SSST - STATE AND GOVERNMENT

PS210 State and Government

Programme(s) where module is offered

BA in Political Science and International Relations

Status (core, option, free choice)

Core

FHEQ Level

Unit Value

8 ECTS

Semester taught

Autumn

Pre-Requisite Modules or Qualifications

None

Module Code

PS210

Module coordinator

Zlatko Hadzidedic

Applicable From

2016

Educational Aims of the Module

The course is designed to provide students with substantial knowledge of the concepts of state, state formation and government, examining its origins from the earliest times, through the middle ages, the 20th century, and beyond.
The course examines the phenomenon of state in its social, cultural and economic dimension. Following a general introduction to the history of polity and more specifically the modern state, students will be familiarised with the main theories of state, including a comparative analysis of the main forms of government, political systems, and institutional designs.
Readings of Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Machiavelli, Marx and others will provide direct insight in the philosophical treatment of the concepts of the best state and the best form of government, and will provide a necessary historical narrative for the proper understanding of state evolution and its institutional development.
The second part of the course focuses on the main instruments of state and institutions of government, its normative framework and different types of state organizations. Students will be introduced to electoral systems and political parties’ formation and function, as well as the issue of political leadership and relations of non-governmental agents to state actors and institutions.
Overall aim of the course is to induce interest in and provide understanding of the concepts of state and government, their interdependence, future developments and challenges, and to prepare students for more empirically oriented courses in the fourth semester and senior years of study.

Module Outline/Syllabus

Course introduction: origin of state; concepts of sovereignty
Classical democracy
Republicanism: liberty, self-government, and the active citizen
Power and sovereignty
Liberty and the development of democracy
Direct democracy and the end of politics
Midterm exam
Competitive elitism and the technocratic vision
Pluralism, corporate capitalism and the state
From post-war stability to political crisis: the polarization of political ideals
Democracy after Soviet communism
Deliberative democracy and the defence of the public realm
Democratic autonomy
Democracy, the nation-state, and the global system
Course review

Student Engagement Hours

Type	Number per Term	Duration	Total Time
Lectures	30	1 hour 30 minutes	90 hours

Total Guided/Independent Learning Hours			120
Total Contact Hours			90
Total Engagement Hours			210

Assessment Method Summary

Type	Number Required	Duration / Length	Weighting	Timing / Submission Deadline
Final exam	1 presentation followed by group discussion	3 hours	50%	End of semester
Mid-term exam	1	2 hours	20%	Week7
Case study presentation followed by group discussion	1	30 min.	20%	ongoing
Research paper	1	2500-3000 words	10%	Week 13

Module Outcomes

Intended Learning Outcomes:

To clearly grasp key concepts and issues related to theory and phenomenon of state and government;
To understand the historical process of state formation;
To understand the main theories of state and analyse main writings of political philosophy on state, state function and formation;
In-depth comprehension of the idea and functioning of state institutions;
Ability to construct theoretically sound and empirically substantiated arguments on current issues and processes related to state and government;
Ability to critically analyse and interpret political events and phenomena, applying theoretical frameworks in different, new contexts.

Teaching and Learning Strategy:

Lectures/presentations by the course instructor (ILO: 1-4);
Course readings and group discussions in class (ILO: 1-4);
Individual and group presentations (ILO: 1,2,4)
Individual consultancy with students as needed (including detailed feedback on their work) (ILO: 3,4)

Assessment Strategy:

Course work – midterm exam (20%), research paper analysis (10%), case study presentation (20%) (ILO: 1-4)
Final Exam – 50% (ILO: 1-4)

Practical Skills:

Ability to interpret and assess scientific papers.
Ability to critically analyse empirical evidence.
Clarity of written argument and presentation.
Public speaking, clarity of oral argument and presentation.

Teaching and Learning Strategy:

Lectures, examples, and tools provided by instructor
In-depth discussion and analysis of course readings led by instructor (PS: 3)
Presentations by students (PS:2)(PS: 1-3)

Assessment Strategy:

Written Exam (PS: 1,3)
Individual Presentation (PS: 3)
Research paper (PS: 1,2)

Transferable Skills:

Ability to evaluate ideas, arguments and texts.
Ability to research, select and analyse information.
Ability to research and critically evaluate information.
Ability of multi-perspective analysis of political writings/ideas/issues.
Critical reflection on the current political phenomena, events, and developments.

Teaching and Learning Strategy:

Course readings and class discussions
Lectures and in-class exercises (TS: 1-4)
In-class presentations (TS:1,3,4)
Article analysis (TS: 1-3)(TS: 1-4)

Assessment Strategy:

Mid-term exam, research paper analysis, case study presentation
Final Exam (TS: 1-4)(TS: 1-4)

Key Texts and/or other learning materials

Set text

Held, D. (2014). Models of Democracy. Cambridge: Polity Press

Supplementary Materials

Plato (1992). The Republic. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing.
Aristotle (1992). Politics. London: Penguin Group.
Machiavelli, N. (1988). The Prince. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Hobbes, T. (1985). Leviathan. New York-London: Penguin Classics.
Locke, J (2003). Political Writings. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing.
Mill, J.S. (2008). On Liberty and Other Essays. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Tucker, R. (ed.) (1978). The Marx-Engels Reader. New York: W.W. Norton & Company.
Rousseau, J.J. (2011). Discourse on the Origin of Inequality. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing.
Rousseau, J.J. (1987). On the Social Contract. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing.
Rawls, J. (1999). A Theory of Justice. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.
Dahl, R. A. (1971). Polyarchy: Participation and Opposition. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press.
Schumpeter, J.A. (1942). Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy. New York, NY: Harper and Row.

Please note

This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the module and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.

More detailed information on the learning outcomes, content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each module and programme can be found in the departmental or programme handbook.

The accuracy of the information contained in this document is reviewed annually by the University of Buckingham and may be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency.

Date of Production : June 2016

Date approved by School Learning and Teaching Committee: Autumn 2007

Date approved by School Board of Study : Autumn 2007

Date approved by University Learning and Teaching Committee: Autumn 2007

Date of Annual Review: June 2016

SSST Subjects

PS210 State and Government

Programme(s) where module is offered

Status (core, option, free choice)

FHEQ Level

Unit Value

Semester taught

Pre-Requisite Modules or Qualifications

Module Code

Module coordinator

Applicable From

Educational Aims of the Module

Module Outline/Syllabus

Student Engagement Hours

Assessment Method Summary

Module Outcomes

Key Texts and/or other learning materials

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