• Introduction
• Modules
• Features
• Careers
• Fees

Politics at Lincoln introduces students to a range of major political themes and ideas. At Level One, these are applied to the study of Politics in Britain and other countries, including the USA, the EU, Asia and the Middle East. Students will have the opportunity to examine and debate important issues, for example Britain’s relationship with the EU, whilst developing conceptual, analytical and evaluative skills relevant to graduate employment and postgraduate study.

At Levels Two and Three students will consider the core ideas underpinning Politics and closely related disciplines, such as International Relations. They will also study key political processes and forms of participation in more detail. They will study issues of current debate in Politics, such as Human Rights, as well as the broader world of Politics beyond formal institutions and rooted in civil society and wider social forces.

Students studying Politics benefit from the fact that all members of the teaching team are active in research and publication. Our Politics research is making an increasing contribution at national and international levels.

Is This Course Right For Me?

Students can combine Politics with another subject to create broader and more complementary degrees.

These include:

- Politics and Criminology

- Politics and International Relations

- Politics and Social Policy

- Politics and Law

- Politics and Journalism

- Politics and English

- Politics and History.

How You Study

Studying Politics at Lincoln combine directed and independent learning.

Each module is delivered by means of a weekly lecture and an associated weekly seminar. The seminars provide an opportunity for students to discuss issues raised in the lecture and engage in critical reflection on set readings.

Students will also have the opportunity to meet with module leaders in tutorial sessions.

As well as directed study, students will undertake independent learning utilising traditional library as well as a wide range of electronic resources. The Level One module Applying Research aims to provide students with the requisite skills for effective independent learning.

Level 1

Applying Research (Social Sciences)

This module aims to enable students to both recognise and also understand the different methodologies employed in social research and to apply these to their own research project and critique of methods. After completing this module students should be able to:

- Explain what research is and why we do it
- Explain how research may be carried out: quantitatively
- Explain how research may be carried out: qualitatively.

Overall, the aim of this module is to set out methodological skills, and involve students in their application, and to encourage critical reflection on a variety of levels.

Global Conflicts and Contexts

This module will introduce students to core issues of relevance to international relations study. The unit initially focuses on the development of mechanisms to control and avoid the emergence of international conflict in its various guises. It then moves on to examine a number of key contemporary issues such as global inequality, international political economy, globalization and emerging transnational civil societies. The module is intended to expose students to the breadth of issues and approaches relevant to the study of international relations and international politics more broadly.

Identity and Citizenship

This module explicitly adopts an interdisciplinary approach to core questions of relevance to today’s society. Taking the notion of identity as its leitmotif, the module introduces students to those ways in which academic knowledge has traditionally been divided along disciplinary lines. With this by way of background, the module will guide students in bringing knowledge forms from within their own – and other – disciplines to bear on key contemporary social and political issues. As such, the module will expose students to the potentials and pitfalls of adopting an interdisciplinary approach to problem solving and policy development in areas concerning (for example) citizenship, social belonging and isolation, gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, religion or nationalism. Throughout students will be encouraged to think critically about the nature of their own identities and the impact of their future professional practise on the nature and practise of identities.

Who Runs Britain? Power, Politics and Beyond

This module introduces students to the key components of the British political system, and the relationship between domestic and international politics through an examination of the distribution of power within the British political system. It will explain the various factors and actors, both domestic and foreign, which serve to shape and define the political process in Britain. In Semester A the module examines the distribution of power through an examination of the key institutions and actors in the British political process, such as the government, the Cabinet, Prime Minister, political parties, the Civil Service, and the judiciary.

Level 2

Comparative Politics and Policy

This module then proceeds from an examination of some basic concepts that can help provide an understanding of the bases upon which governments are built and operate. For example, we look at political culture, legitimacy and authority, and we consider the process of democratisation from a comparative perspective. The theoretical tools and analytical knowledge from the early parts of the module are then applied empirically to consider a variety of features of contemporary politics and policy, including political systems and constitutions, parties and elections, interest groups and a range of important issues in public policy and social policy, such as immigration, asylum, the role and future of welfare states, the challenges of demographic change, and social divisions within societies.

Diversity, Difference and Exclusion (Option)

This module examines the impact of difference and diversity in social policy, with a particular concern around social exclusion. It begins with an introduction to the concepts of 'diversity', 'difference' and 'exclusion' and then moves on to consider the relationship between social policy and a variety of forms of diversity and difference, particularly in the context of new thinking around social exclusion that has emerged since the 1990s. The module explores the origins and meanings of key concepts such as 'diversity' and 'social exclusion', the relationship of these key concepts with others, such as poverty, social class and the 'underclass', and the impact and lack of impact of policies on social groups such as young people, families, women, black and ethnic minorities and disabled people.

Law, Order and Politics

At the heart of debate on law and order is the balance between a need for states to maintain civic order and to protect the rights of the individual. One of the defining characteristics of the state is the right to use violence. Although a necessary power, it is one fraught with danger, evoking fears of a 'police state' or a military dictatorship, and the world is full of examples of how real this threat is. The Law, Order and Politics module seeks to use a multi-disciplinary approach to the subject area that crosses all boundaries. To this end we investigate concepts and practices in Britain and then go on to examine the processes of globalization with crime and the growing significance of different historical and cultural experiences of law, order and social control. We begin with an overview of the philosophical framework underpinning law and order in Britain from the post-war period up to 1979. We consider relations between politicians and the judiciary in recent years from the perspective of democracy and governance in contemporary Britain. We examine the extent to which political ideology affects the way that both main parties in Britain have viewed crime. We argue that all governments need to grapple with the boundaries between civic order and individual liberty. A key component of this module, therefore, is to make comparisons between law, order and politics in both democratic and non-democratic states. We reflect, for example, on Chinese conceptions of public order and community justice, the influence of Sharia Law in Britain and the Middle East, and characteristics of organized crime and international networks in Europe, North America and Asia.

Model United Nations

This module is designed to provide an introduction to the activities of the United Nations, as well as providing an understanding of the practices of international diplomacy and governance. The module will use a discussion of contemporary international issues to explore some of the protocol and procedures of diplomacy. It will also provide students with an introduction to issues of international organization and international law and treaty-making. All of this will assist students in preparing for their role as a 'diplomat' at a Model United Nations conference.

Policing Studies (Option)

To address the questions: What are the different forms of policing; why do we police crime and deviance; how is it policed; where is it policed and by whom? One of the key elements is analyse the realities of the range of policing, and policing practices, and to contrast these with the theoretical and ideological debates. The question of who is responsible for policing crime and deviance is confronted by the explicit attention to the various ways in which crime control and the responsibility for crime are subject to complex forms of privatisation. Relevant themes of increasing pluralisation; centralisation, decentralisation and analysis of theoretical frameworks which shape responses are addressed through exploration of key themes and topics. The issue of agency, especially in connection with the fracturing policing function, is an important dimension of this process. The drift towards private forms of security highlights the way in which public and private space are designated and the issue of ‘Where’ crime and deviance are pursued and the limits of law are, in this respect, brought to the fore.

Political Parties

This module will cover a variety of issues relating to political parties in the United Kingdom. The political science literature covers a wide variety of topics around parties. Amongst those which are examined in this module are the following; the historical development of parties; the role of parties in terms of mobilisation of support, electioneering and campaigning, recruitment of personnel; representation of the electorate and issue-based politics; and the partisan divide. These will be examined primarily within the context of a discussion of the three major parties within the British political system including their development, their ideological tenets and their contemporary positions. However, towards the end of the module these will be set against the position of other parties within the UK including the Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru and the Northern Irish parties, to which will be added a comparative perspective, drawing upon the roles and experiences of parties in Western Europe.

Researching Politics and International Relations

Building on the Level One module, Applying Research, this module systematically scrutinises examples of research undertaken in the subject areas of Politics and International Relations. One of the main aims of the module is to enable students to understand, in concrete terms, what constitutes research in Politics and IR and how the research process leads to the production of specific research outputs including dissertations, theses, published academic articles and research monographs. In addition, the module aims to provide students with the knowledge base necessary for the production of research proposals and outputs.

Thinking International Relations

This module places theory at the centre of the study of world politics. It provides a critical overview of the disciplinary literature of international relations from both mainstream and critical perspectives. The module aims to provide students with the ability to both understand and critically employ the concepts, approaches and methods of International Relations theory, and to develop an understanding of their contested nature and the problematic character of inquiry in the discipline. Case studies and contemporary materials will be used extensively throughout the module to illustrate the varying theoretical models and their applicability in the contemporary world.

Thinking Politics

Thinking Politics examines the historical background to the various strands of political thought and ideas. In doing this, it builds upon some of the major ideas and concepts introduced at level one, by illustrating linkages between political theories and other aspects of politics. In particular, reference is made to key thinkers who have left their intellectual imprint on political ideas and beliefs. Specific reference is made to the work of Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Bentham, Mill, and Marx in order to assess the contribution that each has made to political theory and the extent to which they had a more or less lasting impact upon the practice and analysis of politics. This module provides the theoretical underpinnings needed to facilitate a thorough understanding of political ideas and belief. This module involves an examination of what constitutes ideology and a detailed investigation of the dominant ideologies from the French Revolution right up to and including the collapse of communism.

Level 3

Analysing the Policy Process (Option)

Building upon Understanding the Policy Process this module requires students not only to continue to develop their knowledge of a range of perspectives on the policy process but, in addition, to use these to analyse a case study relevant to their degree programme. Where Understanding the Policy Process places its emphasis on important models and perspectives, this module explores a range of current ideas which have a significant impact upon the making and implementation of policy, such as the concept of partnership, notions of participation, and issues of accountability.

Anti-Politics

Politics and political participation tends dominantly to be understood in terms of formal processes associated with the institutional state, especially the liberal democratic state. But politics extends beyond such a conception to include groups and associations in civil society which, through association, protest and seek to establish alternatives, challenge formal politics and seek to take the meaning of politics and political action and association beyond liberal democratic definitions. Such forms are often referred to as anti-systemic politics. This module examines various forms of political activity and association beyond the formal liberal democratic state. It starts by examining the relationship between liberal democracy and old social movements and considers fundamental challenges to conceptions of politics, drawn from this framework, such as globalisation. The module then traces distinct challenges to liberal democratic politics emanating from civil society, notably various forms neoliberalism, and alternative new social movements. The module concludes by considering projects for the remoulding of politics, post-globalisation, such as cosmopolitanism.

Body Politics (Option)

This module introduces the students to different paradigms of the 'body' and 'embodiment'. Recent research suggests that our understandings and our relationship with our own and other ‘bodies’ has been and is continuing to undergo radical changes. This module will explore these ongoing developments in Western and non-Western cultures and societies. Throughout we will be concerned to link theoretical accounts of the ‘body’ with developments in contemporary societies. The module will further demonstrate the relevance of conceptions of ‘body’ in different academic and professional arenas. The module will equip the students with the skills to identify and critically explore a diversity of current representations of 'body' in everyday life.

Community and Conflict 1 (Option)

This module is all about communities – in particular, communities that are poor, disadvantaged, isolated or 'socially excluded'. In recent years, interest has been re-awakened in the whole idea of community and in what sorts of policies might be most effective in helping communities and solving their problems. This has happened for a number of reasons: New Labour policy, concerns about crime and disorder, increased emphasis on self-help, fears of racial segregation and ‘no go’ areas, rural decline, and the failure of government interventions over the years that have taken no account of the feelings of local people. The new focus on community is often associated with a number of beliefs: for example, that it is better in principle for local people to 'do it for themselves'; that the involvement of communities is essential if run-down areas are to be renewed or regenerated; and that neither market forces nor the state can on their own offer satisfactory long-term solutions to our social problems. This module will look critically at all these beliefs and come to conclusions about their validity. Community and Conflict II focuses on the application of theory, concepts and perspectives developed in Community and Conflict I to particular areas of public policy making including policy implementation.

Community and Conflict 2 (Option)

This module is all about communities – in particular, communities that are poor, disadvantaged, isolated or 'socially excluded'. In recent years, interest has been re-awakened in the whole idea of community and in what sorts of policies might be most effective in helping communities and solving their problems. This has happened for a number of reasons: New Labour policy, concerns about crime and disorder, increased emphasis on self-help, fears of racial segregation and ‘no go’ areas, rural decline, and the failure of government interventions over the years that have taken no account of the feelings of local people. The new focus on community is often associated with a number of beliefs: for example, that it is better in principle for local people to 'do it for themselves'; that the involvement of communities is essential if run-down areas are to be renewed or regenerated; and that neither market forces nor the state can on their own offer satisfactory long-term solutions to our social problems. This module will look critically at all these beliefs and come to conclusions about their validity. Community and Conflict II focuses on the application of theory, concepts and perspectives developed in Community and Conflict I to particular areas of public policy making including policy implementation.

Human Rights (Social Sciences)

This module addresses the general ideas of Human Rights and focuses in particular on the critical reading of Human Rights as one single universal paradigm. The practical critique of Human Rights proposed in this module is founded on the belief that Human Rights must and can be improved. The three main propositions outlined in this module relate to the concept of Human Rights presented as if they are universal; the notion that Human Rights pertain to a logic which focuses on the individual to the neglect of solidarity and other social values, and the fact that the meaning of Human Rights derives from a reasoning which is far too abstract. The academic interdisciplinary approach of this module should be emphasised, as the aid of several disciplines will be called upon, mainly but not exclusively, politics, legal philosophy, sociology, anthropology, international relation studies, post-colonial studies and criminology in order to deconstruct the notion of the universality of Human Rights.

Independent Study (Social Sciences)

Students will be required to prepare and submit an Independent Study Proposal during semester B at Intermediate Level and appropriate supervisors will be allocated at this stage. The Independent Study preparation will be focussed through the Research in Social Policy module, which will familiarise students with real and active models of research in relevant areas. Therefore, the module will be guided by a clearly demarcated process of: research proposal; refinement; supervisor allocation; critical comment; initiation of lines of enquiry; implementation and monitoring of research over three Semesters. At stages agreed between the student and supervisor throughout level three, student progress will be reviewed in relation to research undertaken, clarity of objectives, report/dissertation plan and the submission of a dossier of work/chapters undertaken so far. The teaching support will be ongoing over the two semesters; but will be primarily geared to assisting the student on issues/problems such as research methods and ethical considerations, managing and presenting research materials and suitable theoretical approaches in their chosen research area.

Understanding the Policy Process (Option)

The module focuses on the processes of policy making and implementation at both practical and theoretical levels. It introduces students to a variety of models of policy making and discusses the complexities of the distribution of power and decision making, primarily, but not limited to, the field of social policy. The module encourages students to develop an understanding of a range of ideas that can contribute to the ways in which we analyse policy, and to recognise that these perspectives are themselves contestable and changing. It begins with a consideration of the policy process and different ways of viewing it, including the impact of different approaches under governments from the 1970s, moving on to examine a variety of models of decision making and the range of actors involved in the making and implementation of policies.

War Crimes and Genocide (Option)

This module is constructed as an attempt to understand the ‘anatomy’ of war crimes and genocide – their origins, ideological basis, socio-political contexts, the techniques and technologies used - and whether there are precedented and unprecedented aspects to such phenomena. It is organised as a set of thoughts, springboards for further consideration on the historical, philosophical, political and sociological aspects of war crimes and genocide and for this reason it is particularly appealing to students who wish to develop a wider understanding of academic disciplines such as criminology, sociology, anthropology, international relation studies, politics, psychology, law and modern and contemporary history. Theoretical discourses on war crime and genocide will give rise in this module to several case-study lectures which focus primarily but not exclusively on Armenia, Rwanda, Sudan, the Former Republic of Yugoslavia, and Tibet. Arguments will also be framed around Germany, Australia and South Africa as they each illustrate important aspects of the study of genocide. This module will also offer some reflections on responses to genocide, both official and not so official and discuss the seemingly inability or refusal by member states and the international community as a whole, to concede in some instances the existence of crimes against humanity.

Special Features & Research Highlights

Students studying Politics at Lincoln benefit from the fact that all members of the teaching team are active in research and publication.

As recognised in RAE 2008, Politics research at Lincoln is making an increasing contribution at world, international and national levels. Equally Politics contributes strongly to a thriving research culture. The research culture informs the programme’s curriculum and approaches to teaching, ensuring that students are made aware of and informed by ideas and information at the cutting edge of the subject.

Career Opportunities

Careers for graduates exist in local and central government, the EU, journalism, law, research, industry and commerce. There are also a variety of other public and private sector opportunities. Graduates may choose to continue their studies at postgraduate level.

