Government and Politics *
Have you ever heard of the phrase, ‘a week is a long time in Politics’?
It is a quote attributed to an ex-British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, which the British Political Magazine, The Spectator, once said was the most quoted phrase in Politics.
But why is it said so often? Perhaps, it is because Politics is a living, breathing, vital subject, part of a climate that is constantly changing. Politics considers the political processes that operate beneath the feet of those in government, shaping the lives of all of us; and, as individual citizens, we are all part of - and affected by - this political process.
Government and Politics is also the study of ideas, and of how political actors and movements have used these ideas to change the world and our societies. In studying a range of political ideologies and systems, Politics helps influence and inform our own beliefs and views. Studying Politics equips our students with the skills and knowledge to interpret and analyse the demands of a charged and rapidly evolving political climate in the UK and the wider world. In an environment of increasingly polar and oppositional Politics, embodied by Britain’s changing relationship with the rest of Europe and an increasingly Populist mood demonstrated by political figures such as recent US President Donald Trump, Politics has been recently regarded by many with more seriousness lately, as well as being seen as instrumental to positive change by others. In such a charged political climate, the need to bring an informed and educated interpretation to events has taken on an ever-increasing significance and relevance.
Our curriculum reflects this present political climate. Our students explore themes such as the UK’s democratic electoral political process and system of government. Alongside this, students gain an understanding and knowledge of the role of political parties and the increasing importance of the media and individuals in this process. Moreover, students expand their studies to exploring US Government and Politics, which has been seen as the ‘torch of democracy’ in modern times, understanding the nature of US democracy and the ongoing debates surrounding it – while also seeing the relationship to our own British Politics. Such examinations of what some observers have described as ‘a special relationship’ will deepen students’ understanding of Politics as a global discipline. Finally, students will examine a range of key political ideologies such as Socialism, Liberalism, Conservatism and Feminism, understanding their origins and development, and their impact and influence on the UK.
By the end of their two-year course of study, our students will have an informed and robust understanding of the discipline of Politics and be equipped with the insight to engage with our rapidly changing political climate, so they may be successful, engaged and positive citizens, ready for University and the career of their choice.