Government and Politics

Course summary

Politics is about how we are governed. It concerns how decisions are made about government, state and public affairs; where power lies; how governments and states work; and different theories and practices such as democracy, equality, tyranny and violence. In the course, we look at the activities of political parties and politicians and all sorts of other groups and individuals who take part in political activity and help to shape the society in which we live. Few students have a background in GCSE Politics. This is unnecessary, and many students choose the subject because – as with Economics, Law and Sociology – it is a “new”, unfamiliar subject. It is especially suitable for those studying related disciplines such as the ones above and History, but it can work well as a third subject which contrasts with the main A-level courses selected. What is needed is an interest in current affairs (or a willingness to develop one), an open-minded appreciation of both sides of an argument and an ability to communicate views clearly on paper. One of the obvious advantages of Politics is that, by reading a newspaper, watching television or consulting the Internet, all sorts of useful examples can be incorporated into one’s knowledge and understanding.