What's Included?

Politics at Lincoln introduces students to a range of major political themes and ideas. At Level One, these are applied to the study of Politics in Britain and other countries, including the USA, the EU, Asia and the Middle East. Students will have the opportunity to examine and debate important issues, for example Britain’s relationship with the EU, whilst developing conceptual, analytical and evaluative skills relevant to graduate employment and postgraduate study.

At Levels Two and Three students will consider the core ideas underpinning Politics and closely related disciplines, such as International Relations. They will also study key political processes and forms of participation in more detail. They will study issues of current debate in Politics, such as Human Rights, as well as the broader world of Politics beyond formal institutions and rooted in civil society and wider social forces.

Students studying Politics benefit from the fact that all members of the teaching team are active in research and publication. Our Politics research is making an increasing contribution at national and international levels.

Is This Course Right For Me?

Students can combine Politics with another subject to create broader and more complementary degrees.

These include:

- Politics and Criminology

- Politics and International Relations

- Politics and Social Policy

- Politics and Law

- Politics and Journalism

- Politics and English

- Politics and History.

How You Study

Studying Politics at Lincoln combine directed and independent learning.

Each module is delivered by means of a weekly lecture and an associated weekly seminar. The seminars provide an opportunity for students to discuss issues raised in the lecture and engage in critical reflection on set readings.

Students will also have the opportunity to meet with module leaders in tutorial sessions.

As well as directed study, students will undertake independent learning utilising traditional library as well as a wide range of electronic resources. The Level One module Applying Research aims to provide students with the requisite skills for effective independent learning.

Level 1

Applying Research (Social Sciences)

This module aims to enable students to both recognise and also understand the different methodologies employed in social research and to apply these to their own research project and critique of methods. After completing this module students should be able to:

- Explain what research is and why we do it
- Explain how research may be carried out: quantitatively
- Explain how research may be carried out: qualitatively.

Overall, the aim of this module is to set out methodological skills, and involve students in their application, and to encourage critical reflection on a variety of levels.

Global Conflicts and Contexts

This module will introduce students to core issues of relevance to international relations study. The unit initially focuses on the development of mechanisms to control and avoid the emergence of international conflict in its various guises. It then moves on to examine a number of key contemporary issues such as global inequality, international political economy, globalization and emerging transnational civil societies. The module is intended to expose students to the breadth of issues and approaches relevant to the study of international relations and international politics more broadly.

Identity and Citizenship

This module explicitly adopts an interdisciplinary approach to core questions of relevance to today’s society. Taking the notion of identity as its leitmotif, the module introduces students to those ways in which academic knowledge has traditionally been divided along disciplinary lines. With this by way of background, the module will guide students in bringing knowledge forms from within their own – and other – disciplines to bear on key contemporary social and political issues. As such, the module will expose students to the potentials and pitfalls of adopting an interdisciplinary approach to problem solving and policy development in areas concerning (for example) citizenship, social belonging and isolation, gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, religion or nationalism. Throughout students will be encouraged to think critically about the nature of their own identities and the impact of their future professional practise on the nature and practise of identities.

Who Runs Britain? Power, Politics and Beyond

This module introduces students to the key components of the British political system, and the relationship between domestic and international politics through an examination of the distribution of power within the British political system. It will explain the various factors and actors, both domestic and foreign, which serve to shape and define the political process in Britain. In Semester A the module examines the distribution of power through an examination of the key institutions and actors in the British political process, such as the government, the Cabinet, Prime Minister, political parties, the Civil Service, and the judiciary.

Level 2

Comparative Politics and Policy

This module then proceeds from an examination of some basic concepts that can help provide an understanding of the bases upon which governments are built and operate. For example, we look at political culture, legitimacy and authority, and we consider the process of democratisation from a comparative perspective. The theoretical tools and analytical knowledge from the early parts of the module are then applied empirically to consider a variety of features of contemporary politics and policy, including political systems and constitutions, parties and elections, interest groups and a range of important issues in public policy and social policy, such as immigration, asylum, the role and future of welfare states, the challenges of demographic change, and social divisions within societies.

