Politics: An Introduction



Overview

Politics shapes the world around us, from the decisions made in parliament to the movements that shape public opinion. But how do political systems really work, and what ideas and forces influence them? 

This course offers a wide-ranging introduction to the study of politics, giving you the tools to make sense of national and international events, government systems and the ideologies behind political decision-making. You’ll explore political behaviour, the role of the state, global governance, and the power of political ideas — from liberalism and conservatism to Marxism, feminism and populism. 

Each week focuses on a key area, helping you build a strong foundation in political theory, institutions and policy processes. You’ll also consider how politics intersects with identity, media, and protest movements, and what this means for democracy today. 

The course is designed for anyone with an interest in understanding how power works, whether you follow politics closely or are just getting started. 

This course has no live sessions. You will study structured materials at your own pace each week. Find out more about how our short online courses are taught.

Programme details

The course is broken down into 10 units over 10 weeks, each requiring approximately 10 hours of study time. The following topics are covered:

1. Introducing Politics.
• Politics as a social science subject
• Key elements of politics: ideas, behaviour, institutions and policy processes
• Identifying state forms and functions
• State-citizen relationships

2. Key Concepts in Politics.
• The relationship between power and authority
• Identifying and classifying rights and freedoms
• Equality as a key element of justice

3. Political Ideas and the State.
• Idea of the ‘social contract’ and rise of the liberal state
• Collectivism, social provision and the liberal-democratic state
• Marx and the capitalist state

4. Trends and Issues in International Politics.
• Theories of international politics
• The Cold War and its aftermath
• Conflict in the Middle East

5. Globalisation, International Institutions and the Idea of Global Governance.
• Theories of Globalization
• Globalization and its critics
• Institutes of economic governance
• The idea of global governance

6. Political Ideologies and Movements of the Left.
• Marxism and communism
• Social democracy and reformism
• Nationalsim and national liberation
• Collectivism and state intervention
• Feminism

7. Political Ideologies and Movements of the Right.
• Conservatism
• Fascism and National Socialism
• Neo-fascism
• Neo-liberalism

• Populism

8. Political Behaviour.
• Political identity and voting behaviour
• Political parties and interest groups as political vehicles
• Impact of the mass media on politics and government
• Comparison of electoral systems

9. Governmental Systems and Structures.
• Centralised and devolved systems of government
• Legislative systems and representation
• Constitutions
• Leadership in government

10. Policy-making and Implementation.
• The notion of ‘governance’ in public administration
• Models for decision-making
• Management processes and policy implementation

We strongly recommend that you try to find a little time each week to engage in the online conversations (at times that are convenient to you) as the forums are an integral, and very rewarding, part of the course and the online learning experience.

Textbooks

To participate in this course you will need to have regular access to the Internet and you will need to buy the following books:

  • Tansey, S. and Jackson, N., 2014 Politics: the Basics, Fifth edition, London, Routledge. (An eBook version is also available)
  • Leftwich, A. (ed), 2004 What Is Politics?, Cambridge, Polity. (Reprints, or the 2015 eBook version can also be used.)

Please ensure you are able to access copies of any required textbooks prior to enrolling on a course but please keep in mind that courses with insufficient students enrolled will be cancelled. The Department accepts no responsibility for books bought in anticipation of a course running.

Certification

Credit Application Transfer Scheme (CATS) points 

Coursework is an integral part of all online courses and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework. All those enrolled on an online courses are registered for credit and will be awarded CATS points for completing work at the required standard.

See more information on CATS points

Digital credentials

All students who pass their final assignment will be eligible for a digital Certificate of Completion. Upon successful completion, you will receive a link to download a University of Oxford digital certificate. Information on how to access this digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course you attended. You will be able to download your certificate or share it on social media if you choose to do so. 

Please note that assignments are not graded but are marked either pass or fail. 

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee £415.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:

Concessionary fees for short courses

Tutor

Dr Ian Taylor

Ian was awarded his doctorate from the LSE in 1977. Having taught previously at Bristol Polytechnic and Exeter University, he spent thirty years at Aston University, where he became Head of Public Policy in 2009. He has taught part-time for the Open University since 1985 and for the University of Oxford’s Department for Continuing Education since 2011.

Course aims

This course aims to introduce participants to the study of politics. This course will enable participants to:

  • Gain an understanding of the principal theories, concepts and ideologies that have influenced the development of the contemporary state
  • Develop an understanding of political behaviour
  • Understand how legislative and governmental systems work
  • Appreciate the connection between the global and local through studying policy-making and implementation processes

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course students will be expected to have gained the following skills:

  • The ability to analyse and discuss ideas criticallyli>
  • The ability to identify and compare the key characteristics of political and governmental institutions and how they function/li>
  • The ability to compare and contrast politics in different countries
  • The ability to research current political issues and relate them to the course material

Assessment methods

You will be set two pieces of work for the course. The first of 500 words is due halfway through your course. This does not count towards your final outcome but preparing for it, and the feedback you are given, will help you prepare for your assessed piece of work of 1,500 words due at the end of the course. The assessed work is marked pass or fail.

 

Application

Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an Enrolment form for short courses | Oxford University Department for Continuing Education

Level and demands

FHEQ level 4, 10 weeks, approx 10 hours per week, therefore a total of about 100 study hours.

English Language Requirements

We do not insist that applicants hold an English language certification, but warn that they may be at a disadvantage if their language skills are not of a comparable level to those qualifications listed on our website. If you are confident in your proficiency, please feel free to enrol. For more information regarding English language requirements please follow this link: https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/about/english-language-requirements

IT requirements

This course is delivered online; to participate you must to be familiar with using a computer for purposes such as sending email and searching the Internet. You will also need regular access to the Internet and a computer meeting our recommended minimum computer specification.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support