This course will introduce students to key approaches in the radical political tradition such as Marxist, anarchist and/or post-Marxist thought from the eighteenth century to today. The course will explore core concepts and critical understandings of radical politics including their fundamental orientation towards transformative political change. The course will also consider the relevance of such ideas to contemporary global politics.

Lecture 1 hour x 10 weeks

Tutorial 1 hour x 10 weeks

None

None

Assessment

Two essays of 2,000 words (45% each/90% in total)

Participation (10%)

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below.

The course introduces students to core concepts of radical political approaches such as Marxism, anarchism and/or post-Marxist thought. The course aims to ground students in key radical ideas and locate such thought in-and-against the dominant liberal-analytical tradition. We explore the connection between radical politics and political change, as well as the most significant objections to these ideas. In doing so, we examine the application of radical ideas to contemporary political debates.

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

■ Demonstrate understanding of core concepts in radical political traditions

■ Compare and critically analyse radical approaches to politics

■ Apply knowledge of radical political traditions to contemporary political debates

■ Evaluate radical approaches as praxis and their role in underpinning transformative political change

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.