Module POLI2181: DYNAMICS OF CHANGE IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Department: GOVERNMENT AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS (POLITICS)

POLI2181: DYNAMICS OF CHANGE IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Prerequisites

• Introduction to International Relations (POLI1031).

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• The module will enhance students' systematic understanding of international relations, with a particular focus on the contested nature of change in the subject.
• International relations has often been characterised as a static political arena notable for highly stable patterns of behaviour focused on an often violent struggle for power and security.
• The module challenges this by exploring the dynamics of change in international relations through the study of theoretical approaches and empirical issues and examples, enabling students to explore key interactions at levels from the local to the global.
• The module provides the central element of international relations provision at Level 2 of the programme, contributing to the focus at this level on understanding contestation and dispute within Politics, broadly defined.

Content

• After initial discussion of the contested and controversial nature of the idea of change in international relations, the module is organised into three sections.
• Each of these deals with the nature of change in relation to a specific issue or topic in international relations.
• Typically, the module will draw on a range of issues and topics including: The development of regions and regionalism in international political economy.
• The extent and significance of globalisation, especially in relation to an emerging global economy.
• Approaches to the role and place of developing countries in the international system.
• The idea of change in contemporary international relations theory.
• The challenge of responding to humanitarian disasters and emergencies.
• Change in the historical contexts of the period 1919-39 and/or 1945-89.

Learning Outcomes

• Through the module, students should gain subject specific knowledge and understanding of: The contested and dynamic nature of international relations as field of human activity and as an academic subject.
• The centrality of issues of order, stability and change to political decision-making and the understanding of the subject.
• The importance and variety of international political interactions in relation to specific theoretical and/or empirical issues.
• The significance of the idea and nature of change to both the conduct of aspects of international relations and to an understanding of the discipline.

• The module will contribute to the development of important subject specific skills including: Accurately and effectively describing different understandings of change in relation to specific international political issues.
• Effectively utilising historical and/or comparative context in assessing the idea of change in relation to specific examples.
• Analysing and evaluating competing understandings of change and show appreciation of the significance of the idea of change for the discipline.
• Reaching reasoned and informed judgements on specific issues, utilising basic and some more advanced literature and other appropriate resources.

• The module will develop certain key skills as part of the wider degree programme, such as: Retrieval, utilisation and assessment of appropriate resources, both independently and with guidance.
• Effective communication and analysis of information.
• Time management in order to complete assignments successfully.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Formal teaching and learning focus on lectures and tutorials.
• Lectures are designed to offer both formal instruction in appropriate theoretical and factual aspects of the topics under consideration, and to direct students towards key areas of academic dispute, controversy and debate for further exploration.
• Lectures will focus around the issue of change and how it is to be understood in relation to international relations as a whole and specific issues in particular.
• They thus make a significant contribution to the acquisition of subject specific knowledge and understanding.
• Additionally, they provide a resource which students need to use appropriately and effectively in the development of written and oral work.
• Tutorials offer the opportunity for the development of subject specific skills via description, analysis and assessment of appropriate material through student presentations and ensuing debate and discussion.
• They also contribute to the acquisition of knowledge through the exchange of information and ideas that takes place in these sessions.
• Summative assessment via examination enables assessment of the full range of learning outcomes.
• The examination paper will be divided into sections and questions will be framed to assess different aspects of students' knowledge and understanding and subject specific skills.
• One section will focus on students' knowledge, understanding and analysis of the significance of contestation about the concept of change in international relations and its significance for the discipline, through the lens of one of the three topics covered in the module.
• The second section's questions will test appreciation of the significance of order, stability and change in a comparative fashion through an analysis of dynamics of change in the two other topics covered by the module.
• Exams as an assessment technique test the ability to reach informed and reasoned conclusions and to produce well-structured and organised work under time constraints requiring focused application of recalled knowledge.
• Formative assessment via essay and presentation will offer students the opportunity to gain feedback on general essay-writing skills and issues of organising, utilising and structuring material and developing appropriate approaches to deploying material in support of analysis.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

2000 word essay, 15 minute tutorial presentation.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University