Politics BA (Hons)

Love it or loathe it, there is no avoiding politics. Many are turned off by simply hearing the word, and yet, as this module will reveal there is more to the discipline than meets the eye. You will explore its key traditions, concepts, thinkers, and ideologies. Thinking creatively and developing digital literacies throughout, you will gain an understanding not only of the academic discipline but also the tools for interpreting ongoing debates in contemporary society.

Familiarise yourself with the institutional, cultural, and economic elements of British politics and government. With key landmark events such as Brexit and COVID-19, the evolution of British politics continues to be a fascinating and crucial area of study. But British politics is not the be all and end all of political systems, you'll also explore other countries from our continent and beyond and discover the atypical and unusual nature of the British political tradition.

Its never too early to start thinking about your future this module is designed to provide you with the skills to succeed right from the beginning, exploring how IR opens a range of options and possibilities. You will reflect on your own unique skills and interests through experiential learning, such as simulation exercises and participating in activities outside of the classroom. The module is designed to get you thinking about IR in a different way, developing crucial transferrable skills, such as problem solving, teamworking, self-confidence and clear communication through the accumulation and reflection upon a range of relevant, extracurricular 'practice hours'.

This is hands-on module will give you the opportunity to learn more about more about the city you have come to live and study in. With a rich backstory steeped in community and grassroots activism, Nottingham is an ideal location to develop knowledge and gain skills around citizenship, participation and community organisation which are fundamental in enacting change. This module will provide a unique insight into the formal and informal politics of the city and give you the tools you need to become a change maker.

Do you believe what you are told? In this module we will critically examine how the Media influences global politics. You will be introduced to a range of key concepts, theories, and approaches to political communication which will empower you to examine some of the most important contemporary issues - the growth of online conspiracy theories, how social media is transforming the way we consume news, the role of powerful states and private interests in shaping the news agenda, the rise of "Fake News" and its role in the creation of a post-truth politics. By the end of this module you may never watch a video or read a newspaper in quite the same way again!

Embarking on a course of study at university can be a daunting experience, but don't worry, we're here to provide you with all the key academic skills you need. In this module you will learn everything from the most basic to the most complex - How do you write an essay? How do you build an argument? How do you research a topic? How do you reference academic sources? This module is about equipping you with the technical skills to articulate yourself creatively, engage with your chosen subject and develop your own scholarly positions to succeed in your university journey and achieve your full academic potential.

Gain an in-depth and unique insight into the theory and practice of the institution that lays at the centre of our political system. In this module you will critically analyse the contribution that both Houses of Parliament make to scrutiny, policy making and representation. Throughout the module you will engage with MPs, Peers, and parliamentary officials in order to strip away the ermine and oak panelling to see how the beating heart of our democracy really functions and how you can enact change through it.

The world is yours - where do you want to go with your degree? In this module you will build on the momentum from the first year PIR in Practice module to develop the practical skills required to identify, apply and succeed in a competitive high-skilled graduate job market. This will include gaining practice in civil service competency tests, writing engaging CVs, LinkedIn Profiles, learning interview techniques and much more to make you stand out. Of particular significance here is the opportunity to undertake a 30-hour work-like experience with a relevant organisation of your choosing by the end of this module you will have concrete high level experience to give you the edge ready to launch your career after graduation.

The social world is hugely complex - how do we use research to make sense of it? In this module you will learn about a range of research methods which can reveal hidden patterns and solve social mysteries. Who voted for Brexit? Why do some demographics refuse to be vaccinated? How do British Blasians feel they are represented in the media? How did colonialism impact on gender identity in South Asia? These are all questions that social research methods can help us answer including interviews, focus groups, data analysis, questionnaires and surveys, discourse analysis, archival research and much more. In this module you will learn to become a social researcher to ask your own questions and discover your own answers.

Europe remains a key player in both UK domestic and international politics, and due to its diverse internal complexity, presents a fascinating case study for comparative politics. Examining a host of European nations from the largest/well-known (e.g., France, Spain) to the smallest/relatively less documented (e.g., Malta, Cyprus) the module explores a range of ongoing political issues, such as the role of government, elections/electoral systems, party systems, voter behaviour and more.

Take a critical and reflexive tour through classical and contemporary Western political thought, exploring the continued relevance of some of its most important concepts and ideas. Along the way you will creatively apply the insights of exciting thinkers - such as Machiavelli, J.S. Mill, and Martha Nussbaum to contemporary case studies of your choosing, spanning current debates in Politics and International Relations to contemporary film, music, literature, or even TV boxsets.

We live in an incredibly dangerous world, humans have devised infinite ways to destroy life, in this module we will seek to find ways to protect it To do this you will engage with the dynamic sub-discipline of Security Studies to ask timeless questions including why do states go to war? are there any rules which regulate their conflicts? and if so who will enforce them? You will also study contemporary issues such as cybersecurity and reflect on critical theories of human security to examine issues of structural violence including racism, poverty, public health, environmental protection and the role of gender violence in times of conflict.

The Cultural Theorist Theodor Adorno once said that "to write poetry after Auschwitz is barbaric" However, it is also true that even in the darkest moments of humanity, we humans have created works of art, which have a unique capacity to inspire empathy and understanding across cultures. This is a unique module in which you will engage in depth with great works of art, books, poems, films, music, to identify their social and political themes, what they tell us about the human condition in a range of global contexts. It is also unique in its form of delivery, there will be no lectures, but open discussions in which we will work together to explore the tragic joy of the human experience.

Welcome to the 'Anthropocene'! Critically explore the historical and ongoing impact of human behaviour on the natural world, situating environmental politics through key events from the late 20thcentury onwards. From the local to the global, explore core debates in environmental ethics and green political thought, whilst studying a wide range of domestic and international policies, processes, treaties, and case studies throughout.

