Government and Politics A Level

AS Politics (with Edexcel) was British politics - elections, parties, constitutional reform etc, and even though there was quite a bit to learn I still really enjoyed it. And I found that because I already had a strong interest in Politics I actually knew quite a bit of it before studying it (although we did go into more depth).

Currently doing A2 and absolutely love it. We're doing Route D which is International Politics, but apparantly the chief examiner said that not that many people opt for this option. I reckon it's probably because it is much harder to teach. There aren't really any textbooks, for example. But if you're in a school/college which takes this option then lucky you! It is an amazing option - basically just everything that's going on around you in the world: different IGOs (UN, WTO, IMF etc), concepts like intervention - when have countries intervened and where they haven't, why not? Where does power really lie? Conflict - we looked at Israel, Rwanda, Sudan, Chechnya. The EU, the Special Relationship with the US, oh the list is endless, but soooo worth it!

Also, there are so many opportunities to do your own reading for A Level Politics and that's true with whichever A2 route you take, so if you're interested you'll be able to add to the arguments you cover in class with your own.

Does it complement other subjects? Yes. Actually all of my subjects! Definitely History, although not as much as I thought it would. Also, English Lit. and German.

I'd be very happy to send you a sample of my Politics notes if you want so you get a bit of a taster. Just PM me if you want them.

And lastly, for nationalism and socialism I reckon Wikipedia could probably do a better job answering your question:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationalism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialism