SCHOOL OF BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT

DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS ADMINSTRATION

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN BUSINESS ADMINSTRATION

COURSE OUTLINE

COURSE TITLE: INTRODUCTION TO POLITICS

COURSE CODE: POL100
CREDITS: 3
TOTAL HOURS: 45
PRE-REQUISITES: NONE

RATIONALE

Introduction to Politics is aimed towards exposing students to the nature and main forms of
political institutions and government in the Caribbean as well as significant culture
manifestations in the region.
The course does not assume prior knowledge of core concepts; therefore, a great deal of
reading is required. The discipline of the subject matter will require that students shed biases
and prejudices and thus adopt an open mind in dealing with the content.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This is an introductory course that will focus on the basic principles of political science by
combining historical study of the discipline’s greatest thinkers with an analysis of
contemporary issues. We will also identify and discuss the questions that perennially drive
the field of political science, including- “How do we define the changing nature of power?”,
or “How do we differentiate between legitimate and illegitimate governance?”

GENERAL OBJECTIVES
At the end of the course, participants should be able to:

 Students will be able to share main issues in Caribbean politics and Government and
relate them to central political themes, concepts and theories.

 Demonstrate understanding of political concepts, ideologies and governance

structures in various societies.

 Analytically express and share opinions grounded in political science to contemporary

settings.

Page 1 of 11

INTRODUCTION TO POLITICS
THIS VERSION SUPERSEDES ALL OTHER VERSIONS. SEPTEMBER 2021
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

 Have an appreciation of the history of politics & political parties within the Caribbean
 Discuss general approaches to the study of politics, such as political ideologies and
political economy;
 Explain the political culture, socialization process and understand the nature of
political participation from a comparative perspective;

 Understand political systems and concepts of democracy, capitalism, socialism,

autocracy and communism

 Discuss the influence of public opinion on the political decision-making process;

 Assess the general principles of electoral systems, presidential and parliamentary
political systems;
 Assess the role of media in politics and governance
 Examine the nature and issues inherent in Caribbean politics
 Examine government regulation towards the environment & sustainable development
 Assess the impact of Globalization & Regionalism

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT

UNIT 1: THE NATURE OF POLITICS AND POLITICAL SCIENCE 3 HOURS

UNIT 2: THE HISTORY OF POLITICS WITHIN THE CARIBBEAN 6 HOURS
UNIT 3: POLITICAL CULTURE AND POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION 3 HOURS
UNIT 4: POLITICAL SYSTEM 6 HOURS
UNIT 5: VOTING SYSTEMS & SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT 6 HOURS
UNIT 6: MEDIA, POLITICS & GOVERNANCE 6 HOURS
UNIT 7: ISSUES OF GOVERNANCE 6 HOURS
UNIT 8: Government Regulating 3 HOURS
UNIT 9: GLOBALIZATION AND REGIONALISM 3 HOURS
REVISION 3 HOURS
45 HOURS

Page 2 of 11

INTRODUCTION TO POLITICS
THIS VERSION SUPERSEDES ALL OTHER VERSIONS. SEPTEMBER 2021
UNIT 1: The Nature of Politics and Political Science 3 Hours

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this unit students should be able to:

 Articulate the basic definition of political science and politics

 Analyze the difference between political science and politics
 Appreciate the importance of the changing definition of political science and politics
 Appreciate the importance of governments within countries

CONTENT:
1. What is Politics?
2. What is Political Science?
3. The history/development of Politics and its major contributors
4. Issues impacting to the growth/evolution of politics and political science
5. Examine issues of small size, geographic location and environmental conditions and
its impact on Caribbean’s political governance and foreign policy
6. Role and function of government

Unit 2: The History of Politics within the Caribbean 6 Hours

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this unit students should be able to:

 Identify the main issues shaping Caribbean politics today

 Discuss how these issues came about
 Discuss some of the leading global/regional/local institutions associated with the
changes occurring in modern Caribbean societies

