The Politics of Crisis

About

This module evaluates global political questions emanating from the Coronavirus pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and the response to climate change. These crises paradigmatically shift the political agenda; alter the reception to dominant political ideologies; modify the behaviour of political actors; challenge political governance; and oppose the credibility of abstract theoretical concepts. Additionally, the response to crisis events provides the greatest challenge to the resilience of the global political system. Students will explore these questions from the perspective of Political Science and Political Theory, understand the implications of the Politics of Crisis, and attempt to articulate viable responses to these problems.

Inspired by the research interests and pursuits of academics from the nationally renowned Law Politics and Sociology School at Sussex University, the module immerses itself with cutting edge political research, and modern methodological approaches. On top of informative lectures and discussion-based seminars, the interactive workshops will make use of the state-of-the-art archive centre based on Sussex campus, ‘The Keep’, to evaluate data regarding the lived experience of coronavirus via the National Observation Archive. Students will also carry out political scientific data analysis using the renowned political statistics and data program, SPSS. Also, students can expect to reconstruct and simulate parliamentary and international governmental debates on real world political issues, shedding light upon the processes and challenges involved in finding solutions for the seminal political issues of our time. This module will appeal to students with an interest in Politics, Sociology and other Social Scientific fields. A previous understanding of or experience with academic Politics is not required in order to study this module.

Target group

This module will appeal to students with an interest in Politics, Sociology and other Social Scientific fields. A previous understanding of or experience with academic Politics is not required in order to study this module.

Course aim

1. Understand how to analyse and interpret statistical data by using political scientific methods.

2. Form arguments and critically assess received political scientific consensus. This will involve recognising the
value of challenging hypotheses, scrutinising conclusions, and criticising methodological approaches of different political scientists and theorists.

3. Show awareness of the interconnectedness between practical and theoretical political issues, and how these have received new significance.

4. Demonstrate the ability to construct and sustain arguments in written form.

Fee info

The full cost of one 3-week Undergraduate Summer School session will be £2,645. Early applications will receive a 20% reduction on tuition fees, making the overall cost of one 3-week Undergraduate Summer School session £2320. If you wish to study for both sessions, we welcome you to do so. This is made up of Tuition fees of £1,625 per session including all teaching and assessment for one module of study. Where field trips or course excursions are required then the cost of this is included in the tuition fee, however travel costs may be required. A minimum of 150 study hours, with a minimum of 40 hours class/teaching contact hours. Modules formally approved for 15 Sussex credits, equivalent to 7.5 ECTS or 3 – 4 US credits. You will receive a transcript of studies upon successful completion of the module (including meeting all attendance and assessment requirements). The accommodation and student life programme fee of £1,020 per session includes your own bedroom in on-campus student village. These are a mixture of en-suite flats and standard flats with shared facilities. You will receive a bedding pack of duvet and duvet cover, sheet, towel, pillow, and pillowcase, as well as a kitchen pack containing everything you need for self-catering. The fee includes a programme of campus social events and activities throughout each session. Excursions and social programme trips will also be provided on Fridays.