Politics

Course summary

Politics is about compromise; it's about power; it's about government. Politics develops your critical awareness, independent thinking and understanding of complex structures and political systems. This course is designed to encourage you to obtain a balanced education in politics, to allow you to examine key themes in political analysis and to provide you with the opportunity to specialise in both UK and USA politics. There are three broad areas of study in this specification: The government and politics of the UK - Government and Politics of the UK is divided into ten sections. Each has a particular focus but their interrelationships must be understood to appreciate the complexities of the system. The government and politics of the USA, and comparative politics - Understanding the nature of US democracy, and the debates surrounding it, is crucial given the considerable impact that the USA has on UK, European and global politics. You will explore the US Constitution and the arguments surrounding this guiding document of US democracy. In learning about the key institutions of government in the USA and analysing the manner in which they achieve this power and exercise it over their citizens, you will judge ultimately whether ‘liberty and justice for all’ has been achieved in the USA. Political ideas - As part of political participation, students will study democracy and participation, political parties, electoral systems, voting behaviour and the media. As part of core political ideas, students will study conservatism, liberalism and socialism. As part of UK Government, you will study the constitution, parliament, Prime Minister and executive, and relationships between the branches. In addition, students will study one idea from the following: anarchism, ecologism, feminism, multiculturalism, and nationalism.