BA (Hons) Politics and Social Policy with Foundation Year

Through the use of case-studies, this module will examine the debates surrounding issues in contemporary British politics. The module will consider both the themes of the need for constitutional or electoral change to reform the British political system and the debates informing the wider arena of cultural politics and social protest. This will emphasize to students that politics has both constitutional and institutional dimensions and `wider' social and cultural dimensions.

This module will introduce students to the concepts and definitions of poverty from Absolute to Relative and all debates within.  Crucially, this module will focus on ‘living in poverty’ and consequently will consider both the geography of poverty with a case study on the West Midlands and the groups and people in society most likely to be suffering negative impacts from a life in poverty.  The module will develop an understanding of why there are poorer outcomes for people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, asylum seekers and refugees as well as people identifying as part of the LGBTQ+ community.  Furthermore, we will consider how important it is to understand the impact of policy on poverty. 

This module will introduce students to the role of Government in addressing social problems. It will draw on student’s own experiences of ‘living social policy’ and encourage them to shape the weekly programme. Each week will look at a social problem or area of policy, identify the context of the issue/s in this area and look at the current Government approach to dealing with the issue. Students will be encouraged to take a critical approach to Government solutions and use theory, research and ‘lived experience’ to develop their understanding and ideas.

This module will review the importance of advocacy in challenging disadvantage and in raising awareness of issues that impact on the health, wellbeing and efficacy of citizens locally, nationally and/ or globally. It will also focus on skills for the workplace, including working in a team and research skills. It will examine the importance of knowledge to a functioning society, including active citizen engagement, and how to access reliable information to support the campaign. It will examine the skills needed to work productively in a team and how to put them into practice. The module will review successful awareness raising campaigns, leading to the development and implementation of a campaign or event.

This module will explore the relationship between the state and its citizens and how this relationship varies from social group to social group. It will explore the concept of citizenship and examine what characteristics an individual needs to possess in order to be recognised as a citizen of UK and be able to access welfare provision. It will explore the relationship between the state and disadvantaged groups in UK society – such as refugees and asylum seekers, LGBTQ, migrants, people with disabilities and people living in poverty – and investigate how this uneven relationship relates to social inequality. It will explore why the rights of individuals living in the UK are experienced differently by different social groups and how these entitlements have changed over time.

Throughout this module, we will examine how various actors, ranging from institutions and organizations to communities and individuals, work together at different levels – international, regional, national, and local – to address and resolve global issues. By examining practical case studies, we will dissect the strategies employed by these diverse actors to navigate complex problems such as climate change, human rights, security dynamics, economic inequalities, and more. Our discussions will focus on the dynamics of cooperation and alliance-building, power play, and innovative problem-solving strategies that emerge when different actors collaborate or contend within the global arena. Whether your aspirations lie in diplomacy, international organizations, or you simply seek a deeper comprehension of global affairs, this module will provide you with analytical tools to unravel the nuances of international relations. The case studies are tailored to reflect current global concerns. If there's a specific topic within the field of international relations that you're eager to explore further in our class, please don't hesitate to share it.

The aim of this module is to introduce you to the main issues in international relations (IR) at the current time and to provide an intellectual framework to enable you to better understand our contemporary world and analyse and interpret international developments. The first part of the module deals with the scope and main concepts and theories of IR, the second part with the main actors in international relations and the third part looks at some of the main issues on the contemporary global agenda. This module is designed for ‘beginners’ and no prior study of IR is needed.

This module considers the nature of political ideology and the difficulties of defining the concept. It examines the most important ideologies of the contemporary period both individually and comparatively. The module seeks to explore the purpose of political ideology, the relationship between political ideas and political practice, as well as the social context that underpins the origin and development of the ideologies, drawing on examples from both European and extra-European contexts.

In this module we will develop an understanding of some key policy-making ideas from public administration, new public management, governance and devolved policy-making.  The module will uncover the layers of governance in the UK policy-making field in the 2020’s, helping us to understand the complexities and messy nature of policy-making but also to evaluate the importance of where we think policy should be made.  The Brexit referendum transferred power away from the EU and into the hands of politicians at Westminster, argued as a positive for some.  But is this where we want our decisions to be made, are there arguments for more devolution and more decision making on our doorsteps – and if there are who do we want to make those decisions?  We will reflect on the importance of policy-making that reflects diversity in our communities and that is introduced in an inclusive way.

The course wil offer students an opportunity to engage with a range of debates surrounding political violence in a variety of manifestations. The course themes include conventional and civil warfare, colonial violence and the violence of decolonisation, counterinsurgencies, torture and domestic repression, demonstrations and riots, and terrorism.

Although the existence of distinct races has been scientifically discredited, its essentialist meaning continues to have real material consequences, for groups who are racially Othered. This module explores the social construction of race and the function of racism in modern society, against the backdrop of Empire and European modernity. Students will examine historical relationships of power to understand how racism is reproduced and legitimated in social interactions, economic relationships and political discourse, in the here and now. They will also explore how racist ideologies are interwoven in society’s institutions and structures, and how racism is contested and fought over. The aim of this module is to enable students to understand the function of racism in the making of the modern world, and how it continues to be a major source of inequality in late modernity.

