Module overview
For many people, the phrase “American political thought” either has an obvious meaning – some version of liberal democracy, surely – or it is a contradiction in terms – America has politics, but seems to exercise little thought. This module sets the record straight. We will dive into a unique blend of cultural and political history, contemporary politics, political ideas – a blend that, as we shall see, allowed an improbable candidate like Donald Trump to win a presidential election. This module will refute the sceptic and show that American political thought is a significant intellectual tradition that actually goes back to the 17th Century. However, as we will see, this tradition is never developed through abstract scholarly theorising. It is developed by flesh and blood political actors in actual political circumstances. This is a political theory module for those who like their theory to be genuinely political. We will study ideas in action – how they emerge through political action and how they continue to be shaped and transformed by the challenges of political events and changing social circumstances.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- Key writings in the subject
- Proposed solutions to intellectual difficulties in the subject matter
- Intellectual traditions in American political thought
- How America's intellectual traditions manifest themselves in contemporary politics
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Articulate orally key ideas
- Work with others to assess information, propose solutions to intellectual difficulties, and jointly articulate a coherent view
- Work independently to evaluate relevant literature
Syllabus
The module has three related themes, which are addressed through selected primary sources and secondary material:
American Exceptionalism
Federalism and Anti-Federalism
Religion and American politics
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
2 hours of lectures per week. All will be recorded and posted on Blackboard. Lectures will be delivered either face to face or online only depending upon University and Public Health England Guidance at the time. Total of 24 hours of lectures (2 hours per week X 12 weeks) per module.
Weekly student participation in online discussion boards. 1 hour per week delivered asynchronously. (1 hour X 12 weeks)
Type | Hours |
---|---|
Independent Study | 114 |
Lecture | 36 |
Total study time | 150 |
Assessment
Summative
Summative assessment description
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Research proposal | 25% |
Research project | 50% |
Discussion board activity | 25% |
Referral
Referral assessment description
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Essay | 100% |
Repeat
Repeat assessment description
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Essay | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External