Politics and International Relations · 2016. 11. 19. · Coursework 1 (100%) One 2,000 word essay. Convenor Dr S Pryce M14019 Special Project B Credits 10 Level 4 Target students

Politics andInternational Relations

This edition of the University of Nottingham Catalogue of Modules went to press on 6th July 2011. It was derivedfrom information held on the database. The Catalogue is also published on the Web athttp://winster.nottingham.ac.uk/modulecatalogue/. Circumstances may arise which cause a module to be modifiedor withdrawn and the database will be updated to reflect this. Thus, if you find a discrepancy between theinformation printed here and that published on the Web, you should regard the latter as definitive.

Autumn Semester

Level 4M14018 Special Project A

Credits 5 Level 4

Target students MA Politics students have first priority

Semester Autumn

Description This module will consist of special essay work,arising from the work completed on another moduleoffered.Method and frequency of Class:

Students will engage in library research under thesupervision of a member of staff. Permission should besought from the module convenor before registering.Assessment

Assessment Type Requirements

Coursework 1 (100%) One 2,000 word essay.

Dr S PryceConvenor

M14019 Special Project B

Credits 10 Level 4


Semester Autumn

Description This module will consist of special essay work,arising from the work completed on another moduleoffered.Method and frequency of Class:

Students will engage in library research under thesupervision of a member of staff. Permission should besought from the module convenor before registering.Assessment



Dr S PryceConvenor

M14021 Philosophy of Social Research

Credits 20 Level 4

Target students MA Politics & International Relationsstudents have first priority

Semester Autumn

Description The module introduces students to key issuesin the philosophy of the natural and the social sciences. Acentral theme of the module is that empirical research isalways carried out from the standpoint of a particularperspective or point of view and that one's choice ofperspective will depend on one's values and therefore hasdefinite ethical implications. Attention will be drawn to themethodological implications of the various theoreticalperspectives that might be adopted.

Method and frequency of class:

Activity DurationNo. ofSessions

Seminar 1 2hr0minper wk.

Lecture 1 1hr0minper wk.

One lecture and one seminar per week (2 hours);self-directed study (8-10 hours per week).Activities may take place every teaching week of the Semester or only inspecified weeks. It is usually specified above if an activity only takesplace in some weeks of a Semester

Assessment


Exam 1 (50%) 2 hour examination

Coursework 1 (50%) 3,000 word essay

Dr A BurnsConvenor

M14023 Europe and the Developing World

Credits 20 Level 4

Target students Arts & Social Sciences

There is a limit to the number of places on this module. Students arereminded that enrolments which are not agreed by the Offering School inadvance may be cancelled without notice.

Includes 'study abroad'

Semester Autumn

Description This module analyses the decision-makingprocess and current policy issues in both economic (firstpillar) and political and security (CFSP: Common Foreignand Security Policies, and ESDP: European Security andDefence Policies) policies within the European Union. Wewill examine theories, concepts and case studies to explainthe nature of contemporary EU policies towards Africa, theMiddle East and Asia. Themes include: Theorising EUsecurity policies, Instruments of Security Policies, Issuessuch as Post-Colonialism, Intervention, Ethics ofintervention, Just War Theory, Asylum policies, Migrationpolicies, the Fight against terrorism and WMD (Weapons ofMass Destruction).




Activities may take place every teaching week of the Semester or only inspecified weeks. It is usually specified above if an activity only takesplace in some weeks of a Semester

Assessment


Exam 1 (50%) 2 Hour exam

Coursework 1 (50%) 1 x 3000 word essay

Dr C GegoutConvenor

M14024 Europe and the Developing World

Credits 15 Level 4

Target students Arts & Social Sciences


Semester Autumn

Description This module analyses the decision-makingprocess and current policy issues in both economic (firstpillar) and political and security (CFSP: Common Foreignand Security Policies, and ESDP: European Security andDefence Policies) policies within the European Union. Wewill examine theories, concepts and case studies to explainthe nature of contemporary EU policies towards Africa, theMiddle East and Asia. Themes include: Theorising EUsecurity policies, Instruments of Security Policies, Issuessuch as Post-Colonialism, Intervention, Ethics ofintervention, Just War Theory, Asylum policies, Migrationpolicies, the Fight against terrorism and WMD (Weapons ofMass Destruction).





Assessment


Exam 1 (50%) 2 hour exam


Dr C GegoutConvenor

M14027 Narcoterrorism: states, drugs and security

Credits 20 Level 4

Target students MA students in Arts and Social Sciences



Semester Autumn

Description Illegal drugs, terrorism and states form thesubject matter of this module. Belief in the existence of anarcoterrorist link has become commonplace but thenature of the link is only now attracting close scrutiny ofboth politicians and academics. Wide-scale production andtrafficking of illegal drugs is associated with weak regimes.Such states are usually aid recipients whose territorial writis limited. This makes them vulnerable to exploitation bydrug barons, domestic insurgents and internationalterrorists. It also invites intervention by internationalactors pursuing the global fight against both drugs andterrorism. To explore this complex and interestingconnection it is necessary to understand theories of thestate and its claim to sovereignty; the emergence ofnon-traditional security threats and the globalization ofboth the war against drugs and the war against terrorism.






Assessment




Dr S PryceConvenor

M14028 Narcoterrorism: states, drugs and security

Credits 15 Level 4




Semester Autumn

Description Illegal drugs, terrorism and states form thesubject matter of this module. Belief in the existence of anarcoterrorist link has become commonplace but thenature of the link is only now attracting close scrutiny ofboth politicians and academics. Wide-scale production andtrafficking of illegal drugs is associated with weak regimes.Such states are usually aid recipients whose territorial writis limited. This makes them vulnerable to exploitation bydrug barons, domestic insurgents and internationalterrorists. It also invites intervention by internationalactors pursuing the global fight against both drugs andterrorism. To explore this complex and interestingconnection it is necessary to understand theories of thestate and its claim to sovereignty; the emergence ofnon-traditional security threats and the globalization ofboth the war against drugs and the war against terrorism.






Assessment




Dr S PryceConvenor

M14071 Local Power in an Era of Globalisation

Credits 20 Level 4

Target students MA students in Arts & Social Sciences


Semester Autumn

Description This module is contemporary in focusexploring the dynamics of local power (particular places,communities, subjectivities and bodies) and itsrelationship to global processes of economic, political andideological change. It will explore through the use of casestudies (mainly from the Americas region but notexclusively so) the competing theoretical frameworks thatseek to conceptualise and understand the role of the localin social reproduction and transformation. Amongst thedebates addressed will be: can participatory approachesbe successful in overcoming democratic deficit andunderdevelopment; is the local a site of subalternresistance or do local politics reinforce politicalpowerlessness: is the local a place in which the world canbe re-made or is it a place of competing identities andparticular demands; can the local be the solution toproblems of political apathy or does it merely reinforcepolitical fragmentation and democratic disintegration; arethe body and self places of political resistance. The courseis subdivided into three main sections: Week One-Four:Conceptualising and Theorising the Local; Week Five-Seven: Mainstream Understandings of, and Practices in,the Local; Week Eight-Ten: Alternative Understandings of,and Practices in, the Local.






Assessment



Presentation 1 (20%) 1 x presentation of 1000 words

Dr S MottaConvenor

M14073 Air Power and Modern Conflict

Credits 20 Level 4



Semester Autumn

Description The module assesses the role of air power inmodern conflict within the broader framework of strategicand security studies. It will assess the evolution of airpower theory since the First World War and examine thepotential and limits of its practical application withreference to specific air campaigns. Particular emphasiswill be placed on the role of air power in the post-Cold Warsecurity environment, for example, in counterterrorismand counterinsurgency campaigns.





Assessment




Dr B RenzConvenor

M14074 Air Power and Modern Conflict

Credits 15 Level 4




Semester Autumn

Description The module assesses the role of air power inmodern conflict within the broader framework of strategicand security studies. It will assess the evolution of airpower theory since the First World War and examine thepotential and limits of its practical application withreference to specific air campaigns. Particular emphasiswill be placed on the role of air power in the post-Cold Warsecurity environment, for example, in counterterrorismand counterinsurgency campaigns.





Assessment




Dr B RenzConvenor

M14078 Local Power in an Era of Globalisation

Credits 15 Level 4



Semester Autumn

Description This module is contemporary in focusexploring the dynamics of local power (particular places,communities, subjectivities and bodies) and itsrelationship to global processes of economic, political andideological change. It will explore through the use of casestudies (mainly from the Americas region but notexclusively so) the competing theoretical frameworks thatseek to conceptualise and understand the role of the localin social reproduction and transformation. Amongst thedebates addressed will be: can participatory approachesbe successful in overcoming democratic deficit andunderdevelopment; is the local a site of subalternresistance or do local politics reinforce politicalpowerlessness: is the local a place in which the world canbe re-made or is it a place of competing identities andparticular demands; can the local be the solution toproblems of political apathy or does it merely reinforcepolitical fragmentation and democratic disintegration; arethe body and self places of political resistance. The courseis subdivided into three main sections: Week One-Four:Conceptualising and Theorising the Local; Week Five-Seven: Mainstream Understandings of, and Practices in,the Local; Week Eight-Ten: Alternative Understandings of,and Practices in, the Local






Assessment



Presentation 1 (20%) 1 x presentation - 1000 words

Dr S MottaConvenor

M14084 War, Peace and Terror

Credits 20 Level 4

Target students MA Students in Arts & Social Sciences


Semester Autumn

Description Theories of War and peace, Society, Violenceand Terrorism, threats: Famine, AIDS, environmentaldegradation, economic, poverty.






Assessment


Exam 1 (50%) 1 x 2 hour exam


Dr P EadieConvenor

M14085 War, Peace and Terror

Credits 15 Level 4

Target students MA Students in Arts & Social Sciences


Semester Autumn

Description Theories of War and peace, Society, Violenceand Terrorism, threats: Famine, AIDS, environmentaldegradation, economic, poverty.






Assessment


Exam 1 (50%) 1 x 2 hour exam


Dr P EadieConvenor

M14088 Western Counter-Terrorism Cooperation

Credits 20 Level 4

Target students This module is designed as an option forMA degrees in international relations, including the MA inInternational Security and TerrorismIncludes 'study abroad'

Semester Autumn

Description Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the UnitedStates and Europe have sought to cooperate oncounter-terrorism policies and this module will investigateboth the substance of this cooperation as well as theconceptual thinking on which it is based. It will seek todetermine whether a coherent US-European approach tocountering transnational terrorism is emerging andwhether this approach can provide a foundation for a widerinternational counter-terrorism architecture. The modulewill be divided into three sections. In the first section, thefocus will be upon the nature of the threat posed byterrorism today and the differing western approaches tocountering the problem. The second section will review arange of security measures that have been adopted by theUS and Europe: namely, border security management, lawenforcement and judicial cooperation and issues relating tocivil liberties. The third section will analyse the foreignpolicy dynamics of western counter-terrorism. Attentionwill be paid to multilateral approaches to combatingterrorism through organisations such as the United Nationsand attempts by the transatlantic allies to extendcounter-terrorism cooperation to the wider internationalcommunity. .





Assessment


Exam 1 (50%) unseen written exam

Coursework 1 (40%) 1 x 2,500 word essay

Presentation 1 (10%) 1 x 500 word presentattion

Professor GW ReesConvenor

M14089 Western Counter-Terrorism Cooperation

Credits 15 Level 4

Target students This module is designed as an option forMA degrees in international relations, including the MA inInternational Security and TerrorismThere is a limit to the number of places on this module. Students arereminded that enrolments which are not agreed by the Offering School inadvance may be cancelled without notice.


Semester Autumn

Description Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the UnitedStates and Europe have sought to cooperate oncounter-terrorism policies and this module will investigateboth the substance of this cooperation as well as theconceptual thinking on which it is based. It will seek todetermine whether a coherent US-European approach tocountering transnational terrorism is emerging andwhether this approach can provide a foundation for a widerinternational counter-terrorism architecture. The modulewill be divided into three sections. In the first section, thefocus will be upon Rapoport’s the nature of the threatposed by terrorism today and the differing westernapproaches to countering the problem. The second sectionwill review a range of security measures that have beenadopted by the US and Europe: namely, border securitymanagement, law enforcement and judicial cooperationand issues relating to civil liberties. The third section willanalyse the foreign policy dynamics of westerncounter-terrorism. Attention will be paid to multilateralapproaches to combating terrorism through organisationssuch as the United Nations and attempts by thetransatlantic allies to extend counter-terrorism cooperationto the wider international community.





Assessment


Exam 1 (50%) unseen written exam


Presentation 1 (10%) 1 x 500 word presentation

Professor GW ReesConvenor

M14120 The Making of Political Science

Credits 20 Level 4

Target students Graduate students from the Arts andSocial Sciences Faculties.

Semester Autumn

Description This module provides students with anunderstanding of the main theories and conceptsemployed in political science, as well as the history of thediscipline. These may include institutional, structural,behavioural, rational choice and interpretative approaches.In particular, the module focuses on the main theoreticalapproaches in political science that underpin comparativeexplanation, as well as the methods of comparison. Thismodule provides a platform for further study incomparative politics.




One weekly 2 hour seminar.Activities may take place every teaching week of the Semester or only inspecified weeks. It is usually specified above if an activity only takesplace in some weeks of a Semester

Assessment


Exam 1 (50%) 2 hour exam

Coursework 1 (50%) 1x3000 word essay

Dr C GebhardConvenor

M14121 Quantitative Political Analysis

Credits 20 Level 4

Target students Graduate students from the Arts, Law andSocial Sciences Faculties.There is a limit to the number of places on this module. Students arereminded that enrolments which are not agreed by the Offering School inadvance may be cancelled without notice.

Semester Autumn

Description This module introduces students to theestimation, quantification, and coding of political data aswell as the descriptive and inferential analysis of datausing probabilistic and statistical techniques. The modulewill also provide students with hands-on skills of dataanalysis and will enable them to write professionalacademic reports on these analyses.




Tutor-led: 22 hours, private study: 114, assessment andrevision: 14 hours.Activities may take place every teaching week of the Semester or only inspecified weeks. It is usually specified above if an activity only takesplace in some weeks of a Semester

Assessment


Exam 1 (50%) Exam unseen

Coursework 1 (25%) Exercises

Coursework 2 (25%) Exercises

Dr M PickupConvenor

M14125 Justice Beyond Borders: Theories ofInternational and Intergenerational Justice

Credits 20 Level 4

Target students Postgraduate students from within theFaculties of Law and Social Sciences, and Arts.

Semester Autumn

Description Justice Beyond Borders introduces andexplores the concept of distributive justice on aninternational and intergenerational basis. Standardaccounts of distributive justice typically operate upon theassumption that the relevant principles are framed by, andapply within the borders of the nation-state. This moduleexamines how justice has traditionally beenconceptualised, and challenges the idea of the nation-stateas providing limits to the proper operation of principles ofjustice. Justice between nations, and between generations,as well as between humans and non-humans, forms thefocus of this module. The programme for dealing withthese themes includes: international theories of justice,with particular reference to faminie relief and humanitarianintervention; intergenerational justice and personalidentity, 'biocentric' theories of justice; animal rights; and,direct political action.




Tutor led: 24 hours, private study/assessment/revision:126 hours.Activities may take place every teaching week of the Semester or only inspecified weeks. It is usually specified above if an activity only takesplace in some weeks of a Semester

Assessment



Assignment (50%) 1 x 3000 word essay

Dr DM StevensConvenor

M14138 The End of the World: Coping withCatastrophic Risk

Credits 20 Level 4

Target students MA students, in particular those taking MAin International Security & Terrorism, MA in Social andGlobal Justice.Includes 'study abroad'

Semester Autumn

Description Climate change, biological terrorism,asteroids, nuclear war: All of these could kill billions ofpeople. How careful should we be when the future of theplanet is at stake? Is it wise to allow ‘rogue states’ toacquire weapons of mass destruction? Is it fair for richstates to expose poor ones to the threat of globalwarming? How much, if at all, should we ‘discount’dangers to people in other countries or in the future? Thismodule will introduce students to decision theory and theethics of risk imposition, and apply them to a number ofcatastrophic threats.





Assessment


Exam 1 (50%) Unseen exam


Dr M RendallConvenor

M14139 The End of the World: Coping withCatastrophic Risk

Credits 15 Level 4

Target students MA students, in particular those taking MAin International Security & Terrorism, MA in Social andGlobal Justice.Includes 'study abroad'

Semester Autumn

Description Climate change, biological terrorism,asteroids, nuclear war: All of these could kill billions ofpeople. How careful should we be when the future of theplanet is at stake? Is it wise to allow ‘rogue states’ toacquire weapons of mass destruction? Is it fair for richstates to expose poor ones to the threat of globalwarming? How much, if at all, should we ‘discount’dangers to people in other countries or in the future? Thismodule will introduce students to decision theory and theethics of risk imposition, and apply them to a number ofcatastrophic threats.





Assessment




Dr M RendallConvenor

M14140 Contemporary Warfare

Credits 20 Level 4

Target students MA in War and Contemporary Conflict; MAstudentsIncludes 'study abroad'

Semester Autumn

Description This module will cover those aspects of‘warfare’ – widely defined - that have come to the foresince the end of the Cold War. The word ‘complex’ hasbeen used to describe many aspects of warfare since1989, and this complexity is mostly the result of the factthat warfare today involves many more actors than it didin the ‘simpler’ era of the Cold War and earlier. Themodule will be centred around an understanding of theconcept of ‘asymmetric warfare’. It will thus consider allforms of warfare from low-level insurgencies up to the Iraqwars of 1991 and 2003. It will consider theoreticalapproaches to insurgencies and guerrilla warfare.Examinations will also be made of the development ofmodern weapons systems –their design, applicability, andthe ethical issues surrounding their use. Specific countrieswill be examined as examples of overall approaches to thesubject of modern warfare – the likes of Israel and China.The US military will obviously be examined in depth as thelead nation in terms of the development and use ofhigh-tech weapons systems. The concept of militarymodernisation and organisational change will also beincluded - looking specifically at the developing militariesof India, Russia and China. Lastly, the module will considerthe roles played in contemporary conflict by sub-stateactors – notably, NGOs, PMCs, etc – and supra-stateactors – the UN, NATO, etc.





Assessment



Coursework 1 (50%) 1 x 3000 words

Dr I R ThorntonConvenor

M14141 Contemporary Warfare

Credits 15 Level 4

Target students MA in War and Contemporary Conflict; MAstudentsIncludes 'study abroad'

Semester Autumn

Description This module will cover those aspects of‘warfare’ – widely defined - that have come to the foresince the end of the Cold War. The word ‘complex’ hasbeen used to describe many aspects of warfare since1989, and this complexity is mostly the result of the factthat warfare today involves many more actors than it didin the ‘simpler’ era of the Cold War and earlier. Themodule will be centred around an understanding of theconcept of ‘asymmetric warfare’. It will thus consider allforms of warfare from low-level insurgencies up to the Iraqwars of 1991 and 2003. It will consider theoreticalapproaches to insurgencies and guerrilla warfare.Examinations will also be made of the development ofmodern weapons systems –their design, applicability, andthe ethical issues surrounding their use. Specific countrieswill be examined as examples of overall approaches to thesubject of modern warfare – the likes of Israel and China.The US military will obviously be examined in depth as thelead nation in terms of the development and use ofhigh-tech weapons systems. The concept of militarymodernisation and organisational change will also beincluded - looking specifically at the developing militariesof India, Russia and China. Lastly, the module will considerthe roles played in contemporary conflict by sub-stateactors – notably, NGOs, PMCs, etc – and supra-stateactors – the UN, NATO, etc.





Assessment



Coursework 1 (50%) 1 x 2000 words


M14142 For whom do they govern? ComparingGovernment Responsiveness Globally:

Europe, North America and AsiaCredits 20 Level 4

Target students MA students


Semester Autumn

Description This module is about the accountability andresponsiveness of government to the will of thosegoverned. It will address questions such as: To whom isthe government responsive, to just a few big interests orto all the people?; Under what institutional and politicalconditions will the government be responsive to thepeople?; And how can we hold the governmentaccountable for its actions and ensure it is responsive tothe will of the people?





Assessment




Dr M PickupConvenor

M14143 For whom do they govern? ComparingGovernment Responsiveness Globally:

Europe, North America and AsiaCredits 15 Level 4

Target students MA students


Semester Autumn

Description This module is about the accountability andresponsiveness of government to the will of thosegoverned. It will address questions such as: To whom isthe government responsive, to just a few big interests orto all the people?; Under what institutional and politicalconditions will the government be responsive to thepeople?; And how can we hold the governmentaccountable for its actions and ensure it is responsive tothe will of the people?





Assessment




Dr M PickupConvenor

M14150 Philosophy of Research - Social Science

Credits 10 Level 4

Target students ESRC Doctoral Training Centre Students

Semester Autumn

Description The module examines the relationshipbetween epistemology, ontology and methodology. In themodule we explore the concepts that underpin educationaland social research including empiricism, rationalism,interpretivism and realism and their relation to objectivity,causation and validity. The module covers the role ofvalues in social enquiry, and helps students to explore therelevance of these issues for their own research.




Practical 1 2hr0minper wk.

Further Activity Detail: 10 x 3 hr classes involving a leadlecture followed by a tutorial. Guided reading 20 hours andassignment 25 hoursActivities may take place every teaching week of the Semester or only inspecified weeks. It is usually specified above if an activity only takesplace in some weeks of a Semester

Assessment


Coursework 1 (100%) 3000 word essay

Dr S Timmons

Mr A Morgan

Convenor

M14151 Research Design, Practice and Ethics

Credits 10 Level 4

Target students DTC students, ESRC MA / PhD students inany of the social sciences, other PhD or MA students ifspace allows.

Semester Autumn

Description This module focuses on the analytical,practical and ethical organization of social scienceresearch. The analytical organization is often referred to as‘research design’ and will constitute the bulk of the contentof this module. Research design consists of choicesnecessary to transform a research question into actualresearch. These choices pertain to strategies and modes ofcase selection, observation methods, data collection andmodes of analysis. Every research question can beelaborated in different ways (i.e., with different designs),none of which will be ideal in all respects as the variouschoices pertain to trade-offs. Each design has its ownimplications in terms of costs and in terms of potentialthreats to the validity of its eventual results. Theseimplications will be elaborated in the module, as well asways how to handle the resulting choice problems in actualpractice. The practical organisation of research is closelyrelated to design choices, but focuses particularly onlogistical and timing issues. Ethical organisation of theresearch involves awareness of ethical issues, of ethicalconsent procedures and of their implications for researchdesign and practical organisation.






