Capitalism and its Critics (L2084)

15 credits, Level 5

Spring teaching

Since the end of the Cold War, capitalism has become the dominant political economic system across the globe.

This module examines the evolution of capitalism over time, its various forms and its present condition. A central theme is the distribution of power in global capitalism, and what this tells us about the state of contemporary politics.

You’ll be introduced to the work of leading critical thinkers, addressing themes such as global inequality, plutocracy, racial domination and climate breakdown. The module begins with classic texts before moving towards contemporary issues. It draws on political theory, political economy and economic history.

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 150 hours of work. This breaks down into about 22 hours of contact time and about 128 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2025/26. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum.

We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.