Module overview
- Introduce students to the study of structures, actors and policy processes in international politics
- Enable students to distinguish between competing explanations of international relations
- Develop students’ ability to restate arguments and apply them to relevant aspect of and actors in
- the sphere of international relations
- Build student capacity to interact with peers in discussion of pertinent themes in international relations
- Enable students to make extensive use of library resources and build capacity to include wide-ranging bibliography in their work
Pre-requisite for PAIR2001, PAIR2005, PAIR2014, PAIR2033, PAIR2034, PAIR3014, PAIR3041 and PAIR3042, 2019, 3028
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Identify actors and processes in international politics, providing examples.
- Demonstrate extensive knowledge of the literature and good use of bibliographic references.
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- Key issues of current global politics
- The key principles of particular arguments in application to specific dimensions of international relations
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Express your understanding of a module through written communication
- Student Engagement
- Apply critical thinking
- Student Reflection
Syllabus
This course is an introduction to the major principles, concepts, actors, and theories of the international system and their application to current issues in world affairs. The module is divided into two parts. The first part of the course examines a number of different theoretical approaches drawn from different intellectual traditions in the discipline, including Classical and Contemporary Realism, Liberalism, and Radical approaches to IR as well as contemporary debates on Governance and Globalisation. The second part discusses a number of current International Issues.
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching will be 2 hours of lectures per week. All will be recorded and posted on Blackboard. Lectures will be delivered either face to face or online only depending upon University and Public Health England Guidance at the time. Total of 24 hours of lectures (2 hours per week X 12 weeks) per module.
Weekly student participation in online discussion boards. 1 hour per week delivered asynchronously. (1 hour X 12 weeks)
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Independent Study | 120 |
| Teaching | 30 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Textbooks
Baylis, John et al., eds (2013). The Globalization of World Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Bull, Hedley (1977). The Anarchical Society. London: MacMillan.
Heywood, Andrew (2014). Global Politics. Basingstoke: Palgrave/Malmillan.
Mansbach, Richard W. and Taylor, Kirsten L. (2012). Introduction to Global Politics. London and New York: Routledge.
Nye, Joseph (2013). Understanding Global Conflict and Cooperation: An Introduction to Theory and History. London: Pearson Education.
Art, Robert J. and Robert Jervis, eds. (2007). International Politics: Enduring Concepts and Contemporary Issues. New York: Longman.
Assessment
Assessment strategy
The arrangements applicable to students repeating the year are the same as the ones for referral.
Formative
This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.
Class Test
- Assessment Type: Formative
- Feedback:
- Final Assessment: No
- Group Work: No
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Essay | 40% |
| Essay | 50% |
| Group presentation | 10% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Essay | 50% |
| Essay | 50% |
Repeat
An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Essay | 50% |
| Essay | 50% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External