Understanding Politics
Equip yourself for further study with this introduction to politics.
Duration
4 weeksWeekly study
6 hours
Understanding Politics
Other courses you might like
This course isn't running right now. We can email you when it starts again, or check out these other courses you might like.
Browse more in Politics & Society
Gain an expert view of how politics works
This introductory four-week course will equip you with the basic knowledge and understanding you need for further education in political science. By the end, you’ll have an understanding of the role of governments, regimes and the state, an introduction to political ideologies, and recommendations for further reading.
Discover different electoral systems and political models
You’ll gain an understanding of the different political models, including models of democracy around the world, and the models of political economy. These will offer you a critical lens for viewing political arguments, statements, and the world around you.
Build your understanding of politics
Prepare for further study of politics by learning about identity and class politics, how they relate to ideologies, and political power. You’ll be introduced to key concepts across conservatism, socialism, and feminism, and look at differences and debates within them.
At the end of the course, you’ll have a basic understanding of politics and a familiarity with key texts, historical context and ongoing debates.
Syllabus
Week 1
Introduction
Welcome
This introductory activity will set out the content and structure of the course.
Political Science
This activity introduces the key figures in the study of political science.
Political Philosophy
The second mode of studying politics is the discipline of political philosophy.
Critical Theory
The third way of studying politics is Critical Theory.
Weekly Wrap Up
Here you will find some additional resources to summarise the content of the week.
Week 2
Key Ideas and Their Foundations
Welcome to Week 2
Welcome to the second week of the course, Key Ideas and Their Foundations.
Understanding through theories/models
This activity explains the importance of models, the ontological and epistemological implications of them, as well as some initial problems with their adoption.
Politics as where?
In this activity we will focus upon Heywood’s two topological models of politics, politics as the art of government and politics and public affairs.
Politics as how?
This activity introduces the practical conceptualisations of politics.
Power
This activity explores the different conceptualisations of political power.
Assessment
To help you prepare for this assessment you might wish to spend some time reviewing and revising.
Weekly wrap up
Here you will find some additional resources to summarise the content of the week.
Week 3
Governments, Regimes and the State
Welcome to Week 3
This activity introduces you to the third week, and develops essential academic skills.
Classification and Comparison
This activity explores the comparative method of politics, and why some political scientists think it is so important to classify and compare examples in order to be able to draw conclusions about our world.
Aristotle's 'Classical' Typology
In this activity, you will explore Aristotle’s six fold typology of political regimes.
Contemporary Typologies
This activity looks at two current-day typologies of regimes: the Cold War typology and Heywood’s typology of contemporary regimes.
The State
This activity studies ways of defining and understanding states.
Weekly Wrap Up
Here you will find some additional resources to summarise the content of the week.
Week 4
Political Ideologies
Introduction to Week 4
This activity introduces you to the fourth week.
Liberalism
The first activity of the week starts by looking at the concept of ideology, discussing what it is, where the concept of ideology has come from, and what your key ideological priorities are.
Conservatism
In this activity you will look at liberalism and conservatism, as well as introductory articles and some key reading.
Socialism
Explore the key concepts of socialism.
Four Waves of Feminism
In this activity, you will explore the four waves of feminism, both as a criticism of the traditional ideologies and as an ideology in itself.
Assessment
To help you prepare for this assessment you might wish to spend some time reviewing and revising.
Final week summary
Here you will find some additional resources to summarise the content of the week.
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Identify the different modes of the study of politics
- Identify the importance of models and theoretical frameworks
- Investigate Heywood's typology of political models
- Assess a number of ways in which power operates in politics
- Assess the logic of comparative politics
- Assess a range of approaches to forming and classifying political systems
- Explain some of the characteristics of the state
- Evaluate the merits of different ideologies
Who is the course for?
This course is for students who have excellent high school or partial A-level equivalent qualifications, but haven’t completed a suitable qualification or grades that allow them to apply for direct entry to a UK university.
This course gives prospective students a flavour of studying politics at degree level, and is also ideal for mature students returning to study.
If you want to further your knowledge, you may also be interested in this course. It’s from the same provider and features similar subject matter and overall learning outcomes:
Who will you learn with?
Chris teaches Philosophy, Politics and Sociology on the International Foundation Programme at the University of Kent. His research is in the ethics of political resistance and the idea of truth.
Who developed the course?
The University of Kent
The University of Kent, the UK’s European university, is one of the country’s most dynamic universities. Established in 1965, it now has 19,850 students studying at its various campuses.
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn
Learner reviews
Learner reviews cannot be loaded due to your cookie settings. Please and refresh the page to view this content.
Get a taste of this course
Find out what this course is like by previewing some of the course steps before you join:
