Overview

The topics for the Principles of Politics:

• The nature of Politics and Political Analysis
• Politics and the State
• Political Power, Authority and the State
• Democracy and Political Obligation
• Freedom and justice
• Nations and Nationalism
• Traditional Ideologies
• Political Parties
• Civil Society, Interest Groups and Populism

Topics - The nature of Politics and Political Analysis - Politics and the State - Democracy and Political Obligation - Freedom and justice - Nations and Nationalism - Traditional Ideologies - Political Parties - Civil Society, Interest Groups and Populism - Foriegn policy

Skills - Studing politics - Comparison as analysis - Critical reading for Academic study - Essay Writing - Library usage - Notetaking

Assessment Strategy

D/D+/C-/C -threshold -Student's work will display an adequate understanding of the political theories and contacts, use simple comparisons to help explain the contemporary political questions and show basic competence in writing, referencing and discussing on the political issues.

C+/B-/B/B+ -good -Student’s work will display a good understanding of major political theories and concepts and their application to the contemporary political discourse. It will show reflexive competence in the discussion and analysis of the contemporary political issues.

A-/A/A+ -excellent -Student’s work will display the critical thinking and ability to make an academic argument with the use of relevant political theories and use of the empirical evidence. It will show the sophisticated competence in knowledge, writing and referencing.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate familiarity with classical and modern theories of politics

• Show independence in researching sources of information relating to the chosen topic

• Understand key concepts of politics, such as state, power, authority, nation and ideology.

• Understand the nature of the empirical evidence in the academic political debate.