| "MEDIA, CULTURE AND SOCIETY DISSERTATION" | PSIPM20X | 80 |
| For students taking the MA in Media, Culture and Society. Students are required to write a dissertation of a length as specified in their MA Course Guide on a topic approved by the Course Director or other authorised person. |
| AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY | PSIIM032 | 20 |
| This module will use case studies of Southeast Asia, Central America and the Middle East to explore the reasons for American interventions and to assess their success or failure. It will offer an historical understanding of the assumptions and practices which lie behind contemporary US foreign policy-making. The module will introduce students to the institutions and processes involved in the making of American foreigh policy. |
| ANALYSING MEDIA DISCOURSES | PSIPM015 | 20 |
| This module examines the relationship between language, images and social meaning. Media products from film and advertising to newspaper articles and even music are examined as ‘texts’ that shape and are shaped by the socio-political reality. After discussing some of the main theories of textual analysis like semiotics, psychoanalysis and discourse analysis, we will adopt a hands on approach in order to demonstrate how the visual and linguistic techniques can advance our understanding of the processes of representation and communication of meaning. |
| BETTER WORLDS? UTOPIAS AND DYSTOPIAS | PSIPM002 | 20 |
| Would an ideal society have no more crime? Who would be wealthy or powerful? Would politics be outlawed? Do utopians try to impose their views on the rest of humankind? Do the flaws in human nature justify the pessimism of dystopian writers? This unit compares selected utopian and dystopian texts produced during the last six centuries. Themes will include property, social control, gender, morality and politics. Another dimension of the course is to consider the purpose of utopian thinking and the historical role of utopian ideas in social theory and social reform. |
| BROADCAST JOURNALISM | PSIPM038 | 40 |
| This 40 credit module gives students a wide and detailed grounding in all aspects of television journalism and news production. Core topics include editing, camera work, sound and interviewing. Students produce a magazine-style TV show that is built around the video reports that they shoot and edit themselves. Students work both in the studio and on location. |
| CERTAINTY AND UNCERTAINTY IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLICY | PHI-M015 | 20 |
| This module is concerned with questions about certainty and uncertainty in environmental science and about the role of environmental science for political decision-making. The module investigates epistemological questions about the possibility of gaining scientific insight into the sources and solutions of environmental problems; and it examines the relationship of such epistemic concerns to ethical and political questions about how to act in the face of environmental problems. |
| CLASSICAL PHILOSOPHY WORKSHOP | PHI-M018 | 20 |
| The module explores a more challenging area of Classical Philosophy with detailed attention to selected texts and issues. The topic will be chosen by the lecturer from the following: (a) Mind and Perception; (b) Language and Reality; (c) Image and Illusion. Syllabus: for (a) Plato "Republic"; "Phaedrus"; Aristotle "De Anima"; for (b) Plato "Cratylus"; "Sophist"; Augustine "Confessions" 1; Aristotle "Categories"; for (c) Primary/secondary qualities in Democritus; Plato "Republic" 10, "Sophist"; Epicurean perception theory. This module is linked to the advanced undergraduate module, Classical Philosophy Special Subject. |
| CRITICAL THEORIES OF THE WESTERN SELF | LDCEM011 | 20 |
| The course introduces students to the major shifts in philosophical thinking about the Western self from Descartes to the twentieth century. The course will provide students with a training in theoretical debate through the analysis and discussion of a selection of the important thinkers on this list: Descartes, Rousseau, Hegel, Kant, Marx, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Bakhtin, Sartre, Foucault, Derrida, Irigaray, Deleuze and Butler. Through acquaintance with different theoretical traditions, students will have the opportunity to reflect critically on the processes and implications of cultural change; and to relate their understanding of the self and philosophy to other fields such as literature. |
| DEMOCRATIC THEORY | PSIPM010 | 20 |
| This module draws on normative political theory and contemporary political science to consider how the concept of democracy has changed since it originated in ancient Greece and looks at the critiques of democracy advanced by critics and opponents especially in the 20th century. The ideas and values underpinning democracy will be interrogated and some recent solutions for today's 'democratic deficit' including electronic democracy and cosmopolitan democracy will be evaluated. |
| DISSERTATION (MRES) | PSI-M30X | 60 |
| For students taking the MRes degrees in Public Policy and Public Management and International Public Policy and Public Management. Students are required to write a dissertation of a length as specified in their MA Course Guide on a topic approved by the Course Director or other authorised person. |
| EUROPEAN UNION: POWER, POLITICS AND POLICY | PSIIM003 | 20 |
