Module manager: Dr Derek Edyvane
Email: D.J.Edyvane@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is approved as a discovery module
Modern democratic societies are marked by a deep diversity of cultures, beliefs and moral values; and this poses a fundamental political challenge: how are we to live well together when we cannot agree how people ought to live their lives? That question forms the core of this module, which explores a range of key concepts and issues in contemporary political theory such as justice and injustice and community and conflict. We will reflect on the application of those ideas to social and political problems through the examination of live ethical debates in contemporary society. In so doing we will discuss issues such as hate speech, pornography and the morality of political protest. In this module, you will develop knowledge and skills that will enable you to think more critically and systematically about current social and political affairs.
1. Elaborate fundamental ideas and concepts in analytical political theory;
2. Introduce the work of key contemporary analytical political theorists;
3. Develop student skills of thinking critically and philosophically about contemporary political problems;
4. Develop student capacity to identify and make links between political thought and practice.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Grasp and analyse central ideas and concepts in analytical political theory
2. Demonstrate knowledge of central works of key contemporary analytical political theorists.
3. Apply these ideas and theories to problems of contemporary politics.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
1. Develop a reasoned argument, synthesise relevant information,
2. Communicate effectively and fluently,
3. Use communication and information technologies to retrieve and present information;
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 | . | 30 |
| Coursework | . | 70 |
| 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: 03/03/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team