Political Parties & Pressure Groups
- Social Sciences
- 400 level
- 3 credit units
- 133 pages
- 20 units
This course introduces students to the dynamics of political parties and pressure groups within a political system. It explores the meaning, origin, and development of political parties, examining their structures and functions in a democratic context. The course also covers various party systems, major political crises in Nigeria, and the role of pressure groups in collective bargaining, providing a comprehensive understanding of political processes and their impact on governance.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 208 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical, case study
- Practical work
- No
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of POL424, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
POL424 · UNIT 2: ORIGIN OF POLITICAL PARTIES
Political parties also perform welfare, social and humanitarian functions like provision of jobs for its members and building recreational centers. Some parties even establish business enterprises like hotels, newspapers, etc. to generate fund for the party. It must be emphasised that without political parties, conduct of elections would be tedious, rowdy and outrightly uninteresting.
What you should be able to do
- Define and differentiate between political parties and pressure groups.
- Explain the origins and development of political parties.
- Analyze different party systems and their characteristics.
- Evaluate the role of pressure groups in influencing government policies.
- Understand the process of collective bargaining and its significance.
- Identify the causes and consequences of major political crises in Nigeria.
What it prepares you for
- Political Analyst
- Policy Advisor
- Civil Servant
- Lobbyist
- Labor Relations Manager
- Government
- Non-profit Organizations
- Labor Unions
- Political Campaigns
- Consulting Firms
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 3: Major Political Crises in Nigeria
Unit 3: Federal Election Crisis of 1964
Understanding the complex political dynamics and regional rivalries that led to the crisis requires a deep understanding of Nigerian history and political science concepts.
- Module 4: Pressure Group and Collective Bargaining
Unit 3: Techniques Used by Pressure Groups to Achieve their Objectives
Analyzing the effectiveness and ethical implications of various pressure group tactics, such as lobbying and strikes, demands critical thinking and evaluation skills.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 56 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Political Parties and Pressure Groups
Unit 1: Meaning of Political Parties · 3 hours
Read the definition of political parties from various scholars.. Identify the common attributes of these definitions.. Understand the role of political parties in a democratic system..
Unit 2: Origin of Political Parties · 3 hours
Examine the roles of Patricians and Plebeians in ancient Rome.. Describe the changes in English politics after the Popish plot of 1678.. Understand the origin and growth of political parties..
- Week 2Module 1: Political Parties and Pressure Groups
Unit 3: Party Organisation · 4 hours
Examine Maurice Duverger's party organization categories.. Outline the characteristics of caucus party organization.. Understand the structure of political parties..
- Week 3Module 1: Political Parties and Pressure Groups
Unit 4: Political Ideologies · 3 hours
Define the term ideology.. Analyze the most comprehensive definitions of ideology.. Understand the features and functions of political ideology..
Unit 5: The Franchise · 3 hours
Enumerate the conditions necessary before enfranchisement.. Explain the term disenfranchisement.. Understand the importance of franchise..
- Week 4Module 1: Political Parties and Pressure Groups
Unit 6: Political Socialisation · 4 hours
Define political socialization.. Describe the essential features of political socialization definitions.. Understand the methods and agents of political socialization..
- Week 5Module 2: Classification of Party System
Unit 1: Single-Party System · 4 hours
Explain the term single-party system.. Name and describe countries that practice single-party system.. Understand the features of single-party systems..
- Week 6Module 2: Classification of Party System
Unit 2: Merits and Demerits of Single-Party System · 4 hours
Enumerate the advantages of a single-party system.. Identify and discuss countries in West Africa that practiced one-party government.. Understand the merits and demerits of single-party systems..
- Week 7Module 2: Classification of Party System
Unit 3: Features of Two-Party System · 4 hours
Explain the features of two-party system.. Define two-party system.. Understand the characteristics of a two-party system..
- Week 8Module 2: Classification of Party System
Unit 4: Merits and Demerits of Two-Party System · 4 hours
Describe the functions performed by opposition party.. Enumerate the merits of a two-party system.. Understand the merits and demerits of a two-party system..
- Week 9Module 2: Classification of Party System
Unit 5: Multi-Party System Features, Merits and Demerits · 4 hours
Explain the features of multi-party system.. Discuss the most glaring features of multi-party system.. Understand the characteristics of a multi-party system..
- Week 10Module 3: Major Political Crises in Nigeria
Unit 1: Action Groups Crises of 1962 · 4 hours
Discuss the causes of Action Group crisis of 1962.. Explain the role of the Prime Minister in the crisis.. Understand the causes and consequences of the Action Group crisis..
- Week 11Module 3: Major Political Crises in Nigeria
Unit 2: Census Crises of 1962/1963 · 4 hours
Examine the factors that led to the cancellation of the census of 1962.. Explain the purpose of census.. Understand the causes and consequences of the census crisis..
- Week 12Module 3: Major Political Crises in Nigeria
Unit 3: Federal Election Crisis of 1964 · 4 hours
Explain some of the causes of 1964 political crisis.. Discuss its consequences.. Understand the causes and consequences of the Federal Election Crisis..
- Week 13Module 3: Major Political Crises in Nigeria
Unit 4: Western Nigerian Election Crises of 1965 · 4 hours
Discuss immediate and remote causes of western region crisis in 1965.. Briefly examine the roles played by NNDP and AG in the crisis in western region.. Understand the causes and consequences of the Western Nigerian Election Crises..
Preparing for the exam
- Create detailed summaries of each unit, focusing on key definitions, concepts, and examples.
- Develop comparative charts outlining the differences between party systems, pressure group types, and political ideologies.
- Practice essay questions addressing the causes and consequences of major political crises in Nigeria, referencing specific events and actors.
- Review all Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs) and incorporate feedback into your study notes.
- Allocate study time proportionally based on the weight of each module in the final examination.
- Form study groups to discuss complex topics and share insights.
- Create timelines of key events in Nigerian political history to aid memorization.
- Analyze past exam papers to identify frequently tested topics and question formats.
Questions students ask about this course
What is POL424 about?
This course introduces students to the dynamics of political parties and pressure groups within a political system. It explores the meaning, origin, and development of political parties, examining their structures and functions in a democratic context. The course also covers various party systems, major political crises in Nigeria, and the role of pressure groups in collective bargaining, providing a comprehensive understanding of political processes and their impact on governance.
How many units does POL424 have?
POL424, Political Parties & Pressure Groups, has 20 units across 4 modules, over 133 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is POL424?
POL424 carries 3 credit units, at 400 level in Social Sciences.
Is POL424 hard?
POL424 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work.
How long does POL424 take to study?
About 208 hours of study, spread across its 20 units.
How is POL424 assessed?
POL424 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What can I do with POL424?
Political Analyst, Policy Advisor, Civil Servant, Lobbyist and Labor Relations Manager.