INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr S-Y Kim

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

Overview

The course covers a broad range of historical events ranging from the middle of the nineteenth century to the present. It introduces students to the development of International Relations as a discipline, but also to key concepts and analytical skills required to study the subject at a higher level.

Structure

2 one-hour lectures and 1 one-hour tutorial per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: This course is assessed by one online quiz (5%), one bibliography test (10%), one 1500 word essay (25%) and 1 two hour written examination (60%).

Resit: Written examination (100%).

Formative Assessment

One tutorial presentation and a quiz in the revision class. This will use the Personal Response System (PRS).

Feedback

Written feedback will be provided for the bibliography test and essay. This will normally be provided within two weeks of the submission date.

Oral feedback on the presentations will be provided.

For the PRS quiz the correct correct answers will be provided in the class.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr A Oelsner

Pre-requisites

Co-requisites

Overview

The course is structured largely in three sections. Section I introduces historical events and processes that led to the rise of international organisations and examines the concepts and functions of international organisations. Section II introduces key global and regional international organisations. Section III looks at the European Union and why it is different from other international organisations.

Structure

2 one-hour lectures and 1 one-hour tutorial per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Online quiz (10%); a test of bibliographical formats (5%); 1,500 essay which will include a assessment of essay writing and correct formatting (25%); examination (60%).

Resit: Examination (100%).

Formative Assessment

Given that the course has upgraded student engagement(see above) there will no little or no formative assessment. Formative assessment will be part of normal tutorial teaching.

Feedback

This will be by :online quiz, bibliographic exercise, comments on essays, tutorials and seeing students at end of lectures.

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Professor M Pasha

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 2 or above who have passed IR 1003 or IR 1503.

Overview

This course offers an introduction to the major perspectives deployed in the study of International Relations within a framework stressing the importance of theory to our understanding of world politics. The course will examine a variety of theoretical approaches, including Classical and Structural Realism; Social Constructivism; the English Schooll; Marxist and Neo-Gramscian Theory; Postmodernism; Feminism; and Postcolonialism.

Structure

2 one-hour lectures per week and 1 one-hour tutorial per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour examination (60%) and in-course assessment (40%).

Resit: Examination (100%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr A Teti

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 2 or above who have passed IR 1003 or IR 1503.

Overview

This course introduces students to the study of the global distribution of wealth and power and how this shapes the conduct of international relations. Beginning with the historical evolution of capitalism as a global system, we will consider in some detail the nature of international institutions (the IMF, World Bank, WTO), and their role in stabilizing global economic and political order. We will examine specific topics including, trade, protectionism, globalization and regionalism with particular attention to their impact on global development, welfare and poverty. In conclusion, we will consider the possibility of alternative imaginings of global political and economic order.

Structure

2 one-hour lectures, 1 one-hour tutorial per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Examination (60%), in-course assessment (40%).

Resit: Examination (100%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr A Oelsner

Pre-requisites

Overview

Salient concepts of security and conflict will be examined within a broad historical context. This will be complemented by an assessment of the contribution of notable thinkers from classical to contemporary times. Within this framework the utility of practical instruments of international security such as alliance, limited war, deterrence, collective security, and military intervention will be considered, as will selected contemporary national security policies.

Structure

2 one-hour lectures and 1 one-hour tutorial per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour examination (60%) and in-course assessment (40%).

Resit: Examination (60%); in-course grades will be carried forward unless the student opts to resubmit course work.

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr S Y Kim

Pre-requisites

None.

Notes

This course will be offered in the second semester in 2010/11.

Overview

This course examines the evolution of the international system in East Asia from the late 19th Century until today. It will examine how and why different systems rose and fell in East Asia, and how the foreign policies of major states in the Asia-Pacific region influenced those developments. This course focuses particularly on the interlocking relations among China, Japan, Korea, the United States, and Russia. The course will also examine the interplay of key global and regional dynamics, including power competition; pursuit of economic interest; and intercultural relations.