Gain a comprehensive understanding of the organisation, behaviour, and impact of political marketing at both a national and international level. The module examines the marketisation of politics on a range of relevant issues, including political behaviour, party organisation, and voting patterns. Key debates will be considered throughout, relating to targeting and positioning, branding, market research, and the relationship between political marketing and fundamental issues such as trust, democracy, and crisis management.

Do you fancy working abroad? Nothing will prepare you better for a career in Politics or International Relations than the ability to speak a second language and NTU offers a wide range of language modules which will build on existing experience or begin the journey of learning a new way of communicating across linguistic frontiers. After an initial assessment to determine the most appropriate level of study, this option allows you to develop both general and professionally relevant language skills to a range of proficiencies.

Bring together and reflect upon the academic expertise, interests and experience gained throughout your degree and, guided by a dedicated supervisor and step-by-step workshops throughout, formulate, structure, and complete an 8,000-word research project of your choosing. Alongside the more traditional written dissertation, there is the option to complete a more hands-on project, perhaps by engaging with policy processes in a partner organisation.

Do you want to change the world? Throughout your course you have developed the knowledge to critically analyse global politics, in this module you will have the opportunity to put all of that into practice by learning how to organise a political campaign of your choosing. Maybe it's a campaign to prevent gender violence in Bangladesh, or modern-day slavery in the UK, or liberalise markets in Zimbabwe, or defend human rights internationally. Whatever the topic, you will learn all the different aspects of project management, from media strategy and communications to research methods and human relations. The module will develop a crucial work-like experience simulating the skills and experience to further prepare you for successful career pathways in the globalised world.

Examine the changing nature of British Politics in the context of global issues. You'll gain an understanding of the origins of vital contemporary issues, such as the resurgence of nationalism in Britain, the leaving of the European Union, the financial crisis and its aftermath and many more. These dynamic, changing and highly volatile issues will be reflected through the lens of key actors in the British state, British interests overseas, and the potential end of the British state as we know it.

With the second Trump presidency in full swing, there seems no greater time to examine the complex and increasingly fractious politics and government of the USA. Taking into consideration a range of its ongoing historical tensions, the module will critically interrogate US democracy's most revered actors and institutions, including its Constitution, Congress, the Supreme Court, the role of the President, and specifically, historical evolutions in domestic and foreign policy.

This module explores a range of exciting and contemporary political issues relating to both the domestic and international arenas. This might include debates surrounding the promise and perils and Artificial Intelligence, the rise and appeal of conspiracy theories, UK electoral reform, and the politics of music. The module adopts a unique 'modlet' approach, offering a three week focus on each topic.

Since 9/11 the so-called 'War on Terror' has dominated global politics, and whilst today it might appear to have taken a back seat to other issues, it continues to exert its influence. Throughout this module you will explore the evolving relationship between terrorism and political violence. Analysing the concept of 'insecurity' in a broad sense throughout, you will examine key theoretical approaches as well as a range of real-world cases, illustrating ultimately its increasingly complex use for political means.

Expand your understanding of 'politics' beyond parliaments, parties and politicians to consider the wider power of cultural representations and experiences. From clothes and music to sport and shopping, this module will encourage you to reflect on the ways in which political, economic, social, and cultural power can manifest itself in a range of everyday, subtle, and often quite innocent ways.

For much of its history Mainstream IR has ignored half of humanity, however, in the last 30 years feminist scholars have dramatically transformed the discipline. In this module you will engage with this radical tradition from the earliest struggles for political rights and social equality to the third wave efforts to consider the intersectionality of race, class and gender as well as feminisms beyond the west, in Latin America, Africa and the Islamic World. You will develop a feminist perspective to critically reflect on issues of knowledge production, power relations, the politics of difference and the complex debates around gender fluidity and the disruption of biological binaries in the twenty-first century.

Mainstream IR has long been dominated by the global north, however, as you will see In this module, the south is often where politics is most radical and dramatic.  You will explore these complex societies in depth, understanding Africa’s role in international relations, learning about the rise of Pan-Africanism, and examining a wide range of case studies.  You will also learn about the impact of the drug war on Mexico, the consequences of the military dictatorship in Chile, the socialist experiments in Venezuela, the struggle for the soul of Brazil, and the impact of American imperialism on Haiti and Cuba.

Perhaps no region of the world is more misunderstood than the Middle East and North Africa. In this module you will take an in-depth look at the political economy of the region against the backdrop of its colonial and post-independence history. You will consider the role of both state and non-state actors, examine a range of contemporary security challenges, and consider the potential and opportunities for inter-state cooperation, as too, future possible scenarios for international relations within the continent.

Arguably, politics whether local, domestic, or global is about identifying and diffusing the potential for conflict. In this module you will learn and practise the art of negotiation and leadership through combining the academic study of decision-making with model simulation and gaming/role playing exercises. Engagement with the module provides the chance to take part in the annual, EUROSIM competition with teams from other national and international Universities.

This module examines key challenges and issues that shape contemporary politics in Spain. Spain is an excellent case study of the salient factors driving the changing face of politics across Europe.  On this module, you will learn about topics ranging from the establishment of, and challenges to, democracy, the Spanish constitution, executive-legislature relations, elections, parties, and voter behaviour, and how these relate to contemporary politics in Spain, including the rise of the populist radical right and increasing polarisation.

Do you fancy working abroad? Nothing will prepare you better for a career in Politics or International Relations than the ability to speak a second language and NTU offers a wide range of language modules which will build on existing experience or begin the journey of learning a new way of communicating across linguistic frontiers. After an initial assessment to determine the most appropriate level of study, this option allows you to develop both general and professionally relevant language skills to a range of proficiencies.