Module description
Contemporary science fiction offers a compelling means of interrogating the current challenges of global governance and political economy. As Brad Torgersen (2013) says, “much of the Science Fiction being written in the 21st century concerns itself strictly with materialistic concerns: climate change, global warming, the decay of governments and the onset of dystopian hegemony, or anarchy”. This module provides students with an exploration of the nexus between science fiction and political economy. It uses science fiction literature as a means of understanding, exploring and critiquing concepts and theories from across Political Economy, including international relations, economics and politics.
Through this, students will apply the knowledge gained in other modules within political economy, applying key theories and techniques of analysis in novel areas in an engaging but rigorous way. The proposed module directly relates to a growing area of cutting-edge research, namely the interplay between popular culture and political economy.
It is strongly recommended that students come with a prior knowledge of and interest in science fiction to avoid being at a disadvantage. It is preferable that at least some of that knowledge comes from reading SF books, rather than just from TV and films.
Assessment details
Participation 10%; Presentation 20%; Essay (2,500 words) 70%