Ideas that Make and Shake the World: A History of Political Ideology



Overview

This course looks at Political Ideology and the key role it has played in shaping the very nature of the modern world. Since the days of the Enlightenment, and the birth of modern politics, the political landscape around us has been fundamentally marked by the power of ideology, from the role and nature of the State to the rights and duties of the Citizen. This has had powerful implications.

This course will explore those core ideologies whose impact has been particularly marked on the political nation: Liberalism and Conservatism, Socialism and Fascism, Feminism and Anarchism. We will first begin with a study of Absolutism, asking how its very existence inspired the birth of modern ideology. We will also examine the complex concept of Nationalism, in all its myriad forms. In the process we shall see not only how modern democratic society came to be constructed, but also modern dictatorship and modern totalitarianism. The course will end with a reflection on the lessons for today - and for tomorrow. 

Programme details

Courses starts: 18 Apr 2024

Week 0: Course Orientation.

Week 1: Introduction.

  • The Idea of Ideology: Key Issues and terms

Week 2: Absolutism.

  • Historical Roots: The Divine Right to Rule; The Development of Absolute Monarchy in France; Contesting Absolutism in the English Civil Wars

Week 3: Liberalism.

  • Classical Liberalism: Enlightenment & Revolution; New Liberalism & the idea of the State; Keynes & Keynesianism; Modern Challenges & Themes: Libertarianism

Week 4: Conservatism.

  • Liberal Conservatism and Reaction; One Nation Toryism; Conservatism & the Nation; Modern Challenges & Themes: The New Right & Neo-Conservatism

Week 5: Socialism.

  • Radicalism or Reform? The Problem of Division; the Marxist Model - core themes and issues; moderate Socialism in action: Mitterrand’s France & the New Labour Project.

Week 6: Nationalism.

  • Liberal Nationalism & Revolution; State-Centred Nationalism & Unification; Imperial Nationalism & War; Modern Challenges & Themes: Regionalism & the Nation

Week 7: Fascism.

  • Fascism & the Problem of Definition: The Idea of the Leader; Totalitarianism and the State; Ethnicity & Race. German Nazism & Italian Fascism:  A Comparative Study.

Week 8: Feminism.

  • Exploring Feminism – some core themes; Historical Movements & Developments;  Contemporary issues and the Third ‘Wave’.

Week 9: Anarchism.

  • Defining Anarchism – some core themes; Historical Developments & Divisions; the role of key figures from  Godwin to Kropotkin. 

Week 10: Ideology Today & Tomorrow.

  • Concluding Thoughts

Digital Certification

To complete the course and receive a certificate, you will be required to attend and participate in at least 80% of the live sessions on the course and pass your final assignment. Upon successful completion, you will receive a link to download a University of Oxford digital certificate. Information on how to access this digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course you attended. You will be able to download your certificate or share it on social media if you choose to do so.

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee £257.00
Take this course for CATS points £10.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:

Concessionary fees for short courses

Tutor

Dr Kate Watson

Kate Watson is a Senior Associate Tutor for Oxford University Department for Continuing Education (OUDCE), and previously an Associate Lecturer and Moderator for the Open University. She is currently researching politics and identity in Georgian England.

Course aims

To explore the historical nature and development of modern political ideology.

Course objectives: 

  • To outline the historical development of modern political ideology.
  •  To explore the links between that development and modern political practises.
  • To critically evaluate that development through examination of primary and secondary materials, both written and visual.

Teaching methods

A range of teaching and learning methods will be used during this course. These will include powerpoint presentation, tutor-led discussion, and document analysis. This analysis will be mainly focussed on primary and contemporary sources, and students will be encouraged to approach these sources not as simple illustrations but rather as 'lived' records of the topic and themes under discussion. Students will also be encouraged to follow up class discussions in their own time through further analysis of documents and topics under investigation, combined with reading of a wide range of secondary follow-up texts

Learning outcomes

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

  • describe how and why modern political ideology developed;
  • discuss the role of political ideology in the evolution of modern political practice;
  • be familiar with the handling of source materials and their values and limitations.

Assessment methods

All students will be provided with a course booklet at the start of the programme. This will include a general introductory source exercise of around 500 words. A choice of 2 options will then be available for the final exercises.

Option A will consist of document analysis of c1500 words in total, with students choosing 3 out of 4 exercises to be completed outside the class sessions.

Option B will consist of an essay of c1500 words in total, based on a range of given topics, with brief outlines prepared in advance.

Students must submit a completed Declaration of Authorship form at the end of term when submitting your final piece of work. CATS points cannot be awarded without the aforementioned form - Declaration of Authorship form

Application

We will close for enrolments 7 days prior to the start date to allow us to complete the course set up. We will email you at that time (7 days before the course begins) with further information and joining instructions. As always, students will want to check spam and junk folders during this period to ensure that these emails are received.

To earn credit (CATS points) for your course you will need to register and pay an additional £10 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.

Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form (Word) or enrolment form (Pdf).

Level and demands

Students who register for CATS points will receive a Record of CATS points on successful completion of their course assessment.

To earn credit (CATS points) you will need to register and pay an additional £10 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.

Coursework is an integral part of all weekly classes and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework in order to benefit fully from the course. Only those who have registered for credit will be awarded CATS points for completing work at the required standard.

Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process can either register for CATS points prior to the start of their course or retrospectively from the January 1st after the current full academic year has been completed. If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.

Most of the Department's weekly classes have 10 or 20 CATS points assigned to them. 10 CATS points at FHEQ Level 4 usually consist of ten 2-hour sessions. 20 CATS points at FHEQ Level 4 usually consist of twenty 2-hour sessions. It is expected that, for every 2 hours of tuition you are given, you will engage in eight hours of private study.

Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS)

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support