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Case Studies in British Policy Making
This module aims to provide detailed analysis of policymaking in practice to supplement the theoretical training received in the core module. The object is to enrich your understanding of the nature and practicalities of the policymaking process, using British case studies, and enhance awareness of how the political environment helps to shape the policymaking process. After a preliminary survey of the policymaking environment the module will focus each week on a detailed case study of British policymaking in practice, with an accent on topicality. You will be encouraged to discuss and evaluate current issues and the way in which policymakers are addressing them. In the process you will acquire a detailed knowledge of the policymaking environment and process in Britain and also, to some extent, a comparative perspective on how different kinds of policymaking machinery will shape different outcomes.
Comparative Immigration and Nationality Law
This module aims to provide a comparative, cross-jurisdictional context in which approaches to immigration and nationality law and policy can be analysed. It relates developments in migration law to wider socio-political developments including: decolonisation; nationalism; economic demands; immigration and nationality in pre-modernity and modernity; paradigms of nationality law; race and ethnicity in immigration laws; marriage and families in immigration law; gender and sexuality in migration laws; international and comparative refugee law; human rights in immigration law; immigration law as an aspect of Europeanisation; and how states create and deal with irregular migration.
Democracy in Plural Societies
This module aims to analyse the broad relationship between democratisation and ethno-national conflict. It assesses the success or failure of a variety of policy approaches taken by governments and international organisations to regulate, resolve or manage ethno-national conflict. Coercive policies such as expulsion, forced migration, ‘ethnic cleansing’ and genocide are compared and contrasted with more consensual policies such as negotiated secession, national self-determination and different forms of power-sharing.
Globalization and the International Political Economy of Development
The module provides you with a detailed examination – and critique - of theories of globalisation and assessment of contemporary globalising processes, and how these particularly influence the developing world. It examines these influences through detailed analysis of contemporary manifestations of ‘globalisation’, including neo-liberalism, US hegemony and contemporary imperialism, capital flows, global commodity chains, state-market relations, patterns of global inequality, international institutions, and questions of cultural homogenisation/imperialism. The module also examines the ways in which ‘globalisation’ is resisted, focusing on the rise of transnational social movements and NGOs, and the politics of ‘anti-globalisation’, and how this relates to an ostensibly ‘post-development’ era. In addressing these issues, the module concludes by asking the most important question: how do we think of ‘development’ in an era of ‘globalisation’, US hegemony, neo-liberalism and imperialism?
Housing, Health and Education in a Metropolitan Environment
Using an historical foundation the module sets out to identify the contemporary issues which surround the health, housing and education of immigrants in a metropolitan environment. The module will use East London as a case study to enable you to acquire an awareness of the social, political and cultural conditions which result from the concentration of minority groups in a restricted urban space. You will receive instruction from both academics and practitioners in the relevant fields. Assessment for this module will be by the submission of one 5,000-word essay to be submitted on the Wednesday of Week Two of the semester directly following that in which the module is taught.
Ideas and Power in Spanish America 1512-Now
This text-based module seeks to provide an historical overview of political and cultural ideas in (and about) Spanish America over the last 500 years with particular emphasis on questioning orthodox disciplinary paradigms, parameters and chronological comforts. None the less, it does proceed in a broadly chronological manner and through cumulative multidisciplinary means, so that you will be able progressively to develop skills and knowledge beyond their personal disciplinary experience and training. The first third of the module deliberately compares 16th and 17th – century thought and experience with cognate phenomena in the contemporary period, in order to instil an inquiring sensibility with respect to continuity and rupture. Aside from the initial introduction to theorists of political power, each week will include discussion of pertinent interpretative, historical and creative texts/ productions.
Implementation and Evaluation
This module aims to provide a critical overview of the theory and practice of two of the 'end' stages of the policy process: implementation and evaluation. The module will explore the development of theoretical and empirical academic literature and provide opportunities for you to apply this material to selected case studies relevant to the group. Practitioners will be encouraged to reflect on their practices and experiences. The module will be delivered by means of lectures, workshops and distance learning.
International Public Management
This module provides an overview of key developments in public management in comparative perspective. It combines theoretical perspectives with discussion of a wide range of case studies to consider what makes effective public management. The module surveys a range of techniques including performance management and quality assurance, and considers contemporary debates such as the role of markets and partnerships in public management. At the end of the module, you will be able to understand the factors influencing the shift from the public administration to the public management paradigm and demonstrate a critical awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of management approaches.
International Security: War and Peace in a Global Context
Violent conflict and the use of force remain salient issues in contemporary international relations. While some have theorised that the advent of globalisation and spread of liberal democracy would make the use of force and violent conflict less relevant to the world, war and conflict have remained an integral part of the international system, as well as forming an obstacle to providing stability and security for many states. The module offers an examination of the ways in which violent conflict and the use of force impact on international relations, how force is used by states and other actors, and how force is managed in world politics. The module surveys a variety of perspectives on the causes of war and peace in order to better examine the roots of violent conflicts and security problems in the present day. A major theme is looking at war in a global context, not only in terms of integrating contemporary concerns with globalisation, but also by looking at interconnections between north and south, and war and society. Additionally, the responses of the international community to violent conflict will also be explored, looking broadly at the contested notion of the ‘Just War’, international law, and the role of the United Nations. Overall, the module gives a broad perspective on the place of armed force in contemporary international relations.
Issues in Democratisation
This module critically examines the theoretical literature surrounding ‘third wave’ transitions to democracy since the 1970s, using case studies from three regions (Southern Europe, Latin America and East/Central Europe).
It considers the theoretical discourse on transition from authoritarian to democratic rule and the consolidation of democratic practice and seeks to identify those factors, both internal and external, which determine processes of political reform. The module addresses questions such as: how and why did authoritarian regimes collapse? What factors influenced the different pathways taken in the (re-)establishment of democratic rule? What problems and difficulties have been experienced, particularly with regard to achieving successful consolidation of democracy? The emphasis throughout is on applying and testing the various theoretical approaches, identifying their strengths and weaknesses, and relating them to wider debates around the nature and purpose of democracy.
Migrants, Diasporas and Law 1
This module is centrally concerned to analyse the coexistence of different legal cultures arising as a consequence of large scale immigration and settlement of Asian and African diasporas. Central to the course therefore are the different laws transplanted in diaspora and their interaction with official British and European legal systems. The approach of the course is necessarily interdisciplinary with a focus on legal pluralism as a core theme. Among the areas covered are: assimilation, integration and pluralism; ethnicity; immigration; family relations.
Migrants, Diasporas and Law 2
This module seeks to examine the implications for Euro-American legal systems of the large-scale presence of diaspora communities. With the UK as the focus, it therefore aims to introduce students to building blocks essential to the study of the processes of diaspora formation and its legal implications, while equipping them with critical interdisciplinary tools with which to analyse the discourses around these problems. We also examine specific substantive issues including assimilation, integration and pluralism; ethnicity; legal pluralism; immigration; family relations; education; blasphemy; mental health; discrimination; and criminalisation.
Nationalism, Democracy and Cosmopolitanism
The aim of this module is to explore the meaning and relevance of the concepts of nationalism, democracy and cosmopolitanism within contemporary politics. To achieve this aim, the module offers a fresh approach to current debates on the compatibility/opposition between cosmopolitanism and nationalism, the differences between citizenship and national identity, and the role of democracy in Western contemporary societies.
Policy Analysis for the Developing World
This module examines the challenges faced by the ‘developing world’ in improving their policy making, implementation and evaluative capacities. The module will explore the relevance of theories, concepts and techniques which have been utilised in advanced industrial societies and critically appraise their usefulness for a variety of developing countries. You will study the theory and practice of building policy capacity and examine ongoing attempts to redesign institutions and policy processes in selected national and international jurisdictions.
Typologies and Theories of Migration 2
This second part of the Theories and Typologies module is empirically orientated and explores the social, political and cultural implications of migrant settlement in Britain and Europe. It will provide a chronological account of immigration in Britain in order to indicate continuity of entry and variety of incomer. It will examine the legislative steps taken to police migration in the United Kingdom and Western Europe and the reactions of the receiving society to incomers. Finally the course will consider the contribution of migrants to the cultural landscape of their place of settlement.
Visions of Capitalism
The module is designed to act as an introduction to the history of thought in political economy by focusing upon the two major theorists identified with the analysis of capitalism: Adam Smith and Karl Marx. By closely examining the writings of both authors the course will enable students to become familiar with the ideas that have shaped our thinking about how markets work and the benefits or otherwise that they produce. Beyond this the texts under examination will raise issues relating to broader issues of political theory and practice.
