Course Catalogue

Good Government and its Corruption POLITIC4191

  • Academic Session: 2026-27
  • School: School of Social and Political Sciences
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
  • Typically Offered: Either Semester 1 or Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

This course investigates the fundamental principles that ought to guide public action, institutional design, and accountability, that is, the ideal of 'good government.' It also explores the ways in which governments may fail to live up to this ideal, particularly in the form of corruption.

Timetable

Seminar: two hours per week, for 10 weeks x 2

Requirements of Entry

Entry to Honours Politics or International Relations requires a grade point average of 12 (Grade C) over Politics 2A and Politics 2B as a first attempt.

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

Group Presentation, with individual report 1500 words (40%)

Policy Assessment, 2500-3000 words (60%)

Course Aims

The aim of this course is to introduce students to normative debates about government: how should they act, be structured and held accountable? They will learn to think critically not merely about what is 'good' government, but also what constitutes its pathologies, especially 'corruption'. In doing so they will, secure a basic understanding of the modern administrative state, its evolution and variation, placed in historical context. They will also be equipped with skills necessary to evaluate proposed institutional innovations.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

 

■ Explain the basic structure of modern governments, their typical branches, and the rise of the administrative state.

■ Appraise and critique various theories about what constitutes 'good government' and its pathologies, including corruption.

■ Relate the concept of good government to other important issues within political theory and science, such as democracy, public trust, populism, and development outcomes.

■ Diagnose and assess particular governance case studies, in terms of relevant concepts and theories.

■ Evaluate institutional innovations to improve government proposed within the literature, and formulate their own reasoned proposals.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

No exceptions