The Second Year programme in
Sociological and Political Studies
builds on the work on political and
social processes and ideas laid down
in First Year. It establishes a core
understanding of traditions of social
and political ideas; examines current
political developments in Europe; and
lays the foundations of methods for
social and political scientists. This
year also broadens its scope by
introducing choices for students, who
select one of two options each
semester.
General Description
The course on Classical Social
Thought critically examines theories
put forward in the history of sociology
which are still influential today –
notably those by Marx, Weber and
Durkheim – in seeking to comprehend
social change and profound questions
about human behaviour. Topics range
across the study of society itself,
class and the division of labour, the
state and democratic politics, and the
nature of culture, religion and
ideology. The course on European
Politics interrogates strategic changes
since the end of the Cold War, the re-
unification of Germany, then some
forms of European nationalism; it goes
on to examine what different European
countries show about developments in
democracy and threats to it.
One optional course in Semester I
concerns ’Comparative Themes’
connected with international
inequality, migration and labour,
especially in Latin America. Beginning
at a household level, how do people
confront challenges arising from the
social production of inequalities, and
how does this relate to the growth of
’informal’ labour in different political
contexts? The alternative option is a
course on International Relations,
comparing explanatory frameworks
dealing with relations between and
across states and other organisations
and groups, against a background of
’globalisation’. Topics include
security, conflict and war, human
rights, the global sex trade and the
question of humanitarian intervention.
In Semester II, the course on Modern
Political Thought analyses the
political philosophy that has shaped,
and is shaping, the modern world. It
concentrates in particular on the
themes of political obligation and
justice, especially in the work of
Hobbes, Rousseau, Mill and Rawls.
The Methods course explores
qualitative approaches such as
participant observation, interviewing,
visual methods, or focus groups;
students are encouraged to take a
critical and creative approach to
issues surrounding the interpretation
and writing of research. In the
quantitative section of the course,
students are introduced to the basic
requirements of survey research,
including issues of operationalisation
and sampling.
One optional course in Semester II is
Political Sociology, which introduces
both classical and contemporary
issues in the study of the relations
between society and politics, and
politics and society. Questions of
socio-political order are addressed,
with theories of the state and of
political cultures, as well as war,
violence, legitimacy, authority,
ideology, civil society and
citizenship. The other option is the
course on Social Issues and Policy
Responses. This examines the
history, current state and possible
future direction of policy responses to
issues such as childhood,
adolescence, youth and one-parent
families. The course also explores the
practice implications of policy
provision and the role of social work
and community interventions with
respect to issues such as health,
housing, and the asylum system.
In these courses, students are
encouraged to acquire and use central
ideas in their subject, understand
links between political science and
sociology, and approach pressing
issues related to understanding and
addressing problems in the social and
political world.
Staff teaching these subjects are all
working in research relevant to their
courses, and encourage active and
critical engagement by students.
Course Modules and Delivery
The Second Year Programme in
Sociological and Political Studies is
composed of six modules of equal
weighting. These are all delivered via
a combination of lectures (two per
week) and seminars, in which
students discuss key questions
relating to lecture topics and write
essays connected with each of their
lecture courses. Assessment thus
combines examination and
coursework, including work in
computer labs for the SPSS
component of the Methods course.
To download the Student Handbook for2nd year, 2014-2015, click here