Government and Politics

Course summary

Politics should be studied by everyone. For the rules under which we live to be effective, as many people as possible should actively participate in making them. A healthy society is a society in which many people participate in political activity and do so with insight and understanding. • To develop a critical awareness of the nature of politics and the relationships between political ideas, institutions and processes • To understand the structures of authority and power within the political system of the UK, and how these may differ from other political systems • To understand the rights and responsibilities of individuals, and to prepare citizens for active participation in society • To develop personal effectiveness through a critical awareness of political events and issues, and the skills required to argue a case with relevance and coherence • To gain a clear understanding of the theories, motives and values that underpin political processes and governmental decision-making and the role of institutions in resolving conflicts and allocating scarce resources • Learn to think for yourself, develop your own views, discuss, debate and argue