IR3056 Political Leadership: Theories and History

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 9

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

Tues 3pm

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr B G Tsokov

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Boris Tsokov

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module investigates the meaning, role, significance, value or ethics of political leadership in the western tradition. Its overall objective is to enable students to analyse and evaluate descriptive, historical, and normative arguments on the significance and function of political leaders in contemporary politics. The module examines competing theories of leadership in their historical and intellectual contexts; it analyses' leadership' in relation to other political concepts such as sovereignty, democracy, rule of law, and patriarchy. The approach is theoretical and philosophical; examples of historical leaders (e.g. Mandela, Thatcher) will be used to highlight strengths and weaknesses of competing theories of leadership, and to emphasise their ideological assumptions and implications.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS IR2006

Assessment pattern

3-hour Written Examination = 50%, Coursework = 50%

Re-assessment

3-hour Written Examination = 50%, Coursework = 50%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 x 1-hour lecture (x 10 weeks), 1 x 1-hour tutorial (x 10 weeks), 2 consultation hours with Coordinator (x 12 weeks). 2 hours examination feedback in week 1 of following semester.

Scheduled learning hours

46

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

254

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • acquire familiarity with classical texts on leadership
  • develop sensitivity to intellectual and historical contexts within which theories of leadership are developed
  • understand the meaning of leadership in relation to political concepts such as sovereignty, prerogative, patriarchy, and democracy
  • identify the role and significance of leaders in the contemporary world vis-Ó-vis earlier times
  • develop an ability to formulate, present, defend and critique notions of leadership in a cogent manner.
  • develop an ability to identify, retrieve and utilise relevant electronic resources on a given topic.