Undergraduate Course: Politics and International Relations 1A: Concepts and Debates (PLIT08017)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Politics and International Relations 1A: Concepts and Debates introduces key political concepts, such as power, participation, and representation. Each week it explores a different concept, introducing students to the key debates and a contemporary case. |
| Course description |
PIR 1A introduces students to the discipline of political science by exploring key concepts and debates. Core concepts include power, democracy, legitimacy, the state, nationalism, gender, class, race, participation and representation.
It is structured around some of the most important political questions of our time, among them: How much power does the state still have? Is democracy under threat? Is politics perpetuating inequalities? How can we protect the environment? For each question, the course will examine the actors, processes, and institutions at play, and discuss them in the context of pivotal cases. The course equips students with knowledge and understanding of key political concepts, institutions and processes, and develop the analytical tools required to debate today's most prevalent political issues.
Each week, lectures will
- Introduce a significant political question or debate
- Identify the key concepts that enable students to make sense of the question/debate
- Challenge students' preconceptions by drawing out areas of conflict and contestation;
- Connect larger questions to the real world through a range of case studies, which might include the rise of populist parties, Brexit, the Arab spring, national efforts to address climate change, or sub-state nationalism in the UK;
- Show how a knowledge of concepts can help us better understand political issues, and generate solutions;
- Engage with a globally diverse range of research and individual thinkers, including primary sources;
- Provide a guide to the literature, informing and inspiring students to undertake further reading.
Weekly tutorials will
- Develop students' understanding with focused discussion of key concepts and cases;
- Develop students' analytical and communication skills through discussion of key areas of conflict and contestation.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | Students MUST NOT also be taking
Politics in a Changing World: An Introduction for non-specialists (PLIT08012)
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Other requirements | This course is only available to students on named Politics & International Relations degree programmes.
Students considering a transfer to a PIR degree may substitute this course with ¿PLIT08012 Politics in a Changing World: An Introduction for Non-specialists¿. |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2026/27, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
|
Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 20,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 9,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
167 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
80 %,
Practical Exam
20 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
20% Tutorial Participation
20% Structured Essay Plan (Including annotated bibliography and Planning Tasks)
60% Essay and Skills Self-Assessment (2000 words)
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| Feedback |
In the study skills sessions that accompany the course there are opportunities for students to receive feedback, from both their peers and academic staff.
Within the course itself, we include non-assessed activities such as quizzes that provide formative feedback.
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of key concepts, debates, and cases in the study of politics.
- Demonstrate knowledge of different actors and institutions and their political significance.
- Apply core course knowledge to understand and discuss contemporary issues, debates, and problems in the study of politics.
- Critically analyse and evaluate academic literature on key issues in the study of politics.
- Demonstrate fundamental academic skills necessary to the analysis of politics.
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Reading List
Baylis, J. / Smith, S. / Owens, P. (2020) The Globalization of World Politics. Oxford University Press. 8th edition.
Heywood, A. (2019) Politics. Palgrave Macmillan. 5th edition. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
The course contributes to the following graduate attributes
- generic cognitive skills (e.g. evaluation, critical analysis);
- communication skills
- autonomy, accountability and working with others.
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| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Patrick Theiner
Tel:
Email: patrick.theiner@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Ian McClory
Tel: (0131 6)50 3932
Email: Ian.McClory@ed.ac.uk |
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