Diversity, Difference and Exclusion (Option)

This module examines the impact of difference and diversity in social policy, with a particular concern around social exclusion. It begins with an introduction to the concepts of 'diversity', 'difference' and 'exclusion' and then moves on to consider the relationship between social policy and a variety of forms of diversity and difference, particularly in the context of new thinking around social exclusion that has emerged since the 1990s. The module explores the origins and meanings of key concepts such as 'diversity' and 'social exclusion', the relationship of these key concepts with others, such as poverty, social class and the 'underclass', and the impact and lack of impact of policies on social groups such as young people, families, women, black and ethnic minorities and disabled people.

Law, Order and Politics

At the heart of debate on law and order is the balance between a need for states to maintain civic order and to protect the rights of the individual. One of the defining characteristics of the state is the right to use violence. Although a necessary power, it is one fraught with danger, evoking fears of a 'police state' or a military dictatorship, and the world is full of examples of how real this threat is. The Law, Order and Politics module seeks to use a multi-disciplinary approach to the subject area that crosses all boundaries. To this end we investigate concepts and practices in Britain and then go on to examine the processes of globalization with crime and the growing significance of different historical and cultural experiences of law, order and social control. We begin with an overview of the philosophical framework underpinning law and order in Britain from the post-war period up to 1979. We consider relations between politicians and the judiciary in recent years from the perspective of democracy and governance in contemporary Britain. We examine the extent to which political ideology affects the way that both main parties in Britain have viewed crime. We argue that all governments need to grapple with the boundaries between civic order and individual liberty. A key component of this module, therefore, is to make comparisons between law, order and politics in both democratic and non-democratic states. We reflect, for example, on Chinese conceptions of public order and community justice, the influence of Sharia Law in Britain and the Middle East, and characteristics of organized crime and international networks in Europe, North America and Asia.

Model United Nations

This module is designed to provide an introduction to the activities of the United Nations, as well as providing an understanding of the practices of international diplomacy and governance. The module will use a discussion of contemporary international issues to explore some of the protocol and procedures of diplomacy. It will also provide students with an introduction to issues of international organization and international law and treaty-making. All of this will assist students in preparing for their role as a 'diplomat' at a Model United Nations conference.

Policing Studies (Option)

To address the questions: What are the different forms of policing; why do we police crime and deviance; how is it policed; where is it policed and by whom? One of the key elements is analyse the realities of the range of policing, and policing practices, and to contrast these with the theoretical and ideological debates. The question of who is responsible for policing crime and deviance is confronted by the explicit attention to the various ways in which crime control and the responsibility for crime are subject to complex forms of privatisation. Relevant themes of increasing pluralisation; centralisation, decentralisation and analysis of theoretical frameworks which shape responses are addressed through exploration of key themes and topics. The issue of agency, especially in connection with the fracturing policing function, is an important dimension of this process. The drift towards private forms of security highlights the way in which public and private space are designated and the issue of ‘Where’ crime and deviance are pursued and the limits of law are, in this respect, brought to the fore.

Political Parties

This module will cover a variety of issues relating to political parties in the United Kingdom. The political science literature covers a wide variety of topics around parties. Amongst those which are examined in this module are the following; the historical development of parties; the role of parties in terms of mobilisation of support, electioneering and campaigning, recruitment of personnel; representation of the electorate and issue-based politics; and the partisan divide. These will be examined primarily within the context of a discussion of the three major parties within the British political system including their development, their ideological tenets and their contemporary positions. However, towards the end of the module these will be set against the position of other parties within the UK including the Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru and the Northern Irish parties, to which will be added a comparative perspective, drawing upon the roles and experiences of parties in Western Europe.

Researching Politics and International Relations

Building on the Level One module, Applying Research, this module systematically scrutinises examples of research undertaken in the subject areas of Politics and International Relations. One of the main aims of the module is to enable students to understand, in concrete terms, what constitutes research in Politics and IR and how the research process leads to the production of specific research outputs including dissertations, theses, published academic articles and research monographs. In addition, the module aims to provide students with the knowledge base necessary for the production of research proposals and outputs.

Thinking International Relations

This module places theory at the centre of the study of world politics. It provides a critical overview of the disciplinary literature of international relations from both mainstream and critical perspectives. The module aims to provide students with the ability to both understand and critically employ the concepts, approaches and methods of International Relations theory, and to develop an understanding of their contested nature and the problematic character of inquiry in the discipline. Case studies and contemporary materials will be used extensively throughout the module to illustrate the varying theoretical models and their applicability in the contemporary world.

