Module SGIA3231: History of International Political Thought

Department: Government and International Affairs

SGIA3231: History of International Political Thought

Prerequisites

• Any Level 2 SGIA module

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• The aim of the module is to add historical and theoretical depth to work already done in level two modules in Political Theory and International Relations by studying a selection of major texts in detail and fostering a critical and contextualised understanding of their significance.

Content

• This module will approach the history of political theory in its specific relation to the study of international relations.
• Emphasis will be given (a) to the critical study of important texts (including some consideration of why those texts are to be considered as 'important').
• (b) to the historical, intellectual, political and military contexts within which the texts are intelligible.
• and (c) to some of the general theoretical issues with which their authors engage.
• A unifying these of the module will be the debate between two distinctive traditions of thinking about international relations: 'realism' and 'cosmopolitanism'.

Learning Outcomes

• Students will be able to: understand the contested and problematic nature of inquiry into the nature of international order.
• understand the nature and significance of politics as a global activity.

• synthesize and evaluate primary and secondary sources.

• communicate effectively in writing.
• work independently, demonstrating self-organisation and time management.

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

• The teaching and assessment methods of the module are intended to provide the framework for the required synthesis of theories across a long historical period (lectures) and to promote the required evaluative skills.
• The structured report (formative) will provide a review of the first half of the module and will formally identify the skills and issues required for the summative assessment.
• The summative assessment will test skills of synthesis and evaluation with reference to material drawn from all or most of the module.
• Despite the retention of lectures progression is assured through the nature of the assessment and a strong emphasis upon primary sources.
• Lectures are retained in order to provide a framework for the long chronological range of the module.
• It will be made clear that in other aspects of the module student autonomy is expected.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

A structured report (1500 words).

■ 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