Research underpins all academic study. Most scholarly monographs and journal articles present new research that has been undertaken and understanding that research helps with understanding the reading. Equally, research is not only something you will read about but something you will undertake for yourself before the end of your course. To do so, it is important that you are aware of the different options available to you as you embark upon your own research. To that end, this module will introduce you to a variety of approaches to research in your subject area and to how you might develop ideas for your own research projects.

This module will introduce students to both qualitative and quantitative research methods in the social sciences. The distinction can be over-stated given as many research projects now use mixed methods, but a difference does exist and it is necessary to unpack it for heuristic purposes. The module will proceed through first outlining the background and key aspects of the qualitative and quantitative traditions, before providing case examples of field work using particular research techniques (surveys, semi structured interviews) within the two broad approaches.

In this module we will consider the future opportunities and challenges in the work and labour market in the UK. During this module we will address the key variables at play in evaluating the future of work. The topics covered in this module will range from the role of automation, the impact of Brexit and the desire to reach a net-zero economy in the coming decades. We will critically engage with each variable to decide on the extent to which it will be a changing labour market and how our communities can adjust and flourish in response.

This module provides opportunities for community-based learning through voluntary community engagement. This activity will enable you to understand the relevance of your studies within a community context, combining practical experience with academic studies. In addition, it is an opportunity to develop a critical understanding of the Third Sector, and the notion of citizenship. Both subject specific and transferable skills will be developed and utilised throughout this module, thus developing graduate employment attributes.

This module is intended to develop and refine your understanding of selected aspects of international politics. It begins by looking at key schools of thought and evolving debates in international relations theory in order to explore in depth some of the key concepts regarding which factors shape how international politics and relations are conducted. The module also considers some of the key structural factors at play in international relations. To this end the role of the international and transnational organisations is examined, and debates regarding their purpose and effectiveness are considered. The module also looks at the concepts of regionalism and globalisation, and explores how states respond to these ideas in terms of policy formation.

The module will explore how social science perspectives are imperative if society is going to respond to the urgent environmental challenges we face today and bring about the social change needed to address them. It will explore the concept of consumerism and how reframing citizens as consumers has helped drive unsustainable economic growth within the developed world. It will review how sustainability relates to sociological concepts such as social justice and equality, and how this relationship is fundamental to The United Nation’s Goals for Sustainable Development. You will analyse the relationship between the social and the natural world, through the theory of ‘entanglement’ which will be used to map your own pattern of more sustainable living. At the end of the module you will have a critical understanding of how knowledge drawn from sociology can contribute to the debate about – and the building of strategies to enhance – sustainability, and bring about change to the environment-society dynamic.

In this module you will undertake an independent project. The project allows you to focus on a social policy area of your choice and produce an in-depth piece of work. There is an opportunity to base your project in an organisation and carry out research in partnership with that organisation.

This module explores the nature of modern, post-colonial India through an analysis of its politics, economics, religion, caste-system and culture. Modern India is the second most populous country in the world and the world’s largest democracy, yet it is a complex and diverse country – linguistically, religiously, and ethnically – which, since achieving independence, has sought both to unify itself internally, and, as a unified nation-state, to assert its place both regionally and globally. This module examines the achievements, problems and potential of this important country.

This module will focus on how international Non Governmental Organisations – such as World Health Organisation and United Nations – impact on policy making in the UK. It will investigate whether global problems, such as climate changes, increasing wealth inequality, modern day slavery and global pandemics and disease, give these NGO’s legitimacy in the national policy-making context – including with the general public. It will explore the range of ways International NGO’s try to influence national policy – and how and why national policymakers resist the policy directives of these organisations.

This module explores the arguments of key thinkers in the history of Western political thought and considers their relevance to contemporary political debate.

The project is a sustained piece of independent study carried out in the field of Politics under supervision. Any area that is broadly defined as political -empirical, theoretical, historical -may be considered.

This module will focus on the future of welfare provision in UK. It will critically examine whether the founding principles of the welfare state - equality of opportunity, equal distribution of wealth, and public responsibility - still hold in the UK. It will explore how welfare ‘needs’ today differ from the post-war welfare state and critique how different social groups, such as women, people with disabilities and black and minority ethnic groups, are disadvantaged by the provision of welfare. It will critically examine how the dominance of neoliberal narratives in UK society continues to change the way we talk about welfare provision. In light of ‘wicked’ problems, such as climate change and growing wealth inequalities it will examine how the most vulnerable in society can and should be supported.

    Migration is a fundamental feature of the contemporary world.  Its social and economic effects are self evident; its political ramifications frequent.  This course will provide an overview of key concepts and issues in the study of migration.  The organisation will be split into two interrelated sections.  The first will consider the key motivations why people move from one country to another.  Here the course will look at definitions, push and pull factors in migrant flows and migration in history.  Second, it will look at immigration and British society.  This will section will pay particular attention to immigration to the UK since 1945: Irish and New Commonwealth immigration, Immigration Control and contemporary asylum and Eastern European immigration.