop will focus on the ways in which political objectives are
achieved and how performance can be measured. It looks at different aspects of
public policy and its delivery in three main fields: social welfare, education, and
security.
The week-day seminars
Week 1: What is political thought and theory?
Discussion
To be provided
Reading
To be provided
___________________________________________________________
Week 2: Forms of government in historical context
Discussion
To be provided
Reading
To be provided
______________________________________________________________
Week 3: The emergence of the modern nation-state
Discussion
 What are nations?
 How nation states emerge?
 What is nationalism?
This syllabus has the approval of the Politics Subject Team for the academic year 2006/7.
This syllabus may be updated.
6
Essential Reading
Andrew Heywood, Politics, chapter 6
Further Reading
E Hobsbawn, Nations & Nationalism
A Vincent, Modern political ideologies
E Gellner, Nations & Nationalism
______________________________________________________________
Week 4: Political philosophy and normative approaches
Discussion
To be provided
___________________________________________________________
Week 5: Constitutions and Judiciaries
Discussion
 What is a constitution?
 Types of constitution
 The British constitution
 What are judiciaries?
 What is their constitutional role?
 Can they actually perform this role?
Essential Reading
Andrew Heywood, Politics, chapter 14
J. Dearlove & P. Saunders Introduction to British Politics, chapter 5
Roy Bentley, et al, British politics in focus, chapter 4 and 17
Further Reading
J A G Griffith, The politics of the judiciary
W H Greenleaf, The British political tradition
J E Lane, Constitutions & political theory
V Bogdanor, Constitutions in democratic politics
_____________________________________________________________
Week 6: What are legislatures?
Discussion
 Legislatures/Parliaments
 What should they do?
 Can legislatures actually perform their constitutional role?
Essential Reading
Roy Bentley, et al, British politics in focus, chapter 14
Andrew Heywood, Politics, chapter 15
Ian Budge et al, The new British politics, chapter 18
This syllabus has the approval of the Politics Subject Team for the academic year 2006/7.
This syllabus may be updated.
7
Further Reading
W Coxall, Parties & pressure groups
A Ball, British political parties
A Adonis, Parliament today
____________________________________________________________
Week 7: What are executives?
Discussion
Executives/Presidents & Prime Ministers
What should the different types do?
Have executives become too powerful?
Essential Reading
Andrew Heywood, Politics, chapter 16
Ian Budge et al, The new British politics, chapter 5
Further Reading
P Madgwick, British Government, the central executive territory
J P Mackintosh, The British cabinet
P Hennessy, Cabinet
____________________________________________________________
Week 8: Bureaucracy
Discussion
 The characteristics of bureaucracy
 Max Weber’s model of bureaucracy
 The problems of bureaucracy
 The Civil service
Essential Reading
Roy Bentley, et al, British politics in focus, chapter 13
Andrew Heywood, Politics, chapter 17
R. Hague & and M. Harrop, Comparative government and politics : an introduction,
Ian Budge et al, The new British politics, chapter 6
Further Reading
B C Smith, Bureaucracy & political power
J Q Wilson, Bureaucracy
E C Page, Political authority & bureaucratic power
____________________________________________________________
Week 9: Party politics
Discussion
What are parties?
What functions do they perform?
Are they in decline?
This syllabus has the approval of the Politics Subject Team for the academic year 2006/7.
This syllabus may be updated.
8
Essential Reading
Andrew Heywood, Politics, chapter 12
J. Dearlove & P. Saunders, Introduction to British Politics, chapter 2
Further Reading
W Coxall, Parties & pressure groups
W H Greenleaf, The British political tradition
S E Finer, The changing British party system 1945-79
____________________________________________________________
Week 10: Elections & voting
Discussion
 Why do people vote/not vote?
 The pros & cons of various voting systems
Essential Reading
Roy Bentley, et al, British politics in focus, chapter 9
Andrew Heywood, Politics, chapter 11
J. Dearlove & P. Saunders, Introduction to British Politics, chapter 2
Further Reading
D Butler & D Stokes, Political change in Britain
B Sarlvik & I Crewe, Decade of dealignment
W H Greenleaf, The British political tradition
____________________________________________________________
Week 11: Public opinion, the media and politics
Discussion
The mass media: forming or reflecting opinions
Media ownership
Freedom of information
Essential Reading
Roy Bentley, et al, British politics in focus, chapter 19
Ian Budge et al, The new British politics, chapter 14
Further Reading
P Trowler, Investigating mass media
J Curran & M Gurevitch, eds, Mass media & society
A Briggs & P Burke, A social history of the media
____________________________________________________________
Week 12: The British Democracy in a comparative perspective
Discussion
 Majoritarian vs the Consensus Model
 Federal vs. Unitary Systems
____________________________________________________________
This syllabus has the approval of the Politics Subject Team for the academic year 2006/7.
