Politics

Sixth Form

“Ideas are great arrows, but there has to be a bow. And politics is the bow of idealism.” Carl Sandberg

Politics will strongly appeal to you if you are interested in discussing current affairs and in how our daily lives are governed by those in authority. It will appeal to you even more if you can see that politics has an impact on us all and that it is really about trying to challenge and change the world around us.

AS

The AS Course aims to give you a sound understanding of British Government and an up-to-date grasp of current events. You will study the Edexcel specification. The course is examined through a series of stepped questions. Answers require short essays of varying lengths. One of the two AS modules is taken in January and the other in June.

Unit 1. People and Politics.This unit introduces you to how government and people interact. You may think that government exerts huge power yet the people always retain the trump card – they can always vote their representatives out of office! You will explore the following questions:

·    What is political in the newspapers?
·    Why are political participation and democracy so important?
·    Do elections guarantee democracy?
·    Do elections change anything?
·    What do the major UK political parties stand for?

Unit 2. Governing the UK.This unit introduces you to the major governmental processes within the UK. You will develop a critical understanding of the role and effectiveness of Parliament, the Judiciary and the Prime Minister. You will explore the following questions:

·    What is the nature of the UK constitution?
·    Is there a need for constitutional reform?
·    Is the Prime Minister becoming increasingly ‘presidential’?
·    How much power does Parliament really have?
·    Do judges deliver justice and freedom?

A2

The A2 course aims to explore the major world political ideologies. At the end of your time at Cranleigh you will subsequently find yourself fluent in the principles that underpin, say, neo-conservatism in the USA or the environmental movement in Europe. One of the two A2 modules is taken in January and the other in June.

Unit 3. Introducing Political Ideologies.This unit introduces you to the subject of political ideology and examines the major ideas of liberalism, conservatism, socialism and anarchism. You will explore the following questions:

·    Should we tolerate the intolerable?
·    Is liberal democracy an end in itself?
·    Why do conservatives revere tradition?
·    How did Soviet communism differ from the ideas of Marx?
·    Why do anarchists think we can survive and prosper without a state?


Unit 4. Other Ideological Traditions.This unit examines the ideological traditions which have developed out of, or have emerged in opposition to, liberalism, conservatism and socialism. These are nationalism, feminism, environmentalism and multiculturalism. You will explore the following questions:

·    Is nationalism always likely to be expansionist and destructive?
·    Do women remain an oppressed sex?
·    Do boys and girls still suffer from ‘gender stereotyping’ at home and in public?
·    Is environmentalism a pseudo ideology?
·    Is multiculturalism a realistic political ideal?

Pupils who enjoy politics tend to like discussing and debating anything and everything. The ability to get involved and offer an opinion is far more important than it being the right one! A Level Politics can be an excellent springboard to careers in law, diplomacy, journalism, business and government.