CONTENT:
1. Decolonization
2. The Evolution of Political Parties
3. How global events shape Caribbean politics
4. The effects of multilaterals on economic policy
5. Questions raised by the nature of the political and government system

UNIT 3: Political Culture and Political Socialization 3 Hours

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this unit students should be able to:

Page 3 of 11

INTRODUCTION TO POLITICS
THIS VERSION SUPERSEDES ALL OTHER VERSIONS. SEPTEMBER 2021
  Identify the agents of primary & secondary socialization
 Analyze and interpret the process of primary political socialization
 Appreciate the importance of secondary political socialization
 Discuss the major factors that affect changes in political behavior and political culture
 Understand the impact of social factors & forces
 Appreciate the importance of access to information, population movements, rapid
urbanization and opportunity structure

CONTENT:
1. Agents of socialization
a. Family
b. Church
c. School
d. Media etc
2. Identifying with the processes of political socialization
3. Political Behaviour
a. Conventional
b. Unconventional
4. Political Participation
a. Direct
b. Indirect
c. Voter apathy & attitudes towards elections

UNIT 4: Political Systems 6 Hours

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this unit students should be able to:

 Define the concepts of democracy, socialism, capitalism autocracy and communism

 Critically analyze the connections between democracy and capitalism
 Discuss the impact of modern capitalism on the field of politics
 Identify and define a state
 Identify and define liberal democracy
 Understand the nuances/concept of majority rule and minority rights

CONTENT:
1. What is State?
2. Types of states
a. Democratic
b. Communism
c. Socialist

3. What is Democracy?
4. Identify the features of democracy
Page 4 of 11

INTRODUCTION TO POLITICS
THIS VERSION SUPERSEDES ALL OTHER VERSIONS. SEPTEMBER 2021
 5. What is Capitalism?
6. Explore capitalism in various governance structures
7. Is there capitalism without democracy?
8. Understanding Socialism
9. What are the economic and social implications of capitalism versus socialism?

UNIT 5: Voting Systems & System of Government 6 Hours

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this unit students should be able to:

 Understand the main electoral systems used in the world

 Identify the branches of state power and state authority
 Compare and contrast the parliamentary and presidential systems of democratic
government
 Have a basic understanding of the US electoral system

CONTENT:

1. Types of electoral systems:

- First Past the Post
- Majority
- Proportional Representation
- Mixed
2. Presidential & Parliamentary System
Branches/arm of government
a. Legislative
b. Executive
c. Judiciary
3. US Electoral College

UNIT 6: Media, Politics and Governance 6 Hours

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this unit students should be able to:

 Discuss the emerging role of the media in political systems

 Discuss the impact that media have on political parties
 Discuss the impact that media have on constituents
 Analyze how this has impacted politics in general

Page 5 of 11

INTRODUCTION TO POLITICS
THIS VERSION SUPERSEDES ALL OTHER VERSIONS. SEPTEMBER 2021
CONTENT:
1. Define media
2. Identify ways in which information can be disseminated via traditional and emerging
social media influences
3. The history of political parties and their relationships with media
4. The impact of the media on political parties and the society
5. Discuss the importance of Public Relations in governance
6. Examine the issue of media ownership and the concept of media as the fourth branch
of the state
7. Analyze the impact of Information Communications Technology (ICT) on modern
societies
8. Discuss the impact of ICT on contemporary Caribbean politics

UNIT 7: Issues of Governance 6 Hours

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this unit students should be able to:

 Discuss the issues of governance that have arisen in recent years

 Discuss how these issues can be mitigated
 Articulate the importance of the facets of good governance
 Identify and discuss the features of constitutional reform
 Assess the importance of constitutional reform

CONTENT:
1. Governance explained
2. Tenets of governance explored
3. Issues within governance
4. Explain the necessity of constitutional reform
5. Explore the proposed constitutional reform areas across the region
6. Solving issues within government/governance
7. Government Oversight

UNIT 8: Government Regulating 3 Hours

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this unit students should be able to:
 Discuss the regulatory role of the government
 Assess the importance of sustainable development