This syllabus may be updated.
9
Week 13: International politics
Discussion
 What is international relations?
 The realist approach
 The liberal approach
Essential Reading
Andrew Heywood, Politics, chapter 8
J. Baylis & S. Smith (eds), The globalization of world politics: an introduction to
international relations, chapters 6, 7 & 8
Further Reading
F Halliday, Rethinking International relations
N Woods, Explaining international relations since 1945
C Brown, International relations theory
____________________________________________________________
Week 14: International Organisations
Discussion
The UN and other IOs
Powers & structures of the UN
Reform of the UN
Essential Reading
J. Baylis & S. Smith (eds), The globalization of world politics: an introduction to
international relations, chapter 14
____________________________________________________________
Week 15: Regional integration & the EU
Discussion
The growth of the EU
The structures of the EU
Problems and the future
Essential Reading
Bomberg, Elizabeth and Stubb, Alexander (eds) The European Union: How Does it
Work? Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003
Further Reading
P Allum, State & society in western Europe
A M El-Agraa, The European Union
____________________________________________________________
Week 16: In –class test
____________________________________________________________
This syllabus has the approval of the Politics Subject Team for the academic year 2006/7.
This syllabus may be updated.
10
Week 17: Globalisation
Discussion
 What is Globalisation?
 What, if any, is new about globalisation?
 What is the impact of globalisation on the nation-state?
Essential Reading
Baylis and Smith, Chapter 1
Held and McGrew, Chapter 3
Further Reading
Paul Hirst & Grahame Thompson, Globalization in Question, Polity Press
Cambridge 1996
Held and McGrew, Chapter 4
Baylis and Smith, Chapter 33
____________________________________________________________
Week 18: Global Governance or Government? The Prospects for Cosmopolitan
Democracy
Discussion
 What is Globalisation?
 What, if any, is new about globalisation?
 What is the impact of globalisation on the nation-state?
Essential Reading
Held, David. 'Cosmopolitanism: Taming Globalization.' In The Global
Transformations Reader. 2nd edn. Edited by Held, D.; McGrew, A. G. Polity Press,
2003, pp. 514-529.
Held and McGrew, Chapters 19 and 42
Further Reading
Baylis and Smith, Chapter 32
This syllabus has the approval of the Politics Subject Team for the academic year 2006/7.
This syllabus may be updated.
11
Reading List
Key Reading:
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Stella Cottrell, The Study Skills Handbook, 2nd edn. Palgrave, Macmillan,
2003
Roy Bentley, et al, British politics in focus, 2nd edition, 2000.
Andrew Heywood, Politics, 2nd edition, Palgrave 2002.
John Baylis & Steve Smith (eds), The globalization of world politics : an
introduction to international relations, Oxford University Press, 2005.
Held, David; McGrew, A (eds.). The Global Transformations Reader: An
Introduction to the Globalization Debate. Polity Press, 2003.
Dearlove & P. Saunders, Introduction to British Politics, 3rd edn, 2000.
Ian Budge et al, The new British politics, 3rd edition, 2004.
Rod Hague & Martin Harrop, Comparative government and politics : an
introduction, 4th edition, Palgrave 2004.
Bomberg, Elizabeth and Stubb, Alexander (eds) The European Union: How
Does it Work? Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003
Birkbeck Library
Once you have enrolled you will receive your library card approximately 10 days after
you receive your confirmation of enrolment.
Library inductions are arranged in September. As places are limited you should ring
020 7631 6168 to book a place. As a member of Birkbeck Library you may be able
to access stocks from other universities. Further details are available from the
following website: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/lib/uklp.html. (Access rights may be limited to
reference only).
Selected Academic Journals
Talking Politics (this is available with membership of the Politics Association – details
will be provided to students)
Students are strongly encouraged to read as much and as widely as possible in
preparation for classes and particularly when writing essays. Success in this course
and a full understanding of many of the complex and challenging issues it addresses
depends on your personal reading. Students are also encouraged to keep abreast of
contemporary developments through regularly reading a quality newspaper (e.g.
Financial Times, International Herald Tribune, Wall Street Journal, the Guardian and
The Economist.)
Internet Sources
The single best politics website remains the gateway: www.psr.keele.ac.uk
This syllabus has the approval of the Politics Subject Team for the academic year 2006/7.
This syllabus may be updated.
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