Module: POL5001-20 Political Ideologies: Thinking in Action

Level: 5

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: Mike Hannis

Module Tutor Contact Details: m.hannis@bathspa.ac.uk

1. Brief description and aims of module:

This module will help you to understand, analyse and evaluate the political thought of present-day political parties, journalists and commentators, social movement activists, and ordinary citizens. You will explore contending perceptions of how the world is, and how it ought to be, within diverse currents of political ideology, locating these in the historical context in which they emerged, their evolution, and their relevance in the present day. Distinctively, we will adopt an ‘action-oriented’ approach, focusing not simply on ‘textbook’ definitions, but on ideologies as they are articulated, challenged and defended by people in real-world political movements or parties, and by journalists, commentators, etc. This will mean analysing texts (e.g. websites, speeches, policy documents, online videos and interviews, etc) produced by active, situated intellectuals from movements like Momentum, Black Lives Matter, #MeToo, alt-right and populist movements, LGBT+ rights advocates, and such like.

Aims:

1. To explore the role ideology plays in orienting political discourse and practice;

2. To outline a diverse range of political ideologies, examine ideological debates, and explore their relationship to evolving social and/or political contexts;

3. To explore ways of analysing, applying and critiquing political ideologies, and evaluating their relevance to contemporary politics;

4. To understand the role of ‘intellectuals’ (referring broadly to socially situated advocates of political ideas) in communicating and contesting political ideologies, and become familiar with key intellectuals associated with historical and contemporary ideological positions.

2.Outline syllabus:

The curriculum will be drawn from topics which may include:

• What are ideologies and why do they matter?

• Liberalism

• Conservatism & libertarianism

• Socialism

• Anarchism

• Contemporary liberalism: Between social justice and the ‘extreme centre’

• Nationalism & populism

• Fascism & the far right

• Feminism

• Anti-racism & multiculturalism

• Environmentalism & green ideology

• Religious ideologies & secularism

• Ideology after the ‘End of History’

3.Teaching and learning activities:

The module will be delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars/workshop sessions, and the use of digital learning technologies. Lectures introduce key concepts, theories and research for each topic. Seminars/workshops may require some preparatory study, but will be practical and interactive. They will support further learning and understanding through activities that is likely to include discussion and debate, group work, presentations, and individual and group problem-solving activities.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: Course Work

• Description: Critical analysis presentation (equiv 2500 words)

• % Weighting: 50%

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: Course Work

• Description: Political blog (equiv 2500 word)

• % Weighting: 50%