BASS Politics and Criminology

The aims of this unit are to: 

- Equip students to understand typologies of violence and disorder from multiple perspectives 

- Encourage students to link the contested notions of violence and social harm to a range of settings and practices 

- Enable students to discuss their interpretations of violence in an interactive manner 

For the 2024-25 academic year the course will be delivered every week over the first semester. It will consist of a 2-hour lecture and a 1-hour seminar.

• Analyse the differences between typologies of violence 

• Assess the ways in which violence and harm are contested concepts 
• Explain the implications of different responses to violence at the local, national, and global levels 

• Create a discussion on an aspect of violence and disorder 

• Communicate verbally about violence and the debates surrounding it 

A 20-minute podcast forming 100% weighting.
 

A 500-word plan of the proposed podcast structure and content.

Feedback to students is provided in the following ways: 

- Informal and verbal feedback during workshops on student contributions – this can also be discussed with staff beyond workshops 

- Students can discuss and/or submit a detailed one-page plan for their summative work (essay and podcast), staff will provide written feedback within 10 working days 

- e-Learning can provide informal feedback on the design and structure of podcasts and associated technical issues 

- Written feedback for summative assessments to be provided within standard SoSS timeframes 

Lauwaert, L., Smith, L.K., Sternad, C. (eds.) (2019) Violence and Meaning. Palgrave Macmillan. 

Stanko, E.A. (ed.) (2005) The Meanings of Violence. London: Routledge. 

Tyner, J.A. (2016) Violence in Capitalism: Devaluing Life in an Age of Responsibility. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. 

Zahn, M.A., Brownstein, H.H., and Jackson, S.L. (2015) Violence: From Theory to Research. Abingdon: Routledge.