What will I be studying?
Unit 1: Power, politics and the modern state
This unit provides an introduction to the key concepts, theories and methods of politics which have been used to analyse the relationship between power, authority, ideology and the state. The first part of the unit explores: the concepts of power and authority, drawing on a range of theorists; the nature and origin of the modern state from a variety of theoretical positions; and the notion and forms of political ideology. In particular, it seeks to explore the nature and origin of the modern state from a range of perspectives, and to underline the contingency of liberal democracy as the dominant mode of political organisation in the West. It also explores the limits of liberalism and liberty in ideological debates. The unit then moves on to examine theories of democracy and the relationship between modern democracy and capitalism, and finally, students will look at the concept of politics and its relationship with war, power and morality, and what this means in practical terms for how we understand politics, the meaning we give to political decisions, how we decide what falls within the realm of politics rather than outside it, and why it matters.
Unit 2: States and regimes
This unit looks at the structure and formation of the state. It begins by examining the historical and political contingency of particular patterns of state formation, before turning its focus on the role of the nation state from a domestic perspective. It examines nationalism in depth; from the way in which non-European states have been shaped by such forces, to the role of nationalism in the formation of sub-national entities. The unit also explores the effects of factors such as supranational organisations and the expanding force of globalisation on the functioning of domestic polities. The unit then turns to the development of different political regimes, from democracy to authoritarianism, and what causes such regimes to collapse. It examines comparative regime types, constitutions, the separation of powers, and the implications of all of this for the resilience and legitimacy of particular types of regime – and of nation states themselves.
Unit 3: Liberal democracy in practice
This final unit explores the way that politics is practiced in contemporary nation states. A focus of the unit will be the operation of democracy through political parties, and the unit will take a comparative focus, looking particularly at the US and European experiences of various party systems. It will then turn to an examination of other actors that take part in the democratic process, including but not limited to civil society, trade unions, business interests and the media, embedding these practical examples in a range of contemporary theoretical perspectives. The unit will also take a comparative approach to democratic systems legislatures, elections, referenda, and patterns of voting. The unit will conclude with an examination of the arguments for a crisis of the liberal state, including immigration and the welfare state; the rise of populism; cultural and identity politics; and look at the current state of health of democracy in Western polities.
What can I go on to do?
Students who have completed a Certificate may be able to progress to FHEQ level 5 provision within the Institute at the discretion of the Academic Director.
Credit awarded by the Institute can be transferred into the degree programmes of some other higher education providers. The amount of credit which can be transferred into degree programmes varies from institution to institution and is always at the discretion of the receiving institution.
