Political science and IR society
University course discussion for Social and Political Sciences.
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Re: Political science and IR society?Pretty much the same as single honours students since they just have a load of unrestricted modules instead of History. This year I've studied British Politics, Political Analysis, Comparing Modern Polities and Globalisation. Assuming I actually pass, I'll be studying another British module, a Contemporary International Affairs module and a more advanced analytical module. This course tends to avoid the statistical and scientific side of politics though, thankfully!(Original post by IlexAquifolium)
Yes, this was my thinking. There's a lot of people asking specific questions about essays, applications and suchlike but very little general discussion about the degree itself.
Which modules do you take from the politics department as a joint honours student, Dionysus? -
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Re: Political science and IR society?It's cool that you get to take four modules - does that mean you're only doing two history compulsories, or are two of those 10-credit modules?(Original post by Dionysus)
Pretty much the same as single honours students since they just have a load of unrestricted modules instead of History. This year I've studied British Politics, Political Analysis, Comparing Modern Polities and Globalisation. Assuming I actually pass, I'll be studying another British module, a Contemporary International Affairs module and a more advanced analytical module. This course tends to avoid the statistical and scientific side of politics though, thankfully!Last edited by IlexAquifolium; 28-11-2008 at 12:53. -
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Re: Political science and IR society?Oh God. Taking the intro to IR module in the first year made me want to cry. I was just hopeless at it!(Original post by Bismarck)
So does anyone want to discuss the merits of realism, liberalism, and constructivism in IR.
That aside, I have found that I am moving increasingly towards a constructivist position in my own stuff. I started off as very stridently positivist (and was quite strongly realist in IR terms) but I am seeing the merits of critical realism and the English school more and more as time goes on.
Your good self? -
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Re: Political science and IR society?I would agree with you in that. Whilst I do argue for constructed interest as a form of structural mediation, I would also argue that those structures have inherently material constrictions. So I'm open to the idea of differential interpretations but those clearly have weighted merits dependent upon the material and structural strength of their position. I actually think IR is perhaps the least appropriate place to apply constructivism, since I interpret it very much as atomistic and intersubjective interpretations of structural limitations, which is very hard to translate to 'states' - without, as you say, the agglomerating assumptions of realism it becomes very difficult to sustain.(Original post by Bismarck)
I'm open to ideas having an impact, but I'm not convinced that those ideas aren't themselves driven by material considerations. Not a big fan of the English School. It's basically realism backed by ad hoc assumptions that are in no way consistent with realism. Things like ideational (forgot the technical term) communities seems like absolute nonsense to me. I'm a big fan of neoclassical realism, which maintains that the international system has an effect on foreign policy (like neorealists) but also look at domestic factors and the way they interact with the foreign policy making process.
Tell me more about neoclassical realism. It's been a while since I've done IR (I'm a political analyst and comparative European politics person). Is it sort of analogous to a structural MLG theory of IR? If so that sounds really interesting. -
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Re: Political science and IR society?Could someone explain the difference in neo-conservatism and conservatism?
Also, I'm thinking of buying this book, what do you think? It's supposed to be the best way to get learning IR. -
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Re: Political science and IR society?Neo-conservatism? As in what Cameron's up to? To do that you'd have to define old conservatism - which is difficult enough in itself, there are about 5 ideological strands that have come to the fore at different times.(Original post by e-lover)
Could someone explain the difference in neo-conservatism and conservatism?
Also, I'm thinking of buying this book, what do you think? It's supposed to be the best way to get learning IR.
Baylis and Smith is a great book. I was thinking of trying to concoct an essential booklist actually, would anyone be interested in helping or reading it? -
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Re: Political science and IR society?I mean like the Bush driven neo-conservatism. Cameron's more a liberal conservative I would say.(Original post by IlexAquifolium)
Neo-conservatism? As in what Cameron's up to? To do that you'd have to define old conservatism - which is difficult enough in itself, there are about 5 ideological strands that have come to the fore at different times.
Baylis and Smith is a great book. I was thinking of trying to concoct an essential booklist actually, would anyone be interested in helping or reading it?
Yeah a booklist would be great. You could pick out the best 5 books for each topic in Political science would be great. -
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Re: Political science and IR society?Oh God, sorry! I can be really dense at times.(Original post by e-lover)
I mean like the Bush driven neo-conservatism. Cameron's more a liberal conservative I would say.
Yeah a booklist would be great. You could pick out the best 5 books for each topic in Political science would be great.
That was a proper clanger. In my rather weak defense, my mind was on neo-liberalism... I know Fukuyama (much as I hate him, he's actually admitted he's wrong this time) has got a book out that might be worth reading: http://www.amazon.co.uk/After-Neocon...2785524&sr=8-3
I'll get weaving on a booklist that others can add to and disagree with as they see fit.
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Re: Political science and IR society?He moved there this year. I haven't had him myself, but I'm told he's good!(Original post by e-lover)
Hey Ilex, any famous political scientists at brum? I heard Ronan Palen goes there? The political economist? Is he any good. -
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Re: Political science and IR society?Books
This is as far as I've got.
British Politics
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EU
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Introductory Texts:
European Union Politics
Government and Politics of the European Union
Further Reading
Ever Closer Union (history)
The Political System of the European Union (the daddy of EU books!)
Theories of European Integration
European Integration Theory
Economics of European Integration
European Union Economics and Policies
Policy Making in the European Union
Globalization and IPE
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Political Analysis
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Political Analysis
The State: Theories and Issues
Theory and Methods in Political Science
Further Reading - tonnes! Individual key authors. I will edit this to include some more when I have time
The Poulantzas Reader
Social Theory of International Politics
Institutional Theory in Political Science
Politics and Fate
The Rise and Fall of Elites: Application of Theoretical Sociology
On Democracy
Methods
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Political Philosophy
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Return later!
IR
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I'm rubbish at IR.
Last edited by IlexAquifolium; 06-06-2008 at 22:46. -
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Re: Political science and IR society?That's an awesome book, I must say. I read it in my first year.(Original post by IlexAquifolium)
Oh God, sorry! I can be really dense at times. That was a proper clanger. In my rather weak defense, my mind was on neo-liberalism... I know Fukuyama (much as I hate him, he's actually admitted he's wrong this time) has got a book out that might be worth reading: http://www.amazon.co.uk/After-Neocon...2785524&sr=8-3
I'll get weaving on a booklist that others can add to and disagree with as they see fit.
As for the IR debate, I like realism. -
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Re: Political science and IR society?(Original post by Bismarck)
Which type? My only 80 was for an essay comparing the different types of realism.
I got two 85s this year in presentations and two 80s in essays. I was well impressed with myself(Original post by Socrates)
Bastard. Highest I've ever got was a 70, and wasn't for IR either.
It's all downhill from here, where I roundly disappoint everyone in my MA.
Bismark, I'll reply to your IR post tomorrow when I'm a bit more compos mentis! Cheers for the rep BTW - just got an extra gem.
Have to say, I haven't the foggiest. You're probably better off picking up the Heywood book (Politics).(Original post by Vesta)
What do people think of the "Very Short Introduction" books? I'm thinking of buying the politics box set which has democracy, capitalism, socialism etc in it. Just so I can widen my knowledge?
