This module provides students with an introduction to foundational concepts in the study of international relations and significant issues in contemporary international politics through which these concepts can be understood and interpreted. The module is designed to help students to reconcile the more abstract concepts that frame the academic study of international relations, with the empirical issues they may more familiar with from news media and their day-to-day engagement with international politics. The module is designed to provide a foundation for the study of international relations theory at Level 5 and to help students develop skills in academic writing, researching and writing a report for a non-specialist audience.
Part One: Concepts of International Relations
Part Two: Contemporary Issues in International Politics
Introduction to International Relations is taught via a three-hour workshop. Workshops provide a basic introduction to the key concepts and issues around which the module is structured. Films and other AV material will be used to supplement the presentation given by the lecturer.
Workshops will also be used to provide a forum for wider group discussion on this material, consolidating lecture content and the student's weekly background research. Exercises may involve discussions of original source excerpts, policy simulations or role plays to support student's understanding of the module content. Workshops are supported throughout the year by worksheets to help students to structure their background reading and prepare them for the session exercises. Worksheets will also provide the opportunity for formative feedback on student's weekly research.
In the second semester, students will have the opportunity to select an issue in which they are interested and undertake a more in-depth policy report task. Some of the workshop time will be used for guided group study sessions, to allow students time to discuss their ongoing policy report project with other students examining the same issue.
Definitive UNISTATS Category | Indicative Description | Hours |
---|---|---|
Scheduled learning and teaching | 22 x 3 hour lectures Workshops | 66 |
Guided independent study | Weekly reading and research + preparation of worksheets, final essay and policy report | 234 |
Total (number of credits x 10) | 300 |
The assessment strategy has three components:
Formative feedback will be embedded in the seminar worksheet exercise, with students being provided with several opportunities for feedback on their weekly background research and seminar preparation.
For the summative essay, formative feedback will be available in the synoptic link with Studying Politics, that allows students to attain feedback on an assessed essay plan.
Verbal feedback/feed forward will also be provided to students as part of the group study sessions, both from peer review and from seminar tutors.
Learning Outcome | Assessment Strategy |
---|---|
1) Indentify the principle structures and processes in international relations | In Weekly seminar worksheets.This LO may also be addressed indirectly in the issue-based policy report |
2) Engage in a preliminary research of the academic literature of international relations and relevant policy-based literature | Seminar worksheets and the policy report |
3) Critically engage with material from a variety of academic and policy sources | In seminar worksheets and the policy report |
4) Draw links between academic concepts in international relations and contemporary empirical issues in international politics | In the policy report and seminar worksheets |
5) To explain debates, controversies and problems evident in international political issues and formulate suggestions for change | The policy report |
6) Demonstrate the ability to develop an argument and employ academic conventions such as referencing, evidence provision and presentation of bibliography | The policy report |
Description of Assessment | Definitive UNISTATS Categories | Percentage |
---|---|---|
CWK | 2000 word seminar worksheets portfolio | 50 |
CWK | 2000 word issue-based policy report | 50 |
Total (to equal 100%) | 100% |
It IS NOT a requirement that any major assessment category is passed separately in order to achieve an overall pass for the module
Michael Nicholson (2002) International Relations: Concise Introduction, 2nd Edition, Basingstoke, Palgrave
John Baylis, Steve Smith & Patricia Owens (Eds.) (2010) The Globalisation of World Politics, 5th Edition, Oxford, Oxford University Press
Jenny Edkins and Maja Zehfus (Eds.) (2009) Global Politics: A New Introduction, London, Routledge
Chris Brown (2005) Understanding International Relations, 3rd Edition, Basingstoke, Palgrave
Young, John & John Kent (2004) International Relations Since 1945, Oxford, Oxford University Press
Booth, Ken & Tim Dunne (2002) Worlds in Collision: Terror and the future of the global order, Basingstoke, Palgrave
Sorensen, Georg (2003) The Transformation of the State: Beyond the Myth of Retreat, Basingstoke, Palgrave
Armstrong, David (2004) International Organisation in World Politics, 3rd Edition, Basingstoke, Palgrave
Kaldor, Mary (2007) Human Security, Cambridge, Polity Press
Shapcott, Richard (2009) International Ethics: A Critical Introduction, Cambridge, Polity Press
Goldsmith, Jack (2007) The Limits of International Law, Oxford, Oxford University Press
Weiss, Thomas (2007) Humanitarian Intervention, Cambridge, Polity Press
Shaw, Martin (2003) War & Genocide, Cambridge, Polity Press
Kaldor, Mary (1999) New and Old Wars, Cambridge, Polity Press
Archibugi, Daniele & David Held (1995) Cosmopolitan democracy: An agenda for a new world order, Cambridge, Polity Press