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PI4588: NORTHERN IRELAND: SMALL, DIRTY WAR (2024-2025)

Last modified: 23 Jul 2024 11:05


Course Overview

This course investigates claims that the British state and its security forces, and Republican and Loyalist paramilitary organisations, were engaged in a ‘dirty war’ in Northern Ireland.  The theory and practice of dirty war is addressed via strategic and tactical evolution on the part of the British security forces and the IRA during the euphemistically termed ‘Troubles’. 

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 4
Term Second Term Credit Points 30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Stuart Durkin

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Either International Relations (IR) or Politics (PI)
  • Either Programme Level 4 or Programme Level 5
  • Any Undergraduate Programme

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

  • PI4088 Northern Ireland: Small, Dirty War (Passed)

Are there a limited number of places available?

Yes

One or more of these courses have a limited number of places. Priority access will be given to students for whom this course is compulsory. Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions for more details on this process.


Course Description

Utilising a conceptual framework of small wars, dirty wars, insurgency and counterinsurgency (COIN), as well as a set of inter-disciplinary literatures, the course addresses the dirty war via a hybrid project-based learning format; that is to say that, as well as attending traditional lectures and seminars, supplemented by audio-visual materials, students are also required to address a project-based learning problem in small groups throughout the semester.

The course is assessed via group and individual components.  Individual assessments comprise 60% of the overall assessments, with the group work element (groups of 3-4) comprising the other 40%.  The course is also assessed via a number of formative exercises (non-mark bearing) which are designed to engage students and to promote a spirit of collaborative working and peer support. feedback and peer support throughout. 


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Class Test

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 30
Assessment Weeks 30 Feedback Weeks 33

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Feedback

2 questions in 2 hours. Written feedback to be provided by course coordinator via My Aberdeen.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualApplyApply the theoretical framework to the events produced by the evolving counterinsurgency landscape.
ConceptualUnderstandUnderstand the theoretical framework of small wars, dirty wars, insurgency and counterinsurgency.
FactualRememberRecognize the historical backdrop to the outbreak of The Troubles and the seminal events and milestones during the conflict.
ProceduralAnalyseAnalyse allegations of dirty war levelled at the British state and its security forces/paramilitary organisations.

Critical Literature Review

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 30
Assessment Weeks 40 Feedback Weeks 43

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Feedback

Written feedback will be provided by course coordinator via My Aberdeen.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualApplyApply the theoretical framework to the events produced by the evolving counterinsurgency landscape.
ConceptualUnderstandUnderstand the theoretical framework of small wars, dirty wars, insurgency and counterinsurgency.
FactualRememberRecognize the historical backdrop to the outbreak of The Troubles and the seminal events and milestones during the conflict.
ProceduralAnalyseAnalyse allegations of dirty war levelled at the British state and its security forces/paramilitary organisations.
ProceduralCreateProduce a report as a member of a research group which addresses the project-based learning scenario.

Group Podcast

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 40
Assessment Weeks 35 Feedback Weeks 38

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Feedback

15 minutes. Written feedback to be provided by course coordinator via My Aberdeen.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualApplyApply the theoretical framework to the events produced by the evolving counterinsurgency landscape.
ConceptualUnderstandUnderstand the theoretical framework of small wars, dirty wars, insurgency and counterinsurgency.
FactualRememberRecognize the historical backdrop to the outbreak of The Troubles and the seminal events and milestones during the conflict.
ProceduralAnalyseAnalyse allegations of dirty war levelled at the British state and its security forces/paramilitary organisations.

Formative Assessment

Oral Presentation: Group

Assessment Type Formative Weighting 0
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

15 minutes. Feedback to be provided by course coordinators and peers during seminar.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualApplyApply the theoretical framework to the events produced by the evolving counterinsurgency landscape.
ConceptualUnderstandUnderstand the theoretical framework of small wars, dirty wars, insurgency and counterinsurgency.
FactualRememberRecognize the historical backdrop to the outbreak of The Troubles and the seminal events and milestones during the conflict.
ProceduralAnalyseAnalyse allegations of dirty war levelled at the British state and its security forces/paramilitary organisations.

Draft Podcast Structure

Assessment Type Formative Weighting 0
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Feedback to be provided by course coordinators and peers during seminar.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualApplyApply the theoretical framework to the events produced by the evolving counterinsurgency landscape.
ConceptualUnderstandUnderstand the theoretical framework of small wars, dirty wars, insurgency and counterinsurgency.
FactualRememberRecognize the historical backdrop to the outbreak of The Troubles and the seminal events and milestones during the conflict.
ProceduralAnalyseAnalyse allegations of dirty war levelled at the British state and its security forces/paramilitary organisations.
ProceduralCreateProduce a report as a member of a research group which addresses the project-based learning scenario.

Individual Written Introductions via Padlet

Assessment Type Formative Weighting 0
Assessment Weeks 26 Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

In order to create a sense of community, each registered student on the course will, using Padlet, be required to write a short personal introduction.  Full details of requirements to be given in course guide. 

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Peer Feedback

Assessment Type Formative Weighting 0
Assessment Weeks 40 Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

Feedback to be provided by course coordinators and peers during seminar.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ProceduralCreateProduce a report as a member of a research group which addresses the project-based learning scenario.

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualUnderstandUnderstand the theoretical framework of small wars, dirty wars, insurgency and counterinsurgency.
FactualRememberRecognize the historical backdrop to the outbreak of The Troubles and the seminal events and milestones during the conflict.
ConceptualApplyApply the theoretical framework to the events produced by the evolving counterinsurgency landscape.
ProceduralCreateProduce a report as a member of a research group which addresses the project-based learning scenario.
ProceduralAnalyseAnalyse allegations of dirty war levelled at the British state and its security forces/paramilitary organisations.

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