Module manager: Dr Graham M Smith
Email: ipigms@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is not approved as a discovery module
The dramatic events of the Twentieth century were matched by equal turmoil in the world of ideas. Indeed, perhaps no century has been more driven to the extremes of hope and destruction by the ideas and ideals of its political thought. Like the diverse political movements and events that they were to both inspire and analyse, political theorists in the Twentieth century form of kaleidoscope of opinion and insight: both radical and reactionary. This module explores some of the seminal thinkers of this period and situates them in the context of the problems and challenges that they were attempting to resolve. It also sheds light on how these thinkers – by grappling with key concepts such as the state, power, violence, class, gender, and race – sought to contest many of the prevailing orthodoxies of politics and political theory. In so doing the module simultaneously identifies a number of themes which not only link the thinkers, but which also have continuing relevance for an engagement with contemporary political problems and projects.
This module aims to:
1. Introduce some of the key ideas and concepts in 20th century political theory through an examination of some of its seminal thinkers
2. Crticially engage with with complex ideas through reading and analysing key primary texts
3. Develop an understandings of the links between political theory and key historical events
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Grasp and analyse key strands of theory that influenced political thought and action in the twentieth century.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of key thinkers of the twentieth century, and link their approaches to concepts such as power, violence, class, race and gender to the dominant assumptions about politics and society.
3. Understand the historical context in which these ideas emerged, and an ability to identify their relevance for contemporary politics.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
4. Synthesise bodies of information and to present these in an accessible and succinct way.
5. Develop a reasoned argument and to present this in an accessible and succinct way.
6. Develop the ability to explain and criticise the positions of both self and others.
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Seminar | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Private study hours | 178 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 22 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
A formal formative assessment opportunity will be provided for each summative assessment task, which is specifically pedagogically aligned to that task. As part of this, each student will receive feedback designed to support the development of knowledge and skills that will be later assessed in the summative task.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | . | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 30/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team