Assessment


Report (30%) 1 x 1000 word focusing on analysisand evaluation of design of published

empirical research

Report 2 (70%) 1 x 2000 words reviewing designchoices and implications in the

student's own discipline and subfield

Professor C van der EijkConvenor

M14153 Fundamentals of Quantitative Analysis

Credits 10 Level 4

Target students ESRC MA / PhD students within the DTC.Other MA/PhD students if space allows.There is a limit to the number of places on this module. Students arereminded that enrolments which are not agreed by the Offering School inadvance may be cancelled without notice.

Semester Autumn

Description The objective of this module is to furtherstudents’ familiarity with the practice of quantitative dataanalysis in the social sciences at an intermediate level. Thelecture component of the module will explore a variety ofthe most commonly used statistical methods; in thelaboratory component, students will learn to apply thesetechniques to the analysis of social science data. Throughassignments, students will have the opportunity to developand test their own hypotheses and explanations on majorresearch data sets. The module should provide a soundgrasp of the possibilities, methods, and dangers inherentin quantitative social science research.




Computing 1 2hr0minper wk.


Assessment



Coursework 1 (40%) Excercises and Written Report

Dr M PickupConvenor

M14225 Justice Beyond Borders: Theories ofInternational and Intergenerational Justice

Credits 15 Level 4

Target students Postgraduate studnets from within thefaculties of Law and Social Sciences, and Arts.

Semester Autumn

Description Justice Beyond Borders introduces andexplores the concept of distributive justice on aninternationa and intergenerational basis. Standardaccounts of distributive justice typically operate upon theassumption that the relevant principles are framed by, andapply within the borders of the nation-state. This moduleexamines how justice has traditinally been conceptualised,and challenges the idea of the nation-state as providinglimits to the proper operation of principles of justice.Justice between nations, and between generations, as wellas between humans and non-humans, forms the focus ofthis module. the programme for dealing with these themesincludes: international theories of justice, with particularreference to famine relief and humanitarian intervention;intergenerational justice and personal identity, 'biocentric'theories of justice; animal rights; and direct politicalaction.




Tutor led: 24 hours, Private study, assessment, revision:88.5 hoursActivities may take place every teaching week of the Semester or only inspecified weeks. It is usually specified above if an activity only takesplace in some weeks of a Semester

Assessment



Assignment (50%) 1 x 2000 word essay

Dr DM StevensConvenor

Spring Semester

Level 4M14001 Terrorism

Credits 20 Level 4



Semester Spring

Description This module will begin with an examination ofthe phenomenon of terrorism. It will discuss the variousdefinitions of terrorism. It will go on to review the historyof terrorism – from ‘terrorist’ activity in the ancient world,through the French Revolution (where we see the first useof the term ‘terrorism’) and on into the origins of the IRAin the United States during the 19th century. This leadsinto a study of the Anarchist movement of the late 19thand early 20th centuries; the left-wing terrorism of the1960s and 1970s, and finally to the ‘New’ terrorism oftoday. The module also considers the role of the media inthe generation of terrorism (and in its countering) and howthe technological advances being made today aid theterrorists in the prosecution of their activities.





One lecture and one seminar per week (2 hours);self-directed study (8-10 hours per week). Optional videoworkshop weekly.Activities may take place every teaching week of the Semester or only inspecified weeks. It is usually specified above if an activity only takesplace in some weeks of a Semester

Assessment


Exam 1 (50%) 2 hour examination.



M14022 Theories and Concepts in InternationalRelations

Credits 20 Level 4

Target students MA International Relations students havefirst priority.

Semester Spring

Description The War on Iraq and the US and Britishinvasion of the country in 2003 has led to huge tensions ingeopolitics. At the same time, the supposed 'threat' ofinternational terrorism and continuing financial turmoil inthe world economy have both brought to the fore theglobal politics of co-operation and confrontation. Whilst itmight be possible to agree on the signifcance of theseevents, the explanation and/or understanding of them isdependent on prior theoretical choices. The purpose of thismodule is to make students aware of the diversity ofapproaches to international theory. Within InternationalRelations (IR) theory there exist highly divergentinterpretations and applications of key concepts (egpower, the state, agency, structure, and world order) aswell as contested views about the practical purposeunderpinning theories of world politics. The overalll aim ofthe module is to provide students with a solid theoreticaland conceptual grounding of this diversity. As a result, itwill be possible to recognise not only how internationaltheory informs policy-making and practice but also,perhaps, how truly contested the underlying assumptionsof world politics are.






Assessment



Coursework 1 (50%) One 3,000 word coursework essay.

Professor A Bieler

Dr A Morton

Convenor

M14048 Special Project A

Credits 5 Level 4


Semester Spring

Description This module will consist of special essay work,arising from the work completed on another moduleoffered. Permission should be sought from the moduleconvenor before registering.Method and frequency of Class:

Students will engage in library research under thesupervision of a member of staff.Assessment



Dr S PryceConvenor

M14051 Terrorism

Credits 15 Level 4


Semester Spring

Description This module will begin with an examination ofthe phenomenon of terrorism. It will discuss the variousdefinitions of terrorism. It will go on to review the historyof terrorism – from ‘terrorist’ activity in the ancient world,through the French Revolution (where we see the first useof the term ‘terrorism’) and on into the origins of the IRAin the United States during the 19th century. This leadsinto a study of the Anarchist movement of the late 19thand early 20th centuries; the left-wing terrorism of the1960s and 1970s, and finally to the ‘New’ terrorism oftoday. The module also considers the role of the media inthe generation of terrorism (and in its countering) and howthe technological advances being made today aid theterrorists in the prosecution of their activities.





One lecture and one seminar per week (2 hours);self-directed study (8-10 hours per week). Video workshopweekly.Activities may take place every teaching week of the Semester or only inspecified weeks. It is usually specified above if an activity only takesplace in some weeks of a Semester

Assessment





M14060 Art and War

Credits 20 Level 4

Target students Students from the Faculty of Arts andSocial SciencesThere is a limit to the number of places on this module. Students arereminded that enrolments which are not agreed by the Offering School inadvance may be cancelled without notice.


Semester Spring

Description This module will focus on the treatment of waror the representation of war in art broadly conceived: warstories, war poetry, war photography, war paintings, warfilms, war music, even war architecture - war memorialsand war museums. It will seek to ask in what ways suchworks contribute to our understanding of war, and byextension our understanding of international relations.How effective are they? Can works of the imagination -works of art - reach parts that other works cannot reach?How? What strategies do they employ? Do they have to beexplicit? Do they have to be easy to read (or watch orlisten to)? In what ways are we affected by them? Whatdifference can they make?




Assessment


Coursework 1 (10%) 1 x 500 word proposal


Professor A DanchevConvenor

M14061 Art and War

Credits 15 Level 4

Target students Students from the Faculty of Arts andSocial SciencesThere is a limit to the number of places on this module. Students arereminded that enrolments which are not agreed by the Offering School inadvance may be cancelled without notice.


Semester Spring

Description This module will focus on the treatment of waror the representation of war in art broadly conceived: warstories, war poetry, war photography, war paintings, warfilms, war music, even war architecture - war memorialsand war museums. It will seek to ask in what ways suchworks contribute to our understanding of war, and byextension our understanding of international relations.How effective are they? Can works of the imagination -works of art - reach parts that other works cannot reach?How? What strategies do they employ? Do they have to beexplicit? Do they have to be easy to read (or watch orlisten to)? In what ways are we affected by them? Whatdifference can they make?




Assessment


Coursework 1 (10%) 1 x 500 word proposal

Coursework 2 (90%) 1 x 3500

Professor A DanchevConvenor

M14069 Special Project B

Credits 10 Level 4

Target students

Semester Spring

Description This module will consist of special essay work,arising from the work completed on another moduleoffered. Permission should be sought from the moduleconvenor before registering.Method and frequency of Class:

Assessment



Dr S PryceConvenor

M14072 Theories and Concepts in InternationalRelations

Credits 15 Level 4


Semester Spring

Description The War on Iraq and the US and Britishinvasion of the country in 2003 has led to huge tensions ingeopolitics. At the same time, the supposed 'threat' ofinternational terrorism and continuing financial turmoil inthe world economy have both brought to the fore theglobal politics of co-operation and confrontation. Whilst itmight be possible to agree on the signifcance of theseevents, the explanation and/or understanding of them isdependent on prior theoretical choices. The purpose of thismodule is to make students aware of the diversity ofapproaches to international theory. Within InternationalRelations (IR) theory there exist highly divergentinterpretations and applications of key concepts (egpower, the state, agency, structure, and world order) aswell as contested views about the practical purposeunderpinning theories of world politics. The overalll aim ofthe module is to provide students with a solid theoreticaland conceptual grounding of this diversity. As a result, itwill be possible to recognise not only how internationaltheory informs policy-making and practice but also,perhaps, how truly contested the underlying assumptionsof world politics are.






Assessment




Professor A Bieler

Dr A Morton

Convenor

M14116 China's International Relations

Credits 20 Level 4

Target students MA students in the Faculty of Arts&Education, Law and Social SciencesIncludes 'study abroad'

Semester Spring

Description This module affords a nuanced understandingof the international status of China in the contemporaryperiod. Special attention is given to the way in which Chinaplays the role of a 'responsible state'. The module isdivided into four parts. The first part offers conceptual andtheoretical perspectives that enable one to analyze China'sinternational relations today and what being “responsible”in an international context means. The second partconsiders broader debates on China’s policy in relation tothe West and developing countries, as well as tomultilateral institutions. This part also takes into accountthe importance of history, which informs us how China’sinterpretation of history bears on its policy making today.The third part focuses on China’s peacekeeping andhumanitarian operations, and empirically assesses how“responsible” China has been since the end of the ColdWar. The fourth part explores the role of the West byreflecting our discussion in the module as a whole.Knowledge of International Relations theory would beuseful to aid understanding of this module.





Assessment




Presentation 1 (10%) Presentation and class participation

Convenor

M14117 China's International Relations

Credits 15 Level 4

Target students MA students in the Faculty of Arts&Education, Law and Social SciencesIncludes 'study abroad'

Semester Spring

Description This module affords a nuanced understandingof the international status of China in the contemporaryperiod. Special attention is given to the way in which Chinaplays the rold of a 'responsible state'. The module isdivided into four parts. The first part offers conceptual andtheoretical perspectives that enable one to analyze China'sinternational relations today and what being “responsible”in an international context means. The second partconsiders broader debates on China’s policy in relation tothe West and developing countries, as well as tomultilateral institutions. This part also takes into accountthe importance of history, which informs us how China’sinterpretation of history bears on its policy making today.The third part focuses on China’s peacekeeping andhumanitarian operations, and empirically assesses how“responsible” China has been since the end of the ColdWar. The fourth part explores the role of the West byreflecting our discussion in the module as a whole.Knowledge of International Relations theory would beuseful to aid understanding of this module.





Assessment




Presentation 1 (10%) Presentation and class participation

Convenor

M14118 Strategy and Security

Credits 20 Level 4

Target students MA students in the Schools of Politics &IR, and Law; and cognate disciplinesIncludes 'study abroad'

Semester Spring

Description “The word ‘strategy’ has acquired auniversality which has robbed it of meaning, and left itonly with banalities. Governments have strategies totackle the problems of education, public health andpensions. Advertising companies have strategies to sellcosmetics or clothes. Strategic studies flourish moreverdantly in schools of business studies than indepartments of international relations. But strategicstudies are not business studies, nor is strategy asynonym of policy” (Hew Strachan, ‘The Lost Meaning ofStrategy’, 2005: 34). This module will return to theoriginal meaning of strategy. At the heart of strategy isthe relationship between military force and policyobjective: it is the link between the military and politicalworlds and the process by which military force createspolitical effect. The module will assess the evolution ofstrategic thought in the original meaning of the word. Itwill give an insight into the works of key strategic thinkers,including Sun Tsu, Clausewitz and Jomini. Further, it willassess the extent to which strategy involves principles thathave enduring relevance independent of the political andsocial setting. Does war have a primordial nature? Howrelevant is the concept of strategy in the contemporaryworld and how is it employed in land, air and sea warfare?Has the abandonment of strategy in its traditional meaningcontributed to military failures and incoherent militaryresponses in recent decades?





Assessment




Dr B RenzConvenor

M14119 Strategy and Security

Credits 15 Level 4

Target students MA students in the Schools of Politics &IR, and Law; and cognate disciplinesIncludes 'study abroad'

Semester Spring

Description “The word ‘strategy’ has acquired auniversality which has robbed it of meaning, and left itonly with banalities. Governments have strategies totackle the problems of education, public health andpensions. Advertising companies have strategies to sellcosmetics or clothes. Strategic studies flourish moreverdantly in schools of business studies than indepartments of international relations. But strategicstudies are not business studies, nor is strategy asynonym of policy” (Hew Strachan, ‘The Lost Meaning ofStrategy’, 2005: 34). This module will return to theoriginal meaning of strategy. At the heart of strategy isthe relationship between military force and policyobjective: it is the link between the military and politicalworlds and the process by which military force createspolitical effect. The module will assess the evolution ofstrategic thought in the original meaning of the word. Itwill give an insight into the works of key strategic thinkers,including Sun Tsu, Clausewitz and Jomini. Further, it willassess the extent to which strategy involves principles thathave enduring relevance independent of the political andsocial setting. Does war have a primordial nature? Howrelevant is the concept of strategy in the contemporaryworld and how is it employed in land, air and sea warfare?Has the abandonment of strategy in its traditional meaningcontributed to military failures and incoherent militaryresponses in recent decades?





Assessment




Dr B RenzConvenor

M14128 Social Global Justice in Action

Credits 20 Level 4

Target students Students taking the MA in Social andGlobal Justice. Students on MA level programmes in theFaculties of Arts and Social ScienceThere is a limit to the number of places on this module. Students arereminded that enrolments which are not agreed by the Offering School inadvance may be cancelled without notice.


Semester Spring

Description This module is organised aroundproblem-based learning and is informed by principles of‘critical pedagogy’. The content will stem from core issuesin the field of social and global justice and teaching will beorganised around a number of case studies, which will bepresented as ‘problems’. Each week primary sourcesrelating to a ‘problem’ in the field of social and globaljustice will be presented. These may take the form of anewspaper article, pictures, quotes or an extract from abook. Students will generate questions on the basis of this‘problem’, which they will seek to answer for the nextsession. For each ‘problem’ a list with suggested readingswill be given, which evaluate the ‘problem’ in a variety ofways from different perspectives. Students have the taskto engage critically with a range of different perspectivesin order to generate potential answers to the problem.





Assessment



Presentation 1 (20%) Presentation and reflectivedocument - 1000 word

Dr S MottaConvenor

M14129 Social Global Justice in Action

Credits 15 Level 4

Target students Students taking the MA in Social andGlobal Justice. Students on MA level programmes in theFaculties of Arts and Social ScienceThere is a limit to the number of places on this module. Students arereminded that enrolments which are not agreed by the Offering School inadvance may be cancelled without notice.


Semester Spring

Description This module is organised aroundproblem-based learning and is informed by principles of‘critical pedagogy’. The content will stem from core issuesin the field of social and global justice and teaching will beorganised around a number of case studies, which will bepresented as ‘problems’. Each week primary sourcesrelating to a ‘problem’ in the field of social and globaljustice will be presented. These may take the form of anewspaper article, pictures, quotes or an extract from abook. Students will generate questions on the basis of this‘problem’, which they will seek to answer for the nextsession. For each ‘problem’ a list with suggested readingswill be given, which evaluate the ‘problem’ in a variety ofways from different perspectives. Students have the taskto engage critically with a range of different perspectivesin order to generate potential answers to the problem.





Assessment



Presentation 1 (20%) Presentation and reflective document- 1000 word

Dr CV Pupavac

Professor A Bieler

Dr A Burns

Dr A Morton

Dr S Motta

Convenor

M14132 Disaster Politics

Credits 20 Level 4

Target students Students in the Faculty of Arts and SocialSciences

Semester Spring

Description This module is designed to provide anintroduction to disaster politics for postgraduate students.The module considers the changing historical and culturalunderstanding of disasters from acts of God, to acts ofnature, to acts of man. The module considers the historyof international disaster relief organisations, and theirprinciples and policies. The module further considerspolitical approaches to disasters, including famine politicsand complex political emergencies.





Assessment




Dr CV PupavacConvenor

M14133 Disaster Politics

Credits 15 Level 4

Target students Students in the Faculty of Arts and SocialSciences

Semester Spring

Description This module is designed to provide anintroduction to disaster politics for postgraduate students.The module considers the changing historical and culturalunderstanding of disasters from acts of God, to acts ofnature, to acts of man. The module considers the historyof international disaster relief organisations, and theirprinciples and policies. The module further considerspolitical approaches to disasters, including famine politicsand complex political emergencies.





Assessment




Dr CV PupavacConvenor

M14136 War, peace and political thought

Credits 20 Level 4

Target students MA students in Social Sciences andHumanitiesIncludes 'study abroad'

Semester Spring

Description This is an advanced course in the history ofinternational political thought for MA students. It isstructured in two parts. The first is concerned with anapproach to the history of international theory, influentialin the field, which insists on placing theorists in one ofthree ‘traditions’. We interrogate the integrity of thesetraditions, in each case, by examining the work of at leasttwo writers who are said to belong squarely to thetradition, or indeed to have founded it. In the second partof the course, we look at a number of respects in whichinternational relations theorists and political theorists areturning their attention to the history of internationalthought in order to illuminate some aspect ofcontemporary global politics.





Assessment




Dr B K HollandConvenor

M14137 War, peace and political thought

Credits 15 Level 4

Target students MA students in Social Sciences andHumanitiesIncludes 'study abroad'

Semester Spring

Description This is an advanced course in the history ofinternational political thought for MA students. It isstructured in two parts. The first is concerned with anapproach to the history of international theory, influentialin the field, which insists on placing theorists in one ofthree ‘traditions’. We interrogate the integrity of thesetraditions, in each case, by examining the work of at leasttwo writers who are said to belong squarely to thetradition, or indeed to have founded it. In the second partof the course, we look at a number of respects in whichinternational relations theorists and political theorists areturning their attention to the history of internationalthought in order to illuminate some aspect ofcontemporary global politics.





Assessment




Dr B K HollandConvenor

M14320 Designing Political Enquiry

Credits 20 Level 4

Target students

Semester Spring

Description The module is designed to allow students todevelop a critical understanding of the methodologicalissues involved in designing and undertaking politicalscience research and to strengthen their ability to readand evaluate political science literature more generally.The first part of the module focuses on issues of researchdesign in political science, in particular, the use of thecomparative method in political science research. Itexposes students to a broad range of methodologicalissues involved in designing, conducting and writing upresearch based on a relative small number of cases inareas of comparative politics, international relations, andpublic policy. Topics that are addressed in the moduleinclude issues involved in developing a research question,problems of conceptualisation, measurement, andstrategies and approaches to causal theorising in small Nresearch. The second part of the module addresses variousmethods of generating and processing data for politicalscience research. Methods that are covered include theuse of documentary sources, observation, and variousforms of interviewing





Assessment


Coursework 1 (40%) 1 x 2000 words critical book review

Coursework 2 (60%) 1 x 3000 words research report

Dr G KhanConvenor

M14321 Designing Political Enquiry

Credits 15 Level 4

Target students Politics postgraduate students

Semester Spring

Description The module is designed to allow students todevelop a critical understanding of the methodologicalissues involved in designing and undertaking politicalscience research and to strengthen their ability to readand evaluate political science literature more generally.The first part of the module focuses on issues of researchdesign in political science, in particular, the use of thecomparative method in political science research. Itexposes students to a broad range of methodologicalissues involved in designing, conducting and writing upresearch based on a relative small number of cases inareas of comparative politics, international relations, andpublic policy. Topics that are addressed in the moduleinclude issues involved in developing a research question,problems of conceptualisation, measurement, andstrategies and approaches to causal theorising in small Nresearch. The second part of the module addresses variousmethods of generating and processing data for politicalscience research. Methods that are covered include theuse of documentary sources, observation, and variousforms of interviewing





Assessment


Coursework 1 (40%) 1 x 1500 word critical book review

Coursework 2 (60%) 1 x 2500 words research report

Dr G KhanConvenor

M14322 The Theory and Practice of Diplomacy

Credits 20 Level 4

Target students MA in Diplomacy students have priority

Semester Spring

Description This module focuses on the changing natureof diplomatic practice, together with the range ofconceptual tools that seek to explain this internationalactivity. Its focus is contemporary. It provides a politicalanalysis of new developments such as the publicdiplomacy, the decline of resident embassies and foreignministries, and the role of regional/multinationalorganisations and summitry. It also encourages studentsto consider future theoretical and practical developmentsin this field.






Assessment


Coursework 1 (50%) 1 x 2500word essay

Coursework 2 (50%) 1 x 2500word essay

Dr P EadieConvenor

M14323 The Theory and Practice of Diplomacy

Credits 15 Level 4

Target students MA in Diplomacy students have priority


Semester Spring

Description This module focuses on the changing natureof diplomatic practice, together with the range ofconceptual tools that seek to explain this internationalactivity. Its focus is contemporary. It provides a politicalanalysis of new developments such as the publicdiplomacy, the decline of resident embassies and foreignministries, and the role of regional/multinationalorganisations and summitry. It also encourages studentsto consider future theoretical and practical developmentsin this field.






Assessment




Dr P EadieConvenor

Full Year

Level 4M14075 Colloquium Series

Credits 0 Level 4

Target students Postgraduate Research students in theSchool of Politics & IR

Semester Full Year

Description This module is inteneded to help inductpostgraduate research students in social science into theprofession. Students are required to attend the School'scolloquium series of discussions and presentations. Thesewill be facilitated by the Director of PostgraduateResearch.





Assessment


Presentation 1 (100%) Seminar attendance is required.Presentation by each PGR student is

required.

Dr J Meyer-SahlingConvenor

M14155 Methods in Social Science Research (20)

Credits 20 Level 4


Semester Full Year

Description

Method and frequency of Class:

Assessment


(%)

Convenor

M14156 Methods in Social Science Research (30)

Credits 30 Level 4


Semester Full Year

Description


Assessment


(%)

Convenor

M14328 Research Management and PersonalDevelopment Skills

Credits 20 Level 4

Target students Students registered on the ResearchTrack MAs in Political Science, International Relations andComparative Politics

Semester Full Year

Description This module covers general research,communication and personal development skills. Studentsare required to attend the following courses in theGraduate School Research Training Programme andadditional courses chosen from the research trainingprogramme to a total of 15 'training points': Introductionto library skills (0.5 day, 1 training point); Building aBibliography (on-line,1 point); Time management forMasters Students (0.5 day, 1point); Presentation skills (1day, 3 points); Problem exploration in research (1 day, 2points); Word for long essays and dissertations (0.5 day, 2points); Preparing and presenting an effective CV (0.5 day,1 point); Interviews and how to survive them (0.5 day, 1point); Intellectual property and copyright: what newresearchers need to know (Arts & Social Science) (0.5day,'1point). A training point involves 4 hours of contact time,preparatory and follow-up work. In addition, students arerequired to complete a 'Research Training Portfolio' (5training points) which includes: Appraisal of their currentskills and planning for their development; Evidence ofactivities undertaken during the year that develop theirskills; Reflection on how their knowledge and skills mightbe used in different contexts. Portfolio workshops areoffered to support students work on completing theportfolio. Students will make an oral presentation withinthe School of Politics on the subject of the Researchtraining Portfolio.Method and frequency of Class:

Graduate School courses may be taken in either semesterof the Masters year (for full time students) or across thefirst two years (for part-time students). The coursesusually take the form of workshops and are repeated atintervals through Semesters 1 and 2. 80 hrs spent oncourses in the Research training programme, 70 hrspersonal study completing research training portfolio andpresentationAssessment


Coursework 1 (50%) Research Training Portfolio

Presentation 1 (50%)

Professor A BielerConvenor

Summer Semester

Level 4M14020 International Relations/International

Studies: DissertationCredits 60 Level 4

Target students MA International Relations/Studiesstudents have first priority.

Semester Summer

Prerequisite

Code Title

M14021 Philosophy of Social Research

Description The researching and writing of a substantivedissertation within the field of internationalrelations/studies. The dissertation must be between14,000-16,000 words.Method and frequency of Class:

Supervisions to be arranged between supervisor andstudent as appropriate. A minimum of four supervisionmeetings will be held.Assessment


Coursework 1 (100%) 15,000 word dissertation.

Convenor

M14030 Comparative Politics: Dissertation

Credits 60 Level 4

Target students MA Comparative Politics students havepriority

Semester Summer

Description The research and writing of a substantivedissertation of 15,000 words within the field of politics andsocial policy. Dissertations on empirical subjects mustdisplay evidence of primary research.Method and frequency of Class:



Coursework 1 (100%)

Convenor

M14040 Politics and Social Policy: Dissertation

Credits 60 Level 4

Target students MA Politics and Social Policy studentshave priority

Semester Summer

Description The research and writing of a substantivedissertation of 16,000 - 20,000 words within the field ofpolitics and social policy. Dissertations on empiricalsubjects must display evidence of primary research.Method and frequency of Class:



Coursework 1 (100%)

Convenor

M14043 Politics (Research Track) Dissertation

Credits 60 Level 4

Target students MA Politics (Research Track)


Semester Summer

Description The research and writing of a substantivedissertation of 15,000 words within the field of politics.Method and frequency of Class:

Assessment


Dissertation (100%) 1 x 15,000 word dissertation

Dr M HumphreyConvenor

M14044 MA European Integration: Dissertation

Credits 60 Level 4

Target students MA Politics and International Relationsstudents have first priority.

Semester Summer

Description The researching and writing of a substantivedissertation within the field of internationalrelations/studies. The dissertation must be between14,000-16,000 words.Method and frequency of Class:



Coursework 1 (100%) Coursework

Convenor

M14049 Dissertation: MA Politics and ContemporaryHistory

Credits 60 Level 4

Target students MA Politics and Contemporary History

Semester Summer

Description


Assessment


Dissertation (100%) One 16,000 word dissertation

Convenor

M14226 Social and Global Justice MA Dissertation

Credits 60 Level 4

Target students MA Social and Global Justice studentshave priorityThere is a limit to the number of places on this module. Students arereminded that enrolments which are not agreed by the Offering School inadvance may be cancelled without notice.

Semester Summer

Description The research and writing of a substantivedissertation of 15,000 words within the field of social andglobal politics.Method and frequency of Class:



Dissertation (100%) 1 x 15,000 word dissertation

Professor S F TormeyConvenor

M14330 Political Theory (Research Track)Dissertation

Credits 60 Level 4

Target students Students from the MA in Political Theory(Research Track)

Semester Summer

Description The researching and writing of a substantivedissertation within the filed of political theory and/or itsmethodological presuppositions. The dissertation shouldbe 15,000 words in length and must contain a strongresearch element.Method and frequency of Class:

Supervisions to be arranged between supervisors andstudents as appropriate. A minimum of 4 hourssupervision will be held (total 4 hours)Assessment


Dissertation (100%) 15,000 words

Convenor

M14331 Political Science Dissertation

Credits 60 Level 4

Target students Students from MA Political Science

Semester Summer

Description The researching and writing of a substantivedissertation within the field of political science. Thedissertation should be 15, 000 words in length and mustcontain a strong research element.Method and frequency of Class:

Supervision to be arranged between supervisors andstudents as appropriate. A minimum of 4 hourssupervision will be held (total 4 hours)Assessment


Coursework 1 (100%) 1 x 15, 000 word dissertation

Convenor

M14336 Diplomacy Dissertation

Credits 60 Level 4

Target students Students from MA in Diplomacy

Semester Summer

Description The researching and writing of a substantivedissertation within the field of diplomacy and drawing onat least one of the main approaches (IR, Law, History)within this inter-disciplinary degree scheme. Thedissertation should be 15,000 words in length.Method and frequency of Class:

Assessment


Dissertation (100%) 15,000

Convenor

Intensive Block

Level 4M14154 Intermediate Methods of Survey Analysis

Credits 10 Level 4

Target students ESRC MA / PhD students on PoliticalScience and International Relations based pathways, andother students within the DTC. Other MA students if spaceallows.There is a limit to the number of places on this module. Students arereminded that enrolments which are not agreed by the Offering School inadvance may be cancelled without notice.

Semester Intensive Block

Prerequisite Foundations in Quantitative Methods orequivalent to be determined by the convenor

Code Title


Description The objective of this module is to introducestudents to specific issues of quantitative data analysisrelevant to cross-sectional survey data. The lecturecomponent of the module will explore the most commonissues that arise when examining survey data. Thisincludes issues such as: measurement error, surveynon-response, missing data, weighting, recoding, andmerging data sets. The lecture will focus on cross-sectionalsurvey data. Finally, the lecture will discuss the relativestrengths of different survey modes: face-to-face,telephone and Internet. In the laboratory component,students will learn to address the most common issues,using a range of the most popular survey data sets:including the National Annenberg Election Survey, GeneralSocial Survey, European Social Survey and the EuropeanElection Studies. Through assignments, students will havethe opportunity to develop and test hypotheses andexplanations using major survey data sets. The moduleshould provide the skills necessary to take one or moresurvey data sets, and conduct the data management andanalysis necessary to conduct a full scale research project.





Assessment


Report (100%) 1 x 2000 word report based onsurvey data, analysed by using one

of the approaches covered in themodule

Dr M PickupConvenor

M14201 Measurement models

Credits 10 Level 4

Target students DTC students, ESRC MA / PhD students inany of the social sciences, other PhD or MA students ifspace allows.There is a limit to the number of places on this module. Students arereminded that enrolments which are not agreed by the Offering School inadvance may be cancelled without notice.


Prerequisite Or equivalent as determined by theconvenor.

Code Title


Co-requisite

Code TitleM14205 Structural Equation Modelling

Description This module focuses on the use of methodscommonly used to assess whether a set of variables canbe assumed to measure the same underlying phenomenon(often referred to as a latent factor, trait, or dimension). Ifthat is the case, the information from the separatevariables can be combined into a composite measure(multiple item measurement), which yields importantbenefits for further analysis. The module will focus inparticular on two methods that are very frequently used inthe social and behavioural sciences: factor analysis(including exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis)and item-response scaling (including Mokken and Raschscaling). The module covers both kinds of measurementmodels, practical considerations in actual applications,empirical examples from different disciplines, andhands-on training.





Assessment


Report (100%) 1 x 3000 word essay of practicalapplication of mulitple item

measurement in the form of aresarch note, including 500 word

reflection on the method


M14205 Structural Equation Modelling

Credits 10 Level 4

Target students DTC students, ESRC MA / PhD students inany of the social sciences, other PhD or MA students ifspace allows.There is a limit to the number of places on this module. Students arereminded that enrolments which are not agreed by the Offering School inadvance may be cancelled without notice.


Prerequisite Or equivalent as determined by theconvenor.

Code Title


Co-requisite

Code TitleM14201 Measurement models

Description This module focuses on the use of structuralequation models (SEM, sometimes known by the name ofthe software, e.g., AMOS, LISREL, etc.) in empirical socialresearch. SEM is sometimes referred to as ‘causal’modelling, because of the possibility to specify a full causalmodel and subject it to empirical scrutiny. Such modelsdiffer from, e.g., regression and ANOVA models becausethey do not distinguish between a single dependentvariable, and all other variables being independent.Instead, the distinction is between exogenous (notinfluenced by other variables, reflected in a graphicalrepresentation of the model by the absence of ‘incoming’arrows) and endogenous variables (which are influencedby others, shown in graphical representations by‘incoming’ arrows). Endogenous variables cansimultaneously be influenced by other variables and exertinfluence on yet other ones. Under certain conditions SEMcan even model reciprocal effects between variables. Thisallows the development of empirical models that are closerto substantive theories, as well as the explicit comparativeevaluation of rivalling causal theories. The module coversthe methodological background of SEM, practicalconsiderations in actual applications, empirical examplesfrom different disciplines, and hands-on training.





Assessment


Report (100%) 1 x 3000 word essay in fthe form of aresearch note including a 500 word

relection of the method


M14207 Text Analysis

Credits 10 Level 4

Target students ESRC MA / PhD students on Sociology andSocial Policy based pathways, and other students withinthe DTC. Other MA students if space allows.There is a limit to the number of places on this module. Students arereminded that enrolments which are not agreed by the Offering School inadvance may be cancelled without notice.


Description This module provides an overview of differentways in which textual material can be systematicallyanalysed, the application of these approaches in differentsocial sciences, the assumptions involved, and theirrequirements in terms of practical procedures andcomputer software. This module aims to provide awide-ranging overview of different methods andapproaches in textual analysis, identify the specific aimsand assumptions of various approaches, and compare theirmerits and problems. It will also discuss a range ofpractical issues relating to data sources, datamanagement, and the use of content analysis software. Atvarious points during the module, participants will havethe opportunity to explore the relevance of variousapproaches to their own research problems and gainpractical experience, e.g. computer assisted contentanalysis.





Assessment


Report (100%) 1 x 2000 word report

Convenor

M14208 Advanced Methods of Survey Analysis

Credits 10 Level 4

Target students Students registered on the School ofPolitics and International Relations' MA in Politics(Advanced Research Track) & MA in InternationalRelations(Advanced Research Track)There is a limit to the number of places on this module. Students arereminded that enrolments which are not agreed by the Offering School inadvance may be cancelled without notice.


Prerequisite Foundations in Quantitative Methods andIntermediate Methods of Survey Analysis or equivalent tobe determined by the convenor

Code Title


M14154 Intermediate Methods of Survey Analysis

Description The objective of this module is to familiarisestudents to specific issues of quantitative data analysisrelevant to longitudinal survey data. The lecture will focuson longitudinal survey data: rolling cross-section, pooledcross-section, and repeated measures (panel). In thelaboratory component, students will learn to address themost common issues of longitudinal survey analysis, usinga range of the most popular survey data sets: includingthe National Annenberg Election Survey, General SocialSurvey, European Social Survey and the European ElectionStudies. Through assignments, students will have theopportunity to develop and test hypotheses andexplanations using major survey data sets. The moduleshould provide the skills necessary to take one or moresurvey data sets, and conduct the data management andanalysis necessary to conduct a full scale research project.





Assessment


Report (100%) 1 x 2000 word report based onsurvey data, analysed by using one

of the approaches covered in themodule

Dr M PickupConvenor

Index by code

M14001

M14018

M14019

M14020

M14021

M14022

M14023

M14024

M14027

M14028

M14030

M14040

M14043

M14044

M14048

M14049

M14051

M14060

M14061

M14069

M14071

M14072

M14073

M14074

M14075

M14078

M14084

M14085

M14088

M14089

M14116

M14117

M14118

M14119

M14120

M14121

M14125

M14128

M14129

M14132

M14133

M14136

M14137

M14138

M14139

M14140

M14141

M14142

M14143

M14150

M14151

M14153

M14154

M14155

M14156

M14201

M14205

M14207

M14208

M14225

M14226

M14320

M14321

M14322

M14323

M14328

M14330

M14331

M14336

Index by title

Advanced Methods of Survey Analysis

Air Power and Modern Conflict

Air Power and Modern Conflict

Art and War

Art and War

China's International Relations

China's International Relations

Colloquium Series

Comparative Politics: Dissertation

Contemporary Warfare

Contemporary Warfare

Designing Political Enquiry

Designing Political Enquiry

Diplomacy Dissertation

Disaster Politics

Disaster Politics

Dissertation: MA Politics and ContemporaryHistory

Europe and the Developing World

Europe and the Developing World

For whom do they govern? ComparingGovernment Responsiveness Globally:Europe, North America and Asia

For whom do they govern? ComparingGovernment Responsiveness Globally:Europe, North America and Asia

Fundamentals of Quantitative Analysis

Intermediate Methods of Survey Analysis

International Relations/InternationalStudies: Dissertation

Justice Beyond Borders: Theories ofInternational and Intergenerational Justice

Justice Beyond Borders: Theories ofInternational and Intergenerational Justice

Local Power in an Era of Globalisation

Local Power in an Era of Globalisation

MA European Integration: Dissertation

Measurement models

Methods in Social Science Research (20)

Methods in Social Science Research (30)

Narcoterrorism: states, drugs and security

Narcoterrorism: states, drugs and security

Philosophy of Research - Social Science

Philosophy of Social Research

Political Science Dissertation

Political Theory (Research Track)Dissertation

Politics (Research Track) Dissertation

Politics and Social Policy: Dissertation

Quantitative Political Analysis

Research Design, Practice and Ethics

Research Management