Structure

2 one-hour lectures and 1 one-hour tutorial per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour examination (60%) and in-course assessment (40%).

Resit: Examination (60%); in-course grades will be carried forward unless the student opts to resubmit course work.

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr R Vij

Pre-requisites

None.

Notes

This is a level 3 International Relations course. This course will not run in 2010/11.

Overview

This course introduces students to alternative ways of understanding Japan's central role in stabilizing global order at the beginning of the 21st century. Starting with a consideration of critical approaches to the production and representation of 'Japan' as an object of study within international relations, the course focuses on a theoretical and historical investigation of three sets of inter-related themes, modernity and capitalism, nationalism and the state, and culture and identity, by way of examining the deeper sources of Japan's changing role in global social life. The course material is inter-disciplinary; including readings from political science, economic history, anthropology, sociology, cultural, and film studies, and covers aspects of Japan's relations with North-America, Asia, the Middle-East, and Europe.

Structure

1 two-hour lecture and 1 one-hour tutorial every week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour written examination (60%); in-course assessment (40%).

Resit: Examination (60%); in-course grades will be carried forward unless the student opts to resubmit course work.

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr M Bain

Pre-requisites

Available to students in Programme Year 3.

Notes

This course will not be available in 2010/11.

Overview

The course will provide a critical analysis of the role of political, ideological and cultural factors at the international and regional levels in the shaping of Soviet foreign policy from 1917 to 1991. This framework will then be augmented by the Soviet legacy upon the formation of Moscow's foreign policy in the post-Soviet period.

ideological factors had in shaping Soviet foreign policy from 1917 to 1991. This framework will then be augmented by the special role of the Soviet legacy to analyse the formation of Moscow's foreign policy in the period since the disnintegration of the Soviet Union, that is from 1991 to present.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour examination (60%) and one essay (40%).

Resit: Examination (60%); in-course grades will be carried forward unless the student opts to resubmit course work.

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr A Oelsner

Pre-requisites

Notes

This course will run in the second semester of 2010/11 as IR 3509.

Overview

The course focuses on the concept of peace and its meaning for International Relations (IR). Traditionally, the study of IR concentrated on issues and concepts such as war, power, and competition between states. In recent years, and in the context of greater research diversification in IR, the concepts of peace and stable peace also gained more space within the discipline. This course approaches the issue of international peace, reviewing different theoretical perspectives the more traditional ones as well as more recent developments, discussing the existence of different types of peace, and studying various international strategies for its maintenance and for improving its quality.

Structure

1 one-hour lecture and 1 one-hour tutorial per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour examination (60%) and in-course assessment (40%).

Resit: Examination (60%); in-course grades will be carried forward unless the student opts to resubmit course work.

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr A Simpson

Pre-requisites

Overview

The course introduces the concept and practice of secret intelligence from the perspective of national security. Topics addressed include the historical aspects of intelligence; the role of different intelligence agencies; and peace and wartime contexts for intelligence and counter-intelligence. The course will also review several case studies of secret intelligence; the use of intelligence; and technologies involved in intelligence gathering.

Structure

2 one-hour lectures and 1 one-hour tutorial per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Examination (60%), essay (25 %) (5,000 word essay), tutorial presentation (15%) (including 2,000 word paper).

Resit: Examination (60%); in-course grades will be carried forward unless the students opts to resubmit course work.

Formative Assessment

Feedback

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr A Teti

Pre-requisites

None.

Overview

The course examines the politics of the contemporary Middle East. The course aims to provide the students with an in-depth understanding of the politics of the region by looking at systems of governance, foreign policy-making, conflict, political economy, and the politics of identity (including religion, ideology and gender).

Structure

2 one-hour lectures and 1 one-hour seminar per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment (60%) and examination (40%).

Resit: In-course grades will be carried forward unless the student opts to resubmit course work.

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr D J Galbreath

Pre-requisites

Notes

This is a level 4 International Relations option. This course will not run in 2010/2011.

Overview

‘Contemporary European Security’ brings traditional and critical debates to the ever-changing European security architecture. European security is a complex network of insecurities, institutions and initiatives. Europe is faced with the traditional insecurities of inter- and intra-state conflict as well as non-state threats to security such as environmental, health and human security. The region’s attempts to combat these insecurities have been to develop and foster regional institutions, such as the EU, NATO, OSCE and even the Council of Europe. In turn, member-states and the institutions have set out various ways to combat a range of insecurities from ethnic conflict to human trafficking. This course explores the complex European security architecture with an eye on introducing students to the empirical, theoretical and conceptual approaches to European security.

Structure

2 hour lectures and 1 one hour tutorial per week.

Assessment

1st attempt: 50% written examination, 50% continuous assessment.

Formative Assessment

Feedback

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr A Widfeldt

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 4.

Overview

Students prepare and present, under the supervision of a member of staff, a dissertation on a topic approved by Politics and International Relations.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Dissertation, 10,000-12,000 words in length (100%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr M Bain

Pre-requisites

Notes

This course will not run in 2010/11.

Overview

This course examines aspects of contemporary Modern Day Latin America. This includes amongst others the role of the United States. The special case of Cuba, globalisation, guerrilla warfare, the drugs trade and the return to democratisation in the region are examined with appropriate case studies being given. Throughout the course the ideas of development and dependency will be given appropriate attention. This gives students an understanding of a wide range of issues that have affected Latin America's recent past and how they still affect the continent today.

Structure

1 one-hour lecture and 1 one-hour tutorial.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour examination (60%), one essay (30%), short answer/multiple choice assessment (10%).

Resit: Examination (60%); in-course grades will be carried forward unless the student opts to resubmit course work.

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

James Wyllie

Pre-requisites

Available to level 4 students only.

Notes

This course will run in the second semester of 2010/11 as IR 4516.

Overview

The course examines and explains the historical development, political characteristics and strategic complexities of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and assesses its significance for and impact upon stability and security throughout the Middle East and the wider international system. The topics considered include the current strategic situation, the origins of the conflict, wars since 1948, the PLO and Hamas, the 'Peace Process', US - Israeli relations, the EU and the dispute, the Egyptian and Jordanian 'Cold Peace', and the strategies of the 'rejectionist' states of Syria and Iran.

Structure

To be taught 'conference style', on a lecture and discussion basis, interspersed with 'team presentations', an 'in-class' essay, and occasional DVD material. There will be 1 x 2-hours and 1 x 1-hour classes each week for twelve weeks.

Assessment

1st attempt: 1 three-hour examination (60%); one 'in-class 1,500 word approx. essay (20%); one 'team presentation' (20%).

Resit: Examination (60%); in-course grades will be carried forward unless the student opts to resubmit course work.

Credit Points

Course Coordinator

Dr J McEvoy

Pre-requisites

Overview

The course aims to provide students with an understanding of how conflict between ethno-national groups impacts on international politics. It explores the responses of the international community to inter- and intra-state conflict. Following an initial exploration of the relevant theories, the course investigates focuses on a number of key conflicts in international politics. What explains violent conflict between ethnic groups? What role do external actors play in peace processes? Should the international community intervene to stop violent conflict? What kind of institutional frameworks do external actors promote in peace agreements? What are the challenges of post-conflict reconstruction?

Structure

To be taught 'conference style', on a lecture and discussion basis, interspersed with 'team presentations', an 'in-class' essay, and occasional DVD material. There wil be 1 two-hours and 1 one-hour classes each week for twelve weeks.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour examination (60%); one 'in-class' essay (20%); one 'team presentation' (20%).

Resit: Examination (60%); in-course grades will be carried forward unless the student opts to resubmit course work.

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr S Y Kim

Pre-requisites

None.

Notes

This course will be offered in the first semester of 2010/2011 as IR 4519.