| This module studies the integration process in Europe. It introduces the evolution of political and economic co-operation in the continent through the analysis of each EU treaty reform including the latest constitutional initiative. The main political actors and their role are identified and the workings of the European Union as a polity are assessed in the light of relevant theoretical discourses and interpretations. |
| HISTORY OF POLITICAL THOUGHT: SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY | PSIPM005 | 20 |
| This module examines in depth selected works of political thinkers who are seminal to the Western tradition of political thought, including Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau. Their work will also be compared thematically, with a focus on ideas such as the social contract, political obligation, property, individual rights and freedom. The approach is analytical rather than historical and contextualist. The module's focus on the study and interpretation of key texts enables students to develop skills of textual analysis and critique. |
| INTERNATIONAL HISTORY OF THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION | PSIIM007 | 20 |
| This module looks at the history of the region, including the involvement of the superpowers in the politics of the cold war in Asia. Conflict in the region as well as the rise and fall of the regional powers are reviewed. The development of multipolarity and the importance of the Asia-Pacific region in the post-cold war world is also covered. The aftermath of the Second World War, the onset of the Cold War, conflict in Korea and Vietnam, the changing relationship between the US, USSR and China are covered, as is the development of Southeast Asia in the modern world. We also assess the major issues contemporary to the region. |
| INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS AND PUBLIC POLICY | PSIIM006 | 20 |
| The module aims to enable students to develop an understanding of the role of international organisations and their impact on public policy at the domestic and international levels. Students successfully completing the module will be able to discuss critically the theories, models and concepts used in the analysis of international cooperation, competing perspectives in international politics and demonstrate the role they play in key public policy domains. The UN, NATO, IMF, WTO, World Bank and EU will be examined and why sovereign states decide to establish these and other international organisations. Their role in security, trade, finance, gender and environmental policy will be considered in particular. The factors which determine their design and evolution and the extent to which their operation reflects underlying power and interest will also be evaluated. |
| INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS: CONFLICT AND DEVELOPMENT | PSIIM009 | 20 |
| This unit introduces to students the basic concepts of integration/ disintegration, globalisation, regionalism and the purpose of the existence and inter-relationship of international regional organisations. It then goes on to examine the structure and functions of several major international organisations such as the United Nations, NATO, the EU, NAFTA, ASEAN, LAIA, the OAU, etc, and their role in international conflict resolution, focusing on the Middle East, Yugoslavia, Iraq, Western Sahara, etc, through a series of lectures, seminars, class presentations, video showings and workshops. |
| INTERNATIONAL POLITICS SINCE 1945 | PSIIM015 | 20 |
| After studying the origins, nature and demise of the cold war, this module focuses on the post-cold war system. Through a number of case studies, including the Gulf War, the wars in Yugoslavia and international terrorism, the unit considers Western responses to these challenges. It also considers different models of the post-cold war system, from Fukuyama to Huntington. |
| INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS THEORY | PSIIM011 | 20 |
| This module concerns the history and theories of inter-state relations, classical, modern and post-modern, with special attention to problems of war and peace. It is intended both for further study of international relations and as an introduction to those who have not studied it before. |
| INTERNATIONAL SECURITY | PSIIM020 | 20 |
| This course examines the study of security in the international system, through its roots in Cold War strategic studies to the development of the more broadly focused field of security studies today. The course critically analyses contemporary security issues and provides a sound theoretical base for considering practical issues of security, including new wars, intervention and terrorism. Themes explored include security and the nation state, war and peace, new wars, alliances, democratic peace, securitisation, human security, the arms industry, and terrorism. |
| INTRODUCTION TO INTERDISCIPLINARY ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES | PHI-M07Y | 20 |
| This year-long module is designed to support students on the MA/MSc in Environmental Sciences and Humanities by providing the necessary context for reflecting on interdisciplinary approaches to environmental studies. It encompasses a number of key steps in the degree, covering pre-arrival preparation, an intensive induction week, reflection on interdisciplinary work throughout the year, and preparation for the dissertation. |
| ISSUES IN MEDIA AND CULTURAL POLITICS | PSIPM03Y | 20 |
| This module explores key issues within media and cultural politics. The module is divided into separate blocks and spread over two semesters. Each block deals with different aspects of media and cultural politics, including identity and power, communication and culture. |
| JOURNALISM: PRACTICE AND ETHICS | PSIPM031 | 20 |
| The module will demystify the closed world of the professional journalist and enable students to understand what gets into the news (and what does not), and why. It will help students develop practical skills and techniques and the knowledge of how to apply them in a professional, ethical context. Weekly practical exercises will teach them to produce good, clean, readable copy. All of this will greatly enhance the students’ employability within the media industry. |
| LANGUAGE AND MIND | PHI-M023 | 20 |
| The module will explore the philosophy of Noam Chomsky, the leading linguist of the last century. The module will be taught via a small tutorial group that will explore a central theme in the development of Chomsky's position each week. Topics will include: the refutation of behaviourism, the computational basis of language, the creativity of linguistic performance, internalism vs externalism, the concept of human nature. As well as the tutorial, students are encouraged to attend the lectures for the undergraduate module, Language in Mind, that will cover some of the same issues. |
| MA IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & EUROPEAN STUDIES EXAMINATION | PSIIM202 | 20 |
| This is a generic exam for students registered on the MA in International Relations and European Studies based around the core units. |
| MA IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS EXAMINATION | PSIIM200 | 20 |
| This is a generic exam for students registered on the MA in International Relations based around the core unit, International Relations Theory. |
| MEDIA AND SOCIETY | PSIPM09Y | 40 |
| This module is intended to provide all students studying media related postgraduate degrees with a broad, current and inter-disciplinary understanding of the media today. The guiding philosophy informing this module is the belief that in order properly to understand the media, whether as a lawyer, economist, development studies professional, media studies specialist or political scientist, it is essential to have a wide-ranging and multi-disciplinary understanding of the modern media. What we shall be doing over the year therefore is looking at the structure of the media industry today in the UK and globally. We will consider, from several different academic perspectives, how media content is constructed, what factors and influences go to shape content and how content may be controlled and even censored. We will also look at the media industry, examining how it is currently organised and managed, what factors influence its current organisation and consider how it might develop. We will also examine how media affects people and society and consider also the assumptions that are made about the impact of the media. Finally, we will seek to draw together key aspects of modern media. |
| MEDIA, CULTURE AND SOCIETY DISSERTATION | PSIPM40X | 60 |
| For students taking the MA in Media, Culture and Society. Students are required to write a dissertation of a length as specified in their MA Course Guide on a topic approved by the Course Director or other authorised person. |
| METHODOLOGY AND EPISTEMOLOGY OF PHILOSOPHY | PHI-M019 | 20 |
| The module provides commencing graduate students with the methodological foundations for independent philosophical research. Through practical exercises complementing theoretical discussion and philosophical case studies, the module examines nature, structure, and genesis of key problems and theories from different areas of philosophy; on this basis, it discusses the scope, strengths, and weaknesses of both well-established and innovative philosophical methodologies as well as key questions about the nature of philosophy. Methods covered include different forms of conceptual and linguistic analysis, ways of explaining and assessing philosophical intuitions, naturalist approaches, and competing hermeneutic approaches to the interpretation of philosophical texts from different periods and traditions. Meta-philosophical questions addressed include: What are the proper aims and purposes of philosophy (theoretical vs. elucidatory vs. therapeutic conceptions)? In what ways is philosophy similar to, and different from various sciences? In what ways can methods and insights from other disciplines (sciences, literature, and the arts) be put to use for philosophical purposes? The module is taught through a weekly lecture and seminar (total 3 hours/week). Topics of the two 3000-word essays are individually agreed. This module is intended primarily for students on the MRes in Philosophy and the MA in Philosophy and Literature. Students on other MA/MSc programmes can participate with the consent of the module organiser, who will expect substantive prior exposure to philosophy (ca. 6 undergraduate modules in philosophy). |
| METHODS OF SOCIAL ENQUIRY | PSIPM11Y | 40 |
| The module offers a basic training in social research methods, provided flexibly to meet different needs and interests. There are opportunities to learn skills in use of SPSS for statistical analysis of large datasets, interviewing, transcription, document analysis, research uses of electronic media, devising a research proposal, writing a research report and oral presentations. Students will learn to evaluate research methods from the perspectives of ethics, methodology and practicality. |
| MIDDLE EAST POLITICS | PSIIM030 | 20 |
| This module introduces students to the government and politics of one of the most interesting and frequently misunderstood regions in world politics – the Middle East. The module examines the evolution of the modern Middle Eastern political system over the past century. Students will acquire the skills to analyse key issues in the politics of the region, including topical events such as the preponderance of ethno-sectarian violence and the rise of Islamist movements. Other key questions include the lack of democracy in the region and the creation of rentier economies in the Gulf. |
| MULTICULTURALISM | PSIPM026 | 20 |
| This module looks at the responses in political theory to the rise of multicultural societies in Europe and North America since the end of World War II. The aim is to introduce students to a range of contemporary theoretical perspectives on multiculturalism and to facilitate critical assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of competing approaches. Theorists under examination will include: Parekh, Kymlicka, Taylor and Modood as well as major liberal alternative views; Barry, Rawls and Raz. The module will combine theoretical study with analysis of practical issues/case studies surrounding multiculturalism. Among the issues to be considered are the following: models of integration, group rights, institutional racism, Islamophobia, and the Rushdie affair. The module will also consider divergent policies adopted within European states (eg, France and Germany) and give attention to the attempts to operationalise multiculturalism in the UK in particular via the Parekh Report. |
| NEW MEDIA AND SOCIETY | PSIPM007 | 20 |
| For better or worse, new digital technologies are hyped at having revolutionised society. This module will provide students with an introduction to the ways in which the internet and other digital technologies are (and are not) affecting society from theoretical and empirical perspectives, and how society shapes technology. Topics covered include: the evolution of the internet; the "network society"; regulating new media; the radical internet and terrorism; social networking, blogs and interactivity; culture and identity in the digital age; and how the internet affects politics and the media. |
| ONLINE JOURNALISM | PSIPM027 | 20 |
| This module provides students a grounding in core journalism skills, with a special application to new and emerging media. Topics covered include: new forms of journalism, news sources and rich content production. Students will write and produce content for an online news platform. |
| PHILOSOPHY AND LITERATURE SEMINAR | PHI-M028 | 20 |
| The main aim of this course is to explore philosophical themes which arise naturally in the reading of literature, and literary issues which arise naturally in the study of philosophy. Literary texts may well include a selection from: Shakespeare, Pope, Wordsworth, Keats, Tennyson, Arnold, Conrad and Beckett. Philosophical texts may well include a selection from: Plato, Augustine, Montaigne, Descartes, Goethe, Nietzsche and Wittgenstein. Two important themes for discussion will be the rise of physical science and its impact on philosophy and literature; and how different conceptions of philosophy and literature affect the way in which they are written (or not written). Assessment will be by two coursework essays. |
| PHILOSOPHY DISSERTATION (80 CREDITS) | PHI-M20X | 80 |
| This module is compulsory for all students taking the course MA/MSc Environmental Sciences and Humanities. Students will be required to produce a 10,000-15,000 word dissertation over the Summer period. The dissertation may deal with any topic covered by the remit of the course as a whole. The title and scope of the dissertation will be determined by the student together with his or her supervisor. A detailed research proposal will be submitted to the proposed supervisor in early April and must be approved by the Course Director. Each student will receive 6 hours of formal supervision during the course of the module. The supervisor will normally be one of the instructors on the course, unless a more suitable member of staff is identified and agrees to act as supervisor. The topic of the dissertation and faculty location of the supervisor will determine whether the student ultimately receives an MA or MSc degree. Normally a student who is supervised by a member of staff in ENV will receive an MSc, otherwise the student will receive an MA. Co-supervision between schools is encouraged. In such a case the type of degree will be determined by the primary supervisor. The dissertation will be marked by one member of the Science faculty and one member of the Arts and Humanities faculty. |
| PHILOSOPHY DISSERTATION (90 CREDITS) | PHI-M10X | 90 |
| For students taking the MA in Social Philosophy. Students are required to write a dissertation of a length as specified in their MA Course Guide on a topic approved by the Course Director or other authorised person. |
| PHILOSOPHY OF LITERATURE SEMINAR | PHI-M021 | 20 |
| The topics of this module will be chosen from amongst the following: the definition and purpose of literature; the nature of literary language, fiction, fictional characters, narrative, genre, literary criticism and interpretation; the relevance of author's intention, the role of the reader, and the relationship between literature which is read and that which is heard and seen; aesthetic evaluation, taste, subjectivity and objectivity; whether literature can convey truth and knowledge, and the relationship between aesthetic judgement and ethics. Students submit two essays of 2,500 words each. |
| PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE | PHI-M024 | 20 |
| As any intellectual enterprise, natural science poses fascinating and deep problems. Think e.g. of mechanics: in order to describe observable motion it appeals to such unobservable entities as forces, and in order to talk about real bodies it refers to ideal entities like points endowed with a mass. These facts lead to challenging questions: what is the role of unobservable entities within a scientific theory? Why do we need to resort to ideal hypotheses in order to study the real world? Is there a fundamental divide between theoretical science and experimental science? We will explore these issues by looking at scientific practice from a philosophical standpoint. This module is self-contained and presupposes no previous knowledge of physics or other sciences. Students on the M Level version will attend advanced level seminars and their coursework will be marked to a higher standard. The module is offered biennially in conjunction with PHI-2A14/3A14. |
| PHILOSOPHY POSTGRADUATE WORKSHOP | PHI-M09Y | 10 |
| The weekly workshop enables students to present their own work in short presentations and to contribute to discussions on each other's work. There will also be meetings where research methods and tactics are discussed, such as journal publication. Each student must produce a presentation and meaningfully contribute to the meetings in order to pass the module. |
| POLITICAL ECONOMY OF THE ENVIRONMENT | PSIPM022 | 20 |
| In this module, students will critically engage with mainstream political and economic assessments of environmental degradation and climate change by adopting a political economy approach. In coming to terms with these environmental threats, the module tries to reawaken a broader type of ethical, natural and social theorisation that defined an earlier political economy. This is not a module on environmental or resource economics, nor are students expected to have an economics background. Rather, this module tries to problematise social production as something much more than a series of market relations. It tries to develop a broader socio-cultural understanding of production that ‘de-naturalises’ the way we view and exploit the natural world. |
| POLITICS AND MASS MEDIA | PSIPM012 | 20 |
| Working from the assumption that the mass media are an integral part of modern political life, this module examines the way in which politics is represented in the mass media and reviews critically the argument about 'bias'. It also explores the arguments around the ownership and control of mass media, the increasing use of the mass media by political parties and the changing relationship between citizens and politics engendered by new communication technologies. |
| POLITICS AND POPULAR CULTURE | PSIPM009 | 20 |
| This module explores the ways in which popular culture and politics are linked. It works from the assumption that popular culture 'matters', and the key question is how it matters. Hence it examines the different ways in which, and the different theories through which, popular culture is interpreted as expressing or constituting national or sexual identity, propaganda or political insight, means of resistance or of compliance. It also considers the political economy of popular culture (especially the role of the state) and the political uses of popular culture (especially in political communication). |
| POLITICS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS | PSIPM034 | 20 |
| This module enables students to develop an advanced understanding of the theory and practice of public affairs, interest intermediation, and the strategies used by interest, advocacy groups and others to influence the political process. As well as covering the main debates in the academic literature, it draws directly on the experience of practitioners and offers unique insights into this under-studied area of politics. |
| PRACTICAL MEDIA | PSIPM020 | 20 |
| The Practical Media module is divided into two six week blocks and offers students an introduction to both print journalism and television broadcasting. The former is taught by a former BBC journalist at UEA and will teach students the processes and skills of investigative journalism, before allowing students to apply this knowledge by researching and writing their own stories. The broadcast part of the course is taught in collaboration with the state of the art EPIC Television Studios in Norwich. This gives students the chance to use the very latest digital technologies in an advanced studio setting. Students will write, film and produce their own short documentaries. |
| PSI DISSERTATION | PSI-M50X | 40 |
| Students are required to write a dissertation of a length as specified in their MA Course Guide on a topic approved by the Course Director or other authorised person. |
