Course Catalogue

Political Leaders and Leadership POLITIC4194

  • 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 seeks to expand students' understanding about leaders and leadership styles in contemporary politics from the UK and around the world. The course combines theoretical perspectives about political leaders and leadership with examples to illustrate how leaders influence institutions and governance, and how key dimensions of leadership shape or react to political developments. It includes topics such as leaders' personality traits, charisma, performance in office, crisis management, conflict, and legitimacy, myths about leaders, the online dimension of leadership, and leadership in domestic politics and foreign policy.

Timetable

Lecture: one hour per week, for 10 weeks

Seminar: one hour per week, for 10 weeks

Requirements of Entry

MA SocSci, MA (Arts) and any relevant Joint Honours combinations

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

The summative assessment will include three components:

1. Blog post of 600 words (15%)

2. Leadership profile of 1,500 words (35%)

3. Essay of 2,500 words (50%)

Course Aims

The aims of this course are to introduce students to key concepts and theories to the study of leaders and leadership; provide empirical perspectives on the role of leaders and leadership in politics and develop analytical skills necessary to identify and scrutinize the leaders' actions and importance of leadership for contemporary events

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

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

■ demonstrate a critical awareness of political leadership;

■ identify and apply relevant concepts and theories to address current debates about political leaders and leadership;

■ analyse and advance reasoned, critically aware, and factually supported arguments about political leaders and leadership;

■ evaluate and explain recent developments in political leadership.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

No exceptions