Undergraduate Module Descriptor

PHL3109: Contemporary Capitalism, Critique and Resistance

This module descriptor refers to the 2018/9 academic year.

Module Aims

The module aims to provide you with an in-depth knowledge of various institutions, organisations, processes, values and resistance movements making up the contemporary Western world. By encouraging you to engage critically with these topics, it also aims to equip you with the means to question taken-for-granted assumptions about the contemporary situation, understand the factors leading to different forms of social and environmental problems, forms of social unrest responding to them, as well as the achievements and shortcomings of contemporary resistance movements.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of a range of perspectives on contemporary capitalism 2. Critically evaluate these perspectives and relate them to empirical studies and findings 3. Critically evaluate the effects of powerful social actors decisions and resistance movements on the social structure, culture, the economy and the environment
Discipline-Specific Skills	4. Demonstrate in writing and orally a capacity to reflect upon, apply and criticise theoretical models and empirical findings 5. Demonstrate in writing and orally a capacity question taken-for-granted assumptions
Personal and Key Skills	6. Engage in complex arguments in writing, orally and in small groups 7. Identify problems and anticipate possible avenues for solving them

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

What is capitalism?

Capitalism in historical perspective

Financialisation

Flexibilisation

Personal responsibilisation

Privatisation

The ‘restoration of class power’ and ideology

Neoliberal governmentality

Contemporary global social movements: GJM and Occupy

The ‘end of history’?

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
22	128	0

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	22	11 x two-hour weekly lecture/seminar with lecture introducing topic followed by seminar discussion
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	2	Guidance for case-study analysis
Guided Independent Study	36	Readings for seminars and tutorials
Guided independent study	45	Researching and writing essay
Guided independent study	45	Researching and writing the case study commentary

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).