To introduce students to the distinctive character of contemporary populist political parties and movements in Britain and other established democracies;

To equip students with an understanding of the factors which have driven the rise of political populism in Britain and other established democracies;

To enable students to identify and debate the potential consequences of populism for mainstream party politics and for established democratic norms and institutions;

To engage students with some of the most important questions in contemporary western political science.

(LO1) Students will be able to identify and discuss the common and distinctive features of left- and right-wing populism in a range of established democracies.

(LO2) Students will be able to compare and contrast the character of contemporary populist political parties and movements in Britain with those in other established democracies.

(LO3) Students will be able to demonstrate a sound understanding of the factors which have driven the rise of political populism in Britain and other established democracies.

(LO4) Students will be able to outline and discuss the potential consequences of populism for mainstream party politics and for established democratic norms and institutions.

(S1) Time management, organisation and adaptability

(S2) Communicate complex ideas both written and orally.

(S3) Teamwork

(S4) Ability to apply topic-specific knowledge and concepts; critical and analytical thinking

(S5) Information gathering, evaluation and synthesis

(S6) Ability to work under pressure

(S7) Enhanced research skills.

Topics covered during the module may include:

Defining and mapping populist politics: left and right, past and present;

Forms of populism in British politics;

The rise of UKIP as a populist party and its impact on British party politics;

The origins, course and outcomes of the 2016 Brexit referendum;

Donald Trump and the 2016 US Presidential election;

Left populism in Southern Europe: Podemos and Syriza;

Right populism in Europe: from Le Pen to the AfD;

Authoritarian populism in Central and Eastern Europe;

Antipodean populism: New Zealand First, One Nation, and the rest;

Latin American populism: The pink tide;

The implications of populism for contemporary representative democracy.

Teaching Method 1 - Lecture.
Description: Standard, one hour weekly lecture.
Attendance Recorded: No.

Teaching Method 2 - Seminar.
Description: Weekly, one hour seminars in groups of up to 20 students.
Attendance Recorded: Yes.

Skill / other attribute 1:
Time management, organisation and adaptability.
How this is developed:
Students will be equipped with these skills by meeting various deadlines, such as readings in time for seminars, essay hand in, and exam revision.

Skill / other attribute 2:
Communicate complex ideas both written and orally.
How this is developed:
The concepts discussed in lectures and seminars will equip students with the language of local government studies. The seminars will allow students to engage in discussions about these complex theories.

Skill / other attribute 3:
Teamwork.
How this is developed:
Through numerous group project tasks in seminars.

Skill / other attribute 4:< br/>Ability to apply topic-specific knowledge and concepts; critical and analytical thinking.
How this is developed:
Students will gain experience of applying knowledge and concepts in the seminars, as well as in the essay. Students will be encouraged to engage critically and analytically through debates and discussions.

Skill / other attribute 5:
Information gathering, evaluation and synthesis.
How this is developed:
Students will practice these skills in their essays, as well as in seminar discussions.

Skill / other attribute 6:
Ability to work under pressure.
How this is developed:
This will be developed by timed activities in seminars, including mock or surprise tests.

Skill / other attribute 7:
Enhanced research skills.
How this is developed:
Students will be equipped with the skills required to enhance their research skills by the methodological approaches used both in the lectures and seminars.