GY204      Half Unit
Political Geography

This information is for the 2025/26 session.

Availability

This course is available on the BA in Geography, BSc in Economic History and Geography, BSc in Environment and Sustainable Development, BSc in Environment and Sustainable Development with Economics, BSc in Environmental Policy with Economics, BSc in Geography with Economics, Erasmus Reciprocal Programme of Study and Exchange Programme for Students from University of California, Berkeley. This course is freely available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. It does not require permission. This course is freely available to General Course students. It does not require permission.

This course is capped. Places will be assigned on a first come first served basis.

Requisites

Additional requisites:

GY100 would be advantageous.

Course content

An introduction to political geography. Topics covered include power and states, nationalism, collective mobilisation and social movements, elections, and democratisation.

Teaching

This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Winter Term.

15 hours of lectures, 10 hours of classes in the WT.

Formative assessment

Students will be expected to produce 1 essay in the WT.

Indicative reading

  • Peter Taylor and Colin Flint (2018) Political Geography. Routledge.
  • Joe Painter and Alex Jeffrey (2009) Political Geography: an introduction to space and power. Sage.
  • Benedict Anderson (2016) Imagined Communities: reflections on the origins and spread of nationalism. Verso.
  • Sidney Tarrow (2011) Power in Movement: social movements and contentious politics. Cambridge University Press.
  • Ruth Collier (1999) Paths toward Democracy: the working class and elites in Western Europe and South America. Cambridge University Press.

Assessment

Exam (100%), duration: 120 Minutes in the Spring exam period


Key facts

Department: Geography and Environment

Course Study Period: Winter Term

Unit value: Half unit

FHEQ Level: Level 5

CEFR Level: Null

Total students 2024/25: 57

Average class size 2024/25: 14

Capped 2024/25: No
Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Course selection videos

Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.

Personal development skills

  • Self-management
  • Problem solving
  • Communication