Module POC2124 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
POC2124: Political Analysis
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
Please note that this module is only delivered on the Penryn Campus.
Module Aims
To introduce undergraduate students to key political theories, approaches and debates in political science.
To familiarise students with core concepts and methods for the analysis of politics and international relations.
To enable students to understand and conduct political analysis of contemporary social and political issues.
To provide students with analytical skills with which to design their political own research
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. demonstrate an understanding of key theories and approaches of political analysis and the capacity to critically engage and evaluate political research; 2. demonstrate an understanding of core concepts in political analysis and be aware of their epistemological assumptions; 3. apply theories and methods of political analysis to design political research. |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 4. demonstrate ability to define complex political problems, identify their significance and select appropriate approaches for investigating and critically evaluating them; 5. demonstrate knowledge of political concepts and their contextual/social/political implications; 6. demonstrate ability to apply knowledge to a political problem/ case study; 7. demonstrate ability to select, integrate and present coherently and reflectively, orally and in writing, relevant political/theoretical arguments. |
| Personal and Key Skills | 8. communicate and engage in debate effectively and accurately, orally and in writing, in a manner appropriate to the discipline/ different contexts; 9. demonstrate ability to manage relevant learning resources/ information/ learning strategies and to develop own arguments and opinions with minimum guidance; 10. demonstrate ability to work independently and to manage time efficiently in preparing for scheduled learning activities, exercises and assessment including identify, retrieve and use efficiently a range of library-based and electronic resources with minimum guidance. |
Indicative Reading List
This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.
Indicative Basic reading:
Ackerly, Brooke A., Maria Stern, and Jacqui True, eds. Feminist methodologies for international relations. Cambridge University Press, 2006.
Aradau, Claudia, et al. Critical security methods: New frameworks for analysis. Routledge, 2014.
Donatella della Porta, Keating Michael, Approaches and Methodologies in Political Science, CUP, 2008.
Halperin Sandra, Heath Oliver, Political Research: Methods and Practical Skills, OUP, 2016.
Jackson, Patrick Thaddeus. The conduct of inquiry in international relations: philosophy of science and its implications for the study of world politics. Routledge, 2010.
Kellstedt Paul, The Fundamentals of Political Science Research, CUP, 2013.
King Gary, Keohane Robert, Verba Sidney, Designing Social Inquiry, PUP, 1994.
Klotz, Audie, and Deepa Prakash, eds. Qualitative methods in international relations. Palgrave Macmillan, 2008.
Lamont, Christopher. Research methods in international relations. Sage, 2015.
Lebow, Richard Ned. Constructing Cause in International Relations. Cambridge University Press, 2014.
Rech, Matthew F., et al. "An Introduction to Military Research Methods." The Routledge Companion to Military Research Methods (2016)
Salter, Mark and Can Mutlu (eds). Research Methods in Critical Security Studies. Routledge, 2012.
Shepherd, Laura J. (ed) Critical Approaches to Security, Routledge, 2012.
Toshkov Dimiter, Research Design in Political Science, Palgrave, 2016.
