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2008/09 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

PIED3430 Political Leadership in the Contemporary West

20 creditsClass Size: 40

Module manager: David S. Bell
Email: D.S.Bell@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2008/09

This module is approved as an Elective

Module summary

In this module you will be able to explore the main issues in the developing field of contemporary political leadership in the contemporary western world as well as to review some of the current theories about political leadership. You will have the opportunity to discuss both the explanations of leadership including, of course, whether or to what extent leadership matters in the modern world as well as the discussion of morality and moral responsibility in political leadership and the personality of top leaders. Political leadership will be approached mainly through general explanations although there will be reference to specific examples from western politics and you will be expected to bring to the discussion your insights from other modules and other disciplines where they are appropriate. Much of the work on political leadership is American and that will be used to look at leadership in general but it is not necessary for you to know about US politics and the module is not about the American presidency. You will be able to concentrate in particular on the work of Machiavelli and on the ideas of 'charisma' and leadership persona. For further information see the School of Politics and International Studies website. If you cannot find the answer to your question then email D.S.Bell@leeds.ac.uk

Objectives

On completion of this module, students will be able to analyse and better understand the actions of political leaders in democracies in regard to ambition, winning public support, creating electoral and policy coalitions, bargaining and entrepreneurship, and the roles that politicians play in significant historical and political change.

Syllabus

The course will consider a number of loosely coupled topics: competing conceptions of political leadership; transactional and transforming politicians and politics; the character of political skills and their significance in relation to contextual factors; character as a skill; leaders and mass public. The context will be American politics.

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Seminar112.0022.00
Private study hours178.00
Total Contact hours22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)200.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Presentation and non-assessed essay.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
Essay1 x 3,000 words50.00
Essay1 x 3,000 words50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 03/04/2009

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