GY205     
Political Geographies, Policy and Space

This information is for the 2015/16 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Murray Low STC.S512

Availability

This course is available on the BA in Geography, BSc in Environment and Development, BSc in Environmental Policy with Economics and BSc in Geography with Economics. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit and to General Course students.

Course content

An introduction to the relevance of a geographical perspective for explanation of contemporary political processes, and of a political perspective for explanation of contemporary geographies, at scales from the local to the global. Topics covered include: states; geopolitics; empires and national states; citizenship rights, migration and national 'closure'; nationalism, territory and identity; geographies of elections and representation; democratization; globalisation, neo-liberalism and governance.

Teaching

20 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the MT. 10 hours of lectures and 5 hours of classes in the LT. 2 hours of lectures in the ST.

Formative coursework

Students will be expected to submit one formative essay per term of up to 1,500 words.

Indicative reading

Detailed reading lists will include journal articles, but indicative texts include: J Agnew, Making Political Geography, 2002; C Barnett and M Low (eds.) Spaces of Democracy 2004; J Agnew & S Corbridge, Mastering Space, 1995; K Cox, M Low and J Robinson (eds) The Sage Handbook of Political Geography, 2008.

Assessment

Exam (75%, duration: 3 hours) in the main exam period.
Essay (25%, 2000 words) in the LT.

Student performance results

(2012/13 - 2014/15 combined)

Classification % of students
First 19.8
2:1 66.7
2:2 13.6
Third 0
Fail 0

Key facts

Department: Geography & Environment

Total students 2014/15: 37

Average class size 2014/15: 18

Capped 2014/15: No

Value: One Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

PDAM skills

  • Self-management
  • Problem solving
  • Communication