Overview

This course examines several major crises in international history in the twentieth century. It focuses on international crises and diplomacy, and assesses the qualities of diplomacy and statecraft during these crucial junctures of international history. The module focuses upon the constraints imposed by the international domestic situation.

Structure

1 one-hour lecture and 1 one-hour tutorial.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour examination (60%) and in-course assessment (40%).

Resit: Examination (60%); in-course grades will be carried forward unless the student opts to resubmit course work.

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr A Teti

Pre-requisites

None

Notes

This course will not run in 2010/11.

Overview

This course examines the political economy of the contemporary Middle East, covering amongst others several topical issues at domestic, regional, and international levels, from the problems of development (eg (neo)colonialiasm), to the political economy of oil, to the connection between water scarcity and security. The course systematically analyses the link between economic choices (eg liberalisation) and their and political consequences (eg democratisation, radicalism).

Structure

1 lecture and 1 tutorial per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Examination (60%), in-course assessment (40%).

Resit: Examination (60%); in-course grades will be carried forward unless the student opts to resubmit course work.

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Professor M K Pasha

Pre-requisites

Open only to students in Programme Year 4.

Overview

This course explores the structure and logic of modernity as it informs Islamic political movements in contemporary international relations. As both constitutive of modernity and challenging its particularised enunciation in the Islamic Cultural Zones, these movements raise basic questions concerning secularisation, forms of religious commitment, relation between politics and faith, and the nature of sovereignty. Students in this course will explore the main theoretical currents surrounding modernity; the Islamic critique of (Western) modernity; the location, heterogeneity and character of contemporary Iaslamic political discourse and political practice; and the limits of political Islam as an alternative construction of social and political order. Finally, the course will also examine the phenomena of transnational and diasporic Islam and their challenge to liberal understandings of political community, citizenship, rights, tolerance and cosmopolitanism.

Structure

2 hour seminar weekly.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Examination (60%) and in-course assessment (40%).

Resit: Examination (60%); in-course grades will be carried forward unless the student opts to resubmit course work.

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr P McCaffery

Pre-requisites

None

Notes

This is a level 4 International Relations option.

Overview

This course is mainly focused on three aspects of war: mobilisation, morale and memories. The questions addressed include some traditional International Relations issues such as what factors lead to wars, and what part military force plays in shaping relationships between states. We also consider whether 'asymmetrical' warfare has begun to have a more far-reaching influence on the pattern of world politics than conventional wars. But rather than being chiefly concerned with battles for territory, we ask how the struggle for hearts and minds is conducted, and also how wars affect the participants, their families and the civilian populations in the terrain being fought over. We also consider the practical problems involved in trying to ensure the observance of international humanitarian law. The course concludes by examining the possible relevance of religion and of gender roles, and how far these tend either to stimulate or to undermine people's willingness to embrace the sacrifices involved in war. Reading recommendations for this course extend as far back in time as the American Civil War.

Structure

1 one-hour lecture/discussion and 1 one-hour seminar per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour written examination (60%) and in-course assessment (40%).

Resit: Examination (60%); in-course grades will be carried forward unless the student opts to resubmit course work.

Formative Assessment

Feedback

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Mr J H Wyllie

Pre-requisites

Available only to Level 4 students.

Overview

The course will trace and illustrate the salient strategic, technological and political developments and related controversies in the history of nuclear weapons since 1945. In the process the intellectual integrity of the notion of the 'First' and 'Second' nuclear ages will be tested as will the arguments about the impact of proliferation on world security, the viability of deterrence as the bedrock for security in a multi-nuclear system, and the real dangers posed by the advent of the 'new terrorism' and its possible links with WMD. Case studies such as Iranian nuclear policy, and the compatibility of 'jihadism' and deterrence, will be considered in detail.

Structure

1 one-hour lecture, and 1 one-hour tutorial.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour examination (60%); one 4,000 word essay (40%).

Resit: Examination (60%); in-course grades will be carried forward unless the student opts to resubmit course work.