Not available in 2020/21
GV308 Half Unit
Leadership in the Political World
This information is for the 2020/21 session.
Teacher responsible
Prof Torun Dewan
Availability
This course is available on the BSc in Government, BSc in Government and Economics, BSc in Government and History, BSc in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, BSc in Politics, BSc in Politics and Economics, BSc in Politics and History, BSc in Politics and International Relations and BSc in Politics and Philosophy. This course is not available as an outside option nor to General Course students.
This course is capped at one group. The deadline for enrolments is 12:00 noon on Friday 4 October 2019.
Pre-requisites
Students must have completed Public Choice and Politics (GV225).
Course content
Good leadership is central toward having effective organisations, well functioning institutions, and attaining desirable policy outcomes. But what is good leadership? What is successful leadership? Can we distinguish outcomes as causally related to the actions taken by good and successful leaders? And how important is a leader’s style? The course will look at both theoretical and empirical frameworks for analysing these questions developing in particular rational choice accounts of leadership. Different notions of leadership will be discussed including: (1) Leading by Example; (2) The Leader as a Focal Point and (3) The Leader as an information source. These will be illustrated by specific examples.
Teaching
10 hours of lectures and 10 hours of seminars in the LT.
There will be a reading week in week 6 of the LT for private study and assessment preparation.
Formative coursework
Students will be expected to produce 1 presentation in the LT.
Indicative reading
Ahlquist, JS. and M. Levi. 2011). "Leadership: What it means, what it does, and what we want to know about it''. Annual Review of Political Science. vol. 14.
Besley, T and Marta Reynal-Querol (2009) ``Do Democracies Select More Educated Leaders?'', American Political Science Review, 105,3
Humphreys, M., Masters, W., and Sandbu, M. E. (2006). The role of leadership in democratic deliberations: Results from a field experiment in Sao Tome and Principe. World Politics,
Jones, B and Olken, B (2005) ‘Do Leaders matter? National Leadership and Growth since World War 2’, Quarterly Journal of Economics, 120, 3, 835--864
Schelling, T (1980), The Strategy of Conflict, Chapter 4
Shepsle, K and M. Boncheck (1997), Analyzing Politics, Chapter 14
Assessment
Exam (40%, duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes) in the summer exam period.
Essay (40%, 5000 words) and in-class assessment (20%).
Important information in response to COVID-19
Please note that during 2020/21 academic year some variation to teaching and learning activities may be required to respond to changes in public health advice and/or to account for the situation of students in attendance on campus and those studying online during the early part of the academic year. For assessment, this may involve changes to mode of delivery and/or the format or weighting of assessments. Changes will only be made if required and students will be notified about any changes to teaching or assessment plans at the earliest opportunity.
Key facts
Department: Government
Total students 2019/20: 3
Average class size 2019/20: 3
Capped 2019/20: Yes (15)
Value: Half Unit
Personal development skills
- Leadership
- Self-management
- Team working
- Problem solving
- Communication
- Application of numeracy skills
- Specialist skills