Thinking Politics

Thinking Politics examines the historical background to the various strands of political thought and ideas. In doing this, it builds upon some of the major ideas and concepts introduced at level one, by illustrating linkages between political theories and other aspects of politics. In particular, reference is made to key thinkers who have left their intellectual imprint on political ideas and beliefs. Specific reference is made to the work of Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Bentham, Mill, and Marx in order to assess the contribution that each has made to political theory and the extent to which they had a more or less lasting impact upon the practice and analysis of politics. This module provides the theoretical underpinnings needed to facilitate a thorough understanding of political ideas and belief. This module involves an examination of what constitutes ideology and a detailed investigation of the dominant ideologies from the French Revolution right up to and including the collapse of communism.

Level 3

Analysing the Policy Process (Option)

Building upon Understanding the Policy Process this module requires students not only to continue to develop their knowledge of a range of perspectives on the policy process but, in addition, to use these to analyse a case study relevant to their degree programme. Where Understanding the Policy Process places its emphasis on important models and perspectives, this module explores a range of current ideas which have a significant impact upon the making and implementation of policy, such as the concept of partnership, notions of participation, and issues of accountability.

Anti-Politics

Politics and political participation tends dominantly to be understood in terms of formal processes associated with the institutional state, especially the liberal democratic state. But politics extends beyond such a conception to include groups and associations in civil society which, through association, protest and seek to establish alternatives, challenge formal politics and seek to take the meaning of politics and political action and association beyond liberal democratic definitions. Such forms are often referred to as anti-systemic politics. This module examines various forms of political activity and association beyond the formal liberal democratic state. It starts by examining the relationship between liberal democracy and old social movements and considers fundamental challenges to conceptions of politics, drawn from this framework, such as globalisation. The module then traces distinct challenges to liberal democratic politics emanating from civil society, notably various forms neoliberalism, and alternative new social movements. The module concludes by considering projects for the remoulding of politics, post-globalisation, such as cosmopolitanism.

Body Politics (Option)

This module introduces the students to different paradigms of the 'body' and 'embodiment'. Recent research suggests that our understandings and our relationship with our own and other ‘bodies’ has been and is continuing to undergo radical changes. This module will explore these ongoing developments in Western and non-Western cultures and societies. Throughout we will be concerned to link theoretical accounts of the ‘body’ with developments in contemporary societies. The module will further demonstrate the relevance of conceptions of ‘body’ in different academic and professional arenas. The module will equip the students with the skills to identify and critically explore a diversity of current representations of 'body' in everyday life.

Community and Conflict 1 (Option)

This module is all about communities – in particular, communities that are poor, disadvantaged, isolated or 'socially excluded'. In recent years, interest has been re-awakened in the whole idea of community and in what sorts of policies might be most effective in helping communities and solving their problems. This has happened for a number of reasons: New Labour policy, concerns about crime and disorder, increased emphasis on self-help, fears of racial segregation and ‘no go’ areas, rural decline, and the failure of government interventions over the years that have taken no account of the feelings of local people. The new focus on community is often associated with a number of beliefs: for example, that it is better in principle for local people to 'do it for themselves'; that the involvement of communities is essential if run-down areas are to be renewed or regenerated; and that neither market forces nor the state can on their own offer satisfactory long-term solutions to our social problems. This module will look critically at all these beliefs and come to conclusions about their validity. Community and Conflict II focuses on the application of theory, concepts and perspectives developed in Community and Conflict I to particular areas of public policy making including policy implementation.

Community and Conflict 2 (Option)

This module is all about communities – in particular, communities that are poor, disadvantaged, isolated or 'socially excluded'. In recent years, interest has been re-awakened in the whole idea of community and in what sorts of policies might be most effective in helping communities and solving their problems. This has happened for a number of reasons: New Labour policy, concerns about crime and disorder, increased emphasis on self-help, fears of racial segregation and ‘no go’ areas, rural decline, and the failure of government interventions over the years that have taken no account of the feelings of local people. The new focus on community is often associated with a number of beliefs: for example, that it is better in principle for local people to 'do it for themselves'; that the involvement of communities is essential if run-down areas are to be renewed or regenerated; and that neither market forces nor the state can on their own offer satisfactory long-term solutions to our social problems. This module will look critically at all these beliefs and come to conclusions about their validity. Community and Conflict II focuses on the application of theory, concepts and perspectives developed in Community and Conflict I to particular areas of public policy making including policy implementation.

