If you’re holding an offer for a politics degree or still thinking about applying there’s lots you can do to get your learning off to the best possible start.
Here are our top recommendations for reading, listening and watching that cover some of the topics you’ll be studying at Brighton.
Reading
What is Politics? edited by Adrian Leftwich
An excellent starting point for all students of the discipline. The book brings together a range of authors discussing what politics might mean from the perspectives of gender, class and nature as well as debating key topics such as the role of war and violence in politics, and the link between politics and policy.
What does Jeremy Think? by Suzanne Heywood
A book on politics as practised – gives a deep insight into British political decision making.
Empireland: How Imperialism has Shaped Modern Britiain by Sathnam Sanghera
A book on British politics and the legacy of empire. You can also try The New Age of Empire: How Racism and Colonialism Still Rule the World by Kehinde Andrews.
Men Who Hate Women by Laura Bates & Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez
Both give fascinating accounts of contemporary gender inequality, patriarchy and the impact on society.
Watching
In a General Election year, there is no shortage of political TV, however, you might find the following particularly interesting:
On the situation in Gaza
On the situation in the West Bank
We discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in several of our modules at all levels of study.
- Documentary on iPlayer
On the Iraq war
- A five-part documentary about the war in Iraq, Once Upon a Time in Iraq, is available on BBC iPlayer and covers the realities of war, the aftermath, and life under Isis
- You might also try Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror on Netflix.
The Troubles in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is covered in several modules at Brighton.
- The BBC documentary Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland (on iPlayer) gives a thorough account of the conflict.
- You might also enjoy the Netflix series Rebellion covering the Easter Rising of 1916.
The USA
- The rise of right-wing populism in the US is well explored in the documentary Four Hours at the Capitol, available on BBC iPlayer.
- For more, try Trump: An American Dream on Netflix.
Climate emergency
The scale of the climate emergency will further deepen its impact on politics and policy.
- Big Oil v The World, on BBC iPlayer, discusses the role of oil companies in climate politics.
Abortion
- The Netflix documentary Reversing Roe examines the campaign to overturn Roe vs. Wade in the US.
- You can also watch The 8th, a film about the campaign to legalise abortion in Ireland.
Race, identity and nationalism
The politics of race, identity and nationalism is a key part of the Brighton curriculum.
- You can try 13th on Netflix, detailing the prison boom
- On British identity, Union with David Olusoga and Windrush, are both on iPlayer.
Neoliberalism and contemporary politics and international relations
- For a more provocative and partisan account try Bitter Lake and HyperNormalisation, both by Adam Curtis and available on Iplayer.
Listening
- Trendy is presented by polling expert Sir John Curtice and former Downing St. advisor Rachel Wolf, and takes a deep look at the current state of British politics.
- More partisan is Pod Save the UK, presented by Nish Kumar and Coco Khan, taking a progressive look at political and social issues.
- Issues affecting marginalised groups and under-reported stories are covered on new podcast The Trouble with Politics presented by journalist Marverine Cole.
- The Bunker presents in-depth explainers and interviews in fairly short episodes covering a variety of aspects of national and international politics.
- For an in-depth look at the corporate world, media and politics, try Page 94, the podcast of satirical magazine Private Eye.
Political comedies
For a lighter look, try the following political comedies:
- Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister remain the classic look at the lives of a government minister in 1980s Britain, and exhibit tropes of British politics we still see today.
- The Thick of It is a more contemporary account, created by Armando Iannucci and starring Peter Capaldi. It does contain, famously, a lot of strong and offensive language, so be warned. On a similar note, try Absolute Power, starring Stephen Fry and John Bird.
- The Stanley Kubrick classic Dr Strangelove wrestles with themes of nuclear Armageddon, conspiracy theories and nationalism.
Learn more about studying politics at Brighton.
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