CONTENT:
1. Regulatory role of the state and local governance

Page 6 of 11

INTRODUCTION TO POLITICS
THIS VERSION SUPERSEDES ALL OTHER VERSIONS. SEPTEMBER 2021
 2. Government intervention and regulation
3. Environmental regulation and contemporary infrastructure development

UNIT 9: Globalization and Regionalism 3 Hours

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this unit students should be able to:

 Assess the impact of Globalization & Regionalism

 Discuss the issues related to contemporary Caribbean politics
 Discuss the importance of international organizations
 Analyze the impact of revolutionary technologies
 Examine the effects of globalization on state sovereignty

CONTENT:
1. What is Globalization?
2. What is Regionalism?
3. State the advantages and disadvantages of globalization and regionalism
4. Discuss a changing world as a result of globalization.
5. Discuss regional integration: CARICOM, CSME & CCJ
6. Explain issues relating to globalization and regionalism
7. Assess state sovereignty and globalization regionalism

TEACHING STRATEGIES
● Lectures
● Class Discussions
● Writing Exercises
● Group Activities/Presentations
● Critiques
● Handouts

ASSESSMENT

A student MUST register a pass in both the EOM as well as the MME to be successful in the
Module. The student MUST do all pieces of course work. Please note that this course has a
weighting of 40% for the EOM and 60% for coursework. Each student's final grade for the
course will be computed using the following weighted scheme:

Page 7 of 11

INTRODUCTION TO POLITICS
THIS VERSION SUPERSEDES ALL OTHER VERSIONS. SEPTEMBER 2021
 Two Discussion Questions 20%
Mid-Module Assessment 20%
Reflective Piece 20%

Final Exam 40%

Total 100%

READING LIST

Munroe, T. (2001). Introduction to politics for first year students. Pelican Press: UWI
Mona.

RECOMMENDED READINGS:

Barrow, C. (2002). Introduction to Caribbean politics: Texts and Readings, Ian

Randle Publishers, Kingston.

Daniel P. Erickson (2005) “The Caribbean: Democracy Adrift?” Journal of Democracy.

Dennis Benn & Kenneth Hall eds. (2000). Globalization – A Calculus of Inequality

[particularly papers by Profs. Thomas, Girvan, Bernal]

Gabriel Almond, Political Science: “History of the Discipline in -A New Handbook of

Political Science (1998) Eds R. Goodin and H Klingermann, Oxford University Press.

Gregory Mahler, (2003). Comparative Politics: An Institutional and Cross-National

Approach (4th Edition). Prentice Hall, New Jersey.

John Harrigan and David Nice, (2001). Politics and Policy in States and Communities (7th
Edition), Priscilla McGeehon, New York.

Kenneth Hall (2003) Government in the Age of Globalization – Caribbean Perspectives

Michael Roskin, Robert L. Cord et al (2005), Political Science: An Introduction (9th

Edition), Prentice Hall, USA.

Norman Girvan (2007), Toward a Single Development Vision and the Role of the Single

Economy, http://www.caricom.org/jsp/single_market/single_economy_girvan.pdf

Page 8 of 11

INTRODUCTION TO POLITICS
THIS VERSION SUPERSEDES ALL OTHER VERSIONS. SEPTEMBER 2021
Patrick Dunleavy et al Developments in British Politics (7th ed. 2003) chpts. 2,3,4,6.

Ralph Gonsalves “Governance in the Caribbean in the Age of Globalization” The Daily

Observer September 2001.

Ralph Gonsalves, “Westminster in the Caribbean : Viability, Past and Present, prospects for

reform and radical departure”, CAS/UNDP/ UWI Conference, Jan 21, 2002-08-26

Robert Coxall, Lynton Robins and Robert Leach (2003), Contemporary British Politics,

Part 1 and Part 111

Selwyn Ryan, (1999) Winner Takes All: The Westminster Experience in the Caribbean,
ISER, St. Augustine.

Thomas L. Friedman, Thank You for Being Late, FARRAR, STRAUS and GIROUX, New
York, 2016, chapters 2/9

World Bank (1996) From Plan to Market: World Development Report, Introduction

Recommended Documentaries

Blood and Fire: Jamaica Political History

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZO5lTRMg-Js&t=2890s

Black, Stephanie, et al (2001) Life and Debt

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AND COPYRIGHT

UCC demands a high level of scholarly behavior and academic honesty on the part of its
students. Any assignment, test paper, project, or report submitted by you and that bears your
name will be assumed to be your own original work that has not been previously submitted
for credit in another course unless you obtain prior written permission to do so from your
lecturer. In all assignments, or drafts of paper, you may use words or ideas written by other
individuals in publications, websites or other sources, but only with proper attribution.
“Proper attribution” means that you have fully identified the original source and extent of
your use of the words or ideas of others that you reproduce in your work for this course. This
is normally done in the form of a footnote or parenthesis. Failure to do so is plagiarism and is
considered a form of academic dishonesty. Please refer to the UCC Library and Information
Centre if you are uncertain how to cite your references

Page 9 of 11

INTRODUCTION TO POLITICS
THIS VERSION SUPERSEDES ALL OTHER VERSIONS. SEPTEMBER 2021
 IMPORTANT NOTE ON PLAGIARISM

Plagiarism is a form of intellectual theft. If you fail to acknowledge your sources or make it
appear that someone else’s work is your own, you are guilty of plagiarism. The scholarly
world operates by exchanging information and crediting the sources of that information. If
you violate that process, you have committed a crime in the academic community. If you are
having difficulty completing a paper on time, or need some additional help, or are unsure of
how or where to document a source, please contact your lecturer or go to the librarian for
help so you can avoid inadvertently or intentionally plagiarizing a source.

You will be charged with plagiarism if you:

❖ Copy from published sources without adequate documentation.
❖ Intentionally or unintentionally appropriate the ideas, language, key terms, or findings
of another without sufficient acknowledgment that such material is not your own and
without acknowledging the source.
❖ Purchase a pre-written paper (either by mail or electronically).
❖ Let someone else write a paper for you.
❖ Reproduce someone else’s project.
❖ Submit as your own someone else’s unpublished work, either with or without
permission
❖ Incorrectly cite or neglect to cite borrowed materials

Consequences of Plagiarism
❖ If the final work you submit—all of it—is not yours, it does not matter how you came
by it. Charges of plagiarism are brought to the attention of Academic Affairs, which
initiates an investigation that may lead to formal charges.
❖ The process for the investigation and adjudication of charges may be accessed at the
Dean of Students’ Office.
❖ Plagiarism is a serious offense that can result in a variety of sanctions (failure of the
course in which the plagiarism occurred and suspension from UCC among them).

Appropriate Uses of Sources

A mark of strong academic writing is demonstrated when one appropriately identifies sources
in his/her arguments and analyses. This practice is called documentation. Guidelines for how
to correctly cite materials used within your writing and assembling the list of works that you
cite in your paper are available in style manuals. Information from these style manuals can be
accessed in UCC’s Library & Information Centre
❖ Whenever you draw on another’s work, you must specify what you borrowed,
whether facts, opinions, or quotations, and where you borrowed them from.
Avoiding Plagiarism
❖ Contact your lecturer and honestly discuss a strategy for completing an assignment
rather than risk humiliation and legal charges.
❖ Become thoroughly acquainted both with the various ways in which plagiarism is

Page 10 of 11

INTRODUCTION TO POLITICS
THIS VERSION SUPERSEDES ALL OTHER VERSIONS. SEPTEMBER 2021
 construed, and with sources of proper documentation.

Reference:
American Psychological Association (2009). Publication manual of the American
Psychological Association, (6th ed.). New York: American Psychological Association

For further information, contact Academic Affairs or UCC’s Library and Information Centre
(665-3000)

END OF DOCUMENT

Page 11 of 11

INTRODUCTION TO POLITICS
THIS VERSION SUPERSEDES ALL OTHER VERSIONS. SEPTEMBER 2021