Human Rights (Social Sciences)

This module addresses the general ideas of Human Rights and focuses in particular on the critical reading of Human Rights as one single universal paradigm. The practical critique of Human Rights proposed in this module is founded on the belief that Human Rights must and can be improved. The three main propositions outlined in this module relate to the concept of Human Rights presented as if they are universal; the notion that Human Rights pertain to a logic which focuses on the individual to the neglect of solidarity and other social values, and the fact that the meaning of Human Rights derives from a reasoning which is far too abstract. The academic interdisciplinary approach of this module should be emphasised, as the aid of several disciplines will be called upon, mainly but not exclusively, politics, legal philosophy, sociology, anthropology, international relation studies, post-colonial studies and criminology in order to deconstruct the notion of the universality of Human Rights.

Independent Study (Social Sciences)

Students will be required to prepare and submit an Independent Study Proposal during semester B at Intermediate Level and appropriate supervisors will be allocated at this stage. The Independent Study preparation will be focussed through the Research in Social Policy module, which will familiarise students with real and active models of research in relevant areas. Therefore, the module will be guided by a clearly demarcated process of: research proposal; refinement; supervisor allocation; critical comment; initiation of lines of enquiry; implementation and monitoring of research over three Semesters. At stages agreed between the student and supervisor throughout level three, student progress will be reviewed in relation to research undertaken, clarity of objectives, report/dissertation plan and the submission of a dossier of work/chapters undertaken so far. The teaching support will be ongoing over the two semesters; but will be primarily geared to assisting the student on issues/problems such as research methods and ethical considerations, managing and presenting research materials and suitable theoretical approaches in their chosen research area.

Understanding the Policy Process (Option)

The module focuses on the processes of policy making and implementation at both practical and theoretical levels. It introduces students to a variety of models of policy making and discusses the complexities of the distribution of power and decision making, primarily, but not limited to, the field of social policy. The module encourages students to develop an understanding of a range of ideas that can contribute to the ways in which we analyse policy, and to recognise that these perspectives are themselves contestable and changing. It begins with a consideration of the policy process and different ways of viewing it, including the impact of different approaches under governments from the 1970s, moving on to examine a variety of models of decision making and the range of actors involved in the making and implementation of policies.

War Crimes and Genocide (Option)

This module is constructed as an attempt to understand the ‘anatomy’ of war crimes and genocide – their origins, ideological basis, socio-political contexts, the techniques and technologies used - and whether there are precedented and unprecedented aspects to such phenomena. It is organised as a set of thoughts, springboards for further consideration on the historical, philosophical, political and sociological aspects of war crimes and genocide and for this reason it is particularly appealing to students who wish to develop a wider understanding of academic disciplines such as criminology, sociology, anthropology, international relation studies, politics, psychology, law and modern and contemporary history. Theoretical discourses on war crime and genocide will give rise in this module to several case-study lectures which focus primarily but not exclusively on Armenia, Rwanda, Sudan, the Former Republic of Yugoslavia, and Tibet. Arguments will also be framed around Germany, Australia and South Africa as they each illustrate important aspects of the study of genocide. This module will also offer some reflections on responses to genocide, both official and not so official and discuss the seemingly inability or refusal by member states and the international community as a whole, to concede in some instances the existence of crimes against humanity.

Special Features & Research Highlights

Students studying Politics at Lincoln benefit from the fact that all members of the teaching team are active in research and publication.

As recognised in RAE 2008, Politics research at Lincoln is making an increasing contribution at world, international and national levels. Equally Politics contributes strongly to a thriving research culture. The research culture informs the programme’s curriculum and approaches to teaching, ensuring that students are made aware of and informed by ideas and information at the cutting edge of the subject.

Career Opportunities

Careers for graduates exist in local and central government, the EU, journalism, law, research, industry and commerce. There are also a variety of other public and private sector opportunities. Graduates may choose to continue their studies at postgraduate level.

What's Included?