Overview

The module provides students with a basic introduction to government and society in the UK, including the main features of democracy, the role of the Crown, the institutions of government and the role of parliament. It explores ideology in British politics in relation to the main political parties in the UK.

The module also explores the position of the UK following the 2016 EU referendum and considers the relationship the UK has with international organisations. It looks at the global institutions the UK is part of, including the UN, and focuses on human rights.

The aims of this module are to provide students with a basic introduction to: • how politics affects our lives • how politics can be defined and why political organisation is necessary • pressure groups and political accountability • the UK’s relationship with the EU and worldwide organisations • Human rights and the role of NGOs • key components of democracy • the role of the monarchy in the UK • political parties and ideologies • social and political developments in the UK and the world in the Post-war era • the role of the media in political communication

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -Grade DStudent has attained a satisfactory grasp of the material and issues studied and has demonstrated some transferable skills sufficiently to suggest the ability to cope with an undergraduate degree programme.

-good -Grade BStudent has worked effectively in most aspects of the module and has a sound grasp of the material and issues studied. The level of attainment achieved suggests the student has developed a range of transferable skills and will have little problem in mastering an undergraduate degree programme.

-excellent -Grade AStudent has produced a consistently high level of work in all aspects of the module and has an outstanding grasp of the material and issues studied. The level of attainment achieved suggests the student has developed a wide range of transferable skills and will have no problem in mastering an undergraduate degree programme.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate an understanding of key political ideologies and their relationships to parties in the UK.

• Explain how pressure is brought to bear on governments through citizen participation, NGOs and the media.

• Explain the UK’s relationship with the EU and other international organisations.

• Explain the different strands of government within the UK and how they function.

• Outline the key components of democracy and the role of the monarchy in the UK.

• Present information in a written and oral format to a specific deadline