Political science and IR society

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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?

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!

Reply 21

Kitty Pimms

Dionysus

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?

Reply 22

Kitty Pimms

Bismarck

So does anyone want to discuss the merits of realism, liberalism, and constructivism in IR. :p:

Oh God. Taking the intro to IR module in the first year made me want to cry. I was just hopeless at it!

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?

Reply 23

Kitty Pimms

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.

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.

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.

Reply 24

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.

Reply 25

Kitty Pimms

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.

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?

Reply 26

e-lover

IlexAquifolium

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.

Reply 27

Kitty Pimms

e-lover

Oh God, sorry! I can be really dense at times. :doh:

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-Neocons-America-at-Crossroads/dp/1861978782/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212785524&sr=8-3

I'll get weaving on a booklist that others can add to and disagree with as they see fit. :smile:

Reply 28

e-lover

Hey Ilex, any famous political scientists at brum? I heard Ronan Palen goes there? The political economist? Is he any good.

Reply 29

Kitty Pimms

e-lover

Hey Ilex, any famous political scientists at brum? I heard Ronan Palen goes there? The political economist? Is he any good.

He moved there this year. I haven't had him myself, but I'm told he's good!

Reply 30

Kitty Pimms

Books

This is as far as I've got.

British Politics

Spoiler

Globalization and IPE

Spoiler

Political Analysis

Spoiler

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

Spoiler

Political Philosophy

Spoiler

Reply 31

Socrates

IlexAquifolium

Oh God, sorry! I can be really dense at times. :doh:

That's an awesome book, I must say. I read it in my first year. :smile:

As for the IR debate, I like realism.

Reply 32

Socrates

For political philosophy, Heywood is a good introduction.

Reply 33

Dionysus

Socrates

For political philosophy, Heywood is a good introduction.

The sole reason I might actually pass my Political Analysis exam.

Reply 34

Socrates

Bastard. Highest I've ever got was a 70, and wasn't for IR either. :p:

Reply 35

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?

Reply 36

Kitty Pimms

Dionysus

The sole reason I might actually pass my Political Analysis exam.

Pick up the Hay book, it saved my backside this year!

Reply 37

Kitty Pimms

Bismarck

Which type? My only 80 was for an essay comparing the different types of realism. :p:

Socrates

Bastard. Highest I've ever got was a 70, and wasn't for IR either. :p:

I got two 85s this year in presentations and two 80s in essays. I was well impressed with myself :p:

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. :biggrin:

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?

Have to say, I haven't the foggiest. You're probably better off picking up the Heywood book (Politics).

Reply 38

Socrates

IlexAquifolium

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. :biggrin:

He won't like that :biggrin:

Reply 39

02mik_e

The only books i ve bought so far are On Liberty & The Prince, are there any others people can recommend. Someone high advised i should buy Andrew Heywood introduction to Politics