| PSI DISSERTATION | PSI-M70X | 60 |
| For all MA students registered on the MA in Media, Society and Culture. Students are required to write a dissertation of a length as specified in their MA Course Guide on a topic approved by the Course Director or other authorised person. |
| PSI DISSERTATION BY PRACTICE | PSI-M60X | 40 |
| Students are required to write a dissertation of a length as specified in their MA Course Guide on a topic approved by the Course Director or other authorised person. The dissertation by practice allows students to demonstrate their ability to carry out a work of broadcastable journalism. |
| PUBLIC CHOICE | PSIPM014 | 20 |
| Public choice theory applies economic models to explain political phenomena. This module, jointly taught by lecturers from philosophy, politics and economics, studies the concepts of market failure and political failure, problems of collective action, rational choice models of democracy and bureaucracy, social choice theory, the motivation of actors in the political process, and the evolution of conventions and norms. The political context is the move from a welfare state to a market society. The emphasis is on the critical appraisal of alternative approaches to public choice and policy issues. |
| PUBLIC MANAGEMENT: THEORIES AND CHANGE | PSIPM042 | 20 |
| This module enables students to develop advanced understanding of the main theories, models and concepts used in the study of public management, the main debates in the field, and substantive knowledge of developments in public management in a variety of settings. Students who successfully complete this module will be able to demonstrate: a critical understanding of the main theoretical approaches used in the study of public management and organisational behaviour; familiarity with the main debates in the scholarly literature on public management; substantive knowledge of the theory and practice of the new public management; a critical understanding of public management reform in the United Kingdom and elsewhere; and familiarity with debates concerning the operation and impact of international organisations, including the EU, on public management at the national level. |
| PUBLIC POLICY: THEORY AND ANALYSIS | PSIPM023 | 20 |
| This module enables students to develop advanced understanding of the main theories, models and concepts used in the study of public policy, the main debates in the field, and substantive knowledge of public policy in a variety of settings. Students successfully completing the module will be able to demonstrate: - critical understanding of the main theoretical approaches used in the study of public policy - familiarity with the main debates in the scholarly literature on public policy - advanced knowledge of public policy and policy processes in a variety of national settings - familiarity with the main theories and debates relating to the operation and impact of international organisations, including the European Union, on domestic policy and policy-making processes. |
| REGULATION | PSIPM028 | 20 |
| This module provides a foundation in the theory and practice of economic regulation, incorporating economic, business, legal and political science perspectives. The module is a research-led programme based on the research undertaken in the ESRC Centre for Competition Policy and assumes no previous studies of economics. |
| REVIEW PAPER (MRES) | PSIPM04Y | 20 |
| A research review paper of 6,000-9,000 words on a subject of your choice. |
| RUSSIAN FOREIGN POLICY | PSIIM008 | 20 |
| The module concentrates on Russian foreign policy since the end of the Cold War. It considers the internal and external determinants of foreign policy and looks at key policy issues and policy towards a number of important states and regions. |
| STUDYING MEDIA | PSIPM017 | 20 |
| This module is intended to provide an introduction to the key study skills in media and cultural studies. It will be particularly useful for students unfamiliar with the British university system and its expectations. Students will apply theoretical and methodological approaches to contemporary media texts and discuss recent scholarship on changes in China’s media and cultural landscape. In addition to introducing key study skills and debates in the discipline, the workshop sessions will provide a supportive environment for critical reflection and intercultural communication. THIS MODULE IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO STUDENTS TAKING THE MA IN MEDIA, CULTURE AND SOCIETY AND THE MA IN MEDIA AND CULTURAL POLITICS. |
| SUPERVISED STUDY MODULE FOUR | PHI-MA04 | 20 |
| This module provides for supervised study on the same model as Philosophy Supervised Study 1, for students taking two such modules in the Spring semester. Except in the case of Part-Time students, this module can only be taken concurrently with Philosophy Supervised Study Unit 3. This module may also be taken in the form of language skills for original research (e.g. Ancient Greek, German) in which case language exercises and/or translation tasks may replace some or all of the essay work. Training in logic may also take this form. |
| SUPERVISED STUDY MODULE ONE | PHI-MA01 | 20 |
| The module is designed to train the student in research techniques in philosophy and to develop advanced knowledge and understanding in some clearly defined area of the discipline which may or may not have been studied before, eg. at BA level. The student is assigned to work with a tutor with research expertise in the chosen area. The topics covered, and the manner in which they are covered, will be tailored to the student's prior experience in the field. Typically, three essay questions, with bibliographical research, will be set for work during the semester. |
| SUPERVISED STUDY MODULE THREE | PHI-MA02 | 20 |
| This module provides for supervised study on the same model as Philosophy Supervised Study unit 1, and is available as the first such module to be taken in the Spring semester of the programme. |
| SUPERVISED STUDY MODULE TWO | PHI-MA03 | 20 |
| This module provides for supervised study on the same model as Philosophy Supervised Study 1, for students taking two such modules in the Spring semester. Except in the case of Part-Time students, this module can only be taken concurrently with Philosophy Supervised Study module 1. This module may also be taken in the form of language skills for original research (e.g. Ancient Greek, German) in which case language exercises and/or translation tasks may replace some or all of the essay work. Training in logic may also take this form. |
| THE EUROPEAN UNION IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS | PSIIM010 | 20 |
| The module focuses on European Political Cooperation in the 1990s and beyond, particularly Europe's role as an international actor. Issues include the EU as mediator in international conflicts such as the Gulf War, the Middle East and Yugoslavia, the EU's position as one of three major economic world powers, the EU and Third World development, new considerations in European security, global environmental concerns. Convergence or divergence in European political consensus is examined through these issues in an attempt to draw useful insights for the future of European Integration. |
| THE FOREIGN RELATIONS OF CHINA AND JAPAN IN THE MODERN WORLD | PSIIM026 | 20 |
| The module looks at the history of China and Japan from the mid-nineteenth century to the present day. The attempts at modernisation, conflict between the two nations, their relationships with the Asian region and the United States are covered. Their contrasting attempts to develop in the postwar period are investigated. We also assess their current policies and the issues of importance to China and Japan in the twenty first century, and assess whether they can move beyond the legacy of this difficult history. |
| THEORIES OF SOCIETY AND POLITICS | PSIPM003 | 20 |
| This module addresses philosophical and methodological problems of the social sciences, including the normative issues involved in a number of current social and political debates. |
| THEORY AND PRACTICE OF POLICY MAKING IN BRITAIN | PSIPM018 | 20 |
| This module will look at theories of policy making and relate them to recent developments in the policy process in Britain, using a case studies approach. The unit will consider some theories of decision making, such as the rational actor model, disjointed incrementalism, policy networks, bureaucratic politics. It will also examine broader issues of the relationship of power and economic forces to the decision making process. Finally, it will examine such issues as agenda setting, the importance of policy discourse and the role of ideas and belief systems in the policy making process. |
| TOPICS IN POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY | PHI-M008 | 20 |
| This module will be devoted to the interpretation and discussion of important, advanced texts in modern political philosophy, in particular texts by John Rawls, perhaps the most significant political philosopher of the late twentieth century. Rawlsian political philosophy of liberalism will be tested with regard to its soundness in relation to equality, community/society, and ecology. Consideration will be given to looking at what political philosophy might viably challenge or replace liberalism, which tends to be the 'dominant paradigm' in political theory and practice today. Students will also have an opportunity to apply abstract philosophical ideas to current political controversies. |
| WAR GAMES: DIPLOMACY AND STRATEGY IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS | PSIIM034 | 20 |
| This module introduces students to some of the major issues and ideas concerning diplomacy and military strategy in International Relations. The module comprises fortnightly lectures, two screening sessions, and weekly seminars involving lengthy scenario exercises. Students will learn about the theoretical and practical challenges concerning military relations between states, including concepts such as ‘the security dilemma’, ‘future uncertainty’, ‘self help’, ‘balancing’, ‘deterrence’, ‘imperial overstretch’, and ‘humanitarian intervention’. The successful completion of this module will lead to a more nuanced understanding of war and peace in international politics. |
This MA shows how a consideration of social and political theory is relevant to politics in the contemporary world. Some of the questions addressed include: Should liberty prevail over equality? What are the limits of tolerance in a multi-racial society? Should the mass media reflect or manufacture public opinion? How can theoretical perspectives inform debates about practical matters of public policy?