GV482 Half Unit
Political Science and Political Economy: Current Issues
This information is for the 2020/21 session.
Teacher responsible
Dr Stephane Wolton
Availability
This course is compulsory on the MSc in Political Science and Political Economy. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.
MSc Political Science and Political Economy students will be granted priority access as this is a compulsory course on this programme. Other postgraduates wanting to take the course (space permitting) require the permission of the teachers responsible.
Pre-requisites
Students should either have attended GV4C8 and GV481 or equivalent courses. Knowledge of game theory at the level of GV4C8 and empirical method to the level of GV481 is required.
Course content
The course will cover five topics in political science and political economy. Topics will change every year as a function of the most recent research in political economy. Each topic will be covered over two weeks. During these two weeks, students will learn how game theory and empirical methods can be used to understand and think critically about pressing political issues. For the academic year 2020-21, the topics covered will be: 1) Populism, 2) Discrimination, 3) Do elections work?, 4) Autocracy or democracy?, and 5) Understanding and fighting terrorism.
During the lecture, students will be taught important papers on the topics covered. Seminars will be of two sorts. On each topic, one seminar will be problem set based, the other will be a replication exercise of a paper on the relevant topic.
Teaching
This course is delivered through a combination of seminars and lectures totalling a minimum of 40 hours across Lent Term (20 hours of lectures and 20 hours of seminars). There will also be a two-hour mock exam and a two-hour revision lecture (either on-campus or online) in the ST. This year, some or all of this teaching may be delivered through a combination of online and on-campus lectures and seminars.
There will be a reading week in LT Week 6.
Formative coursework
Students will hand in one problem set and one replication exercise before the reading week.
Indicative reading
Mostly journal articles. The reading list varies each year.
Assessment
Exam (50%, duration: 2 hours) in the summer exam period.
Coursework (50%) in the LT.
The coursework will consist of a replication exercise of a published paper, and the exam will consist of a problem question using game theory and an essay question.
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: Unavailable
Average class size 2019/20: Unavailable
Controlled access 2019/20: No
Value: Half Unit
