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Society, Politics & Law
BA (Honours) Social Sciences (Politics)
You will need a computer with internet access to study for this qualification. For most OU qualifications a Microsoft Windows (new since 2007), Apple Mac (OS X 10.6 or later) or Linux computer should be adequate. However, some qualifications require more specific IT equipment, in which case you will need additional software to use an Apple Mac or Linux computer. A detailed technical specification for your modules will be made available when you register. Please note, technical specifications do change over time to match computer developments and the way we teach.
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Society, Politics & Law
BA (Honours) History and Politics
This wide-ranging course will develop and deepen your knowledge of different periods of history while providing a critical understanding of political ideas, institutions, issues and theories. You'll tackle challenging issues such as power and warfare, security and insecurity, global justice, culture and beliefs, health and medicine, imperialism and resistance, and class and gender.
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Society, Politics & Law
BA (Honours) Politics, Philosophy and Economics
Politics, philosophy and economics (PPE) are central to understanding how modern societies are organised and governed. By studying them together you'll gain a combination of skills that's in high demand across the private, public and non-profit sectors. Whilst PPE has been described as 'the degree that runs Britain', this combination is better viewed as the study of how countries are run, what motivates and constrains their rulers and residents, and how social order and prosperity are best understood and promoted. All three disciplines are presented in up-to-date form, covering alternative as well as 'mainstream' approaches and firmly rooted in the real world.
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Society, Politics & Law
Diploma of Higher Education in History and Politics
This wide-ranging course will develop your knowledge of history while providing a critical understanding of political issues, concepts and institutions. You'll tackle such exciting and challenging issues as power and equality, debates in politics at the national and global level, culture and beliefs, imperialism and resistance, class and gender. You'll learn the skills of both the political scientist and the historian in studying historical and contemporary political debates as well as analysing contested political issues and future trends and investigating a range of critical approaches to analysing history and politics.
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Society, Politics & Law
International relations: continuity and change in global politics
We live at a time of historic change in the international system. The rise of China and other large developing countries is challenging the long dominance of the west. Political upheaval and the growing role of networks are reshaping the world. Economic, social and technological changes are altering the context for international relations. This module asks the key questions about contemporary international relations. It teaches key ideas such as sovereignty and security; develops your ability to analyse and respond to some of the central problems of our day; and to understand longer trends of continuity and change in global politics.
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Society, Politics & Law
Understanding politics: ideas and institutions in the modern world
What is politics? Who is engaged in politics locally, nationally and internationally? How do we study politics? This online module answers questions like these and explores how political ideas, institutions and processes help govern our world. Using a range of study materials you'll explore the interrelationships between politicians, pundits and publics. You'll learn the key practical skills that are used to explore and explain the ways in which politics, in all its forms, helps order the social world and provide for the governance of persons and the administration of things.
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Society, Politics & Law
The age of offence
From ‘cancel culture’ to ‘wokeness’ to the ‘culture wars’, many of the terms that define our age are related to the idea of ‘offence’. Watch this documentary series to explore the role which offensive language plays in our language and politics.
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History & The Arts
A conference to honour Baruch Spinoza's forgotten masterpiece: Tractatus Theologico-Politicus
Watch video recordings of speaker presentations from a conference, which examined and celebrated the 350th anniversary of the publication of Baruch Spinoza's forgotten masterpiece: Tractatus Theologico-Politicus.
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Education & Development
Free online Politics / Economics courses
Discover these free Politics and Economics courses on OpenLearn.
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Society, Politics & Law
Deall datganoli yng Nghymru
Mae'r cwrs am ddim hwn yn dilyn y ffordd y mae setliad datganoli Cymru wedi cael ei drawsnewid yn yr 20 mlynedd ers y refferendwm ar ddatganoli yn 1997. Byddwch yn ystyried y ffordd y daeth Cynulliad â chefnogaeth mwyafrif bach iawn o'r cyhoedd a phwerau deddfu cyfyngedig yn Senedd â'r pŵer i osod trethi. Byddwch yn archwilio rhai o'r heriau mwyaf sy'n wynebu gwleidyddiaeth yng Nghymru heddiw, o ddadleuon dros faint y Senedd a diffyg craffu i gwestiynau am degwch o ran cyllido ac annibyniaeth farnwrol. Gan ddefnyddio fideo, sain ac elfennau rhyngweithiol, mae'r cwrs hwn yn dod â'r prif ddadleuon ym myd gwleidyddiaeth yng Nghymru yn fyw.
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Society, Politics & Law
Understanding devolution in Wales
This free course charts the transformation of the Welsh devolution settlement in the 20 years following the referendum on devolution in 1997. You will consider how an Assembly with minimal public support and limited law-making powers became a Parliament with the power to set taxes. You will explore some of the biggest challenges facing politics in Wales today, from debates over the size of the Senedd and lack of scrutiny to questions of funding fairness and judicial independence. Using video, audio and interactive elements, this course brings the debates dominating Welsh politics to life.
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Society, Politics & Law
How do you become US President?
Joe Biden will be sworn in as President of the United States today. Fancy running in 2024? Dr Richard Heffernan has some advice on the mechanics of the system.