It explores the continual struggle to devise more satisfactory forms of human community. It deals with how one chooses between contending values or value-systems, and how one goes about realising or reconciling these values in practice. It deals with conflict resolution, policy making, resource allocation, or aspects organisational behaviour. It includes the study of political beliefs and action, of different cultures and the relations between them. It overlaps with many subjects, such as economics, geography, history, sociology, anthropology, literature, language, philosophy, all of which provide opportunities for combined honours.
Many students only begin to acquire a feeling for a subject by or during third year.
You may find you are intrigued by some particular aspect of Politics, or you may come to appreciate the full significance of the problems with which Politics deals. Either way, you might wish to develop your interest a little further, and go on to tackle a more research-oriented year, including the thesis. A three year pass degree really only offers a preliminary introduction to any given field of study. Fourth year allows you to draw on the investment you have made in your first three years, and it provides an opportunity for more significant maturation to occur. Second and third year results are usually better indicators of Honours potential than first year.