POLITICAL LEADERSHIP - 2025/6

Module Overview

This module is concerned with understanding the role of leadership in the contemporary political environment. Much attention tends to be absorbed in observing institutional factors driving change, such as parties, parliaments and demography. However, this module establishes leadership as a vital factor in politics. This unit explores the various theoretical perspectives on the role of political leadership, including charisma and psychological approaches. It uses a range of examples to illustrate key dimensions of leadership and considers to what extend the requirement of political leadership have changed in response to the contemporary political environment. By examining leadership from a gender and dyadic perspective, the module also considers whether some nations have an issue in the accessibility of (and therefore representation by) leaders. It also examines key issues political leaders face; from exploring how they cope with conflict to how they keep their hands 'clean' of corruption. It also considers ways in which we can quantify how successful a leader is. There is a focus on key issues in contemporary political events and case studies will be situated throughout the module.

Module provider

Politics & International Relations

Module Leader

MIDDLETON Alia (Politics IR)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

n/a

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• How to become a leader


• How to manage others


• How to manage crises


• How to win elections


• The power of personality and post-leadership careers

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate:

• The ability to apply theoretical concepts to political leadership

• The collection and analysis of an original evidence base

• Strong use of primary research skills.

• The ability to integrate original research with existing literature/knowledge.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Leadership profile: 2000 words 

• Essay : 2000 words 

For the leadership profile, students are required to select a political leader to analyse with the use of both theoretical and empirical analysis. Please see the module handbook for further information. Students are free to select the leader of their choice (but will be given an outline of things to look for) and may opt to do a comparative study. Assessments deadlines to be confirmed – students should refer to the Module Handbook prior to the start of semester.

Formative assessment and feedback:

Students will receive feedback on the first assessment before submitting the essay. Time will be set aside in seminars to discuss aspects of the assessment.

Where students are asked to complete small tasks in advance of - or during - classes, verbal feedback will be given to the group as a whole.

Module aims

• Introduce students to a range of theoretical and empirical perspectives on the role of the political leadership
• Offer an insight into leadership as a driver for change
• Consider the impact of new media on power balances between leaders and followers
• Explore the ethical dimensions associated with leadership
• Understand key barriers altering accessibility to and perceptions of leadership

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• Encourage critical engagement with political leadership from a range of perspectives.


• Facilitate the analysis of political leadership by encouraging the use of transferrable research skills


• Encourage independent research between classes

The learning and teaching methods include:

Workshop sessions to include: lectures, prescribed reading, group discussions, data collection sessions, independent study, research and analysis of primary material.

May include the preparation of short tasks prior to the weekly seminars (information to be given to students in the preceding seminar).

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: POL3088

Other information

n/a

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.