Politics is a dynamic subject; in that you will learn about topics as they happen and continue to change. The topics we cover in the course are always ‘in the news’. It may also mean that you finally understand the issues being raised on programs such as Newsnight and Dispatches! William Sheward, a Professor at the University of Winchester has said “[Studying politics] encourages [people] to think critically and knowledgeably about contemporary issues and their historical contexts, which in turn allows them to be able to think for themselves as informed citizens.” We would like to believe that understanding how governments make decisions, and the various domestic and global influences on those decisions, could help us to make better choices for ourselves and become more active citizens. This A Level course offers both breadth and depth of study of current political issues and institutions. The course is taught over two years and the specification contains three distinct parts: 1) UK Government & Politics (47% of the qualification) UK Politics: This part of the course is taught in the first year; you will be introduced to the political system in the UK. This includes a study of the strengths and limitations of British democracy the examination of different proposals to increase participation, the policies and beliefs of political parties, and how elections are contested, including voting systems, voting behavior, and the media. It also covers the evaluation of the roles and effectiveness of institutions such as the cabinet and Parliament, the judiciary, and the constitution. Political ideologies: four key political ideologies will be introduced and evaluated in the course: conservativism, liberalism, and socialism, in addition to one (the fourth) from the following choice: anarchism, ecologism, feminism, multiculturalism, or nationalism. Our center covers ‘anarchism’ as the additional ideology. Unlike most schools and colleges that focus on US Politics, we cover Global Politics (International Relations) in the second year. Studying Global Politics will allow you to develop an understanding of international relations and the global dimensions of political activity. You will explore some of the topical global issues that affect all of us such as globalization, climate change, human rights, wars, conflict, and cooperation. The course will also critically examine the main theories of international relations as well as the roles and significance of institutions of global governance or regional such as the European Union, the UN, G-7/20, NATO, the IMF, World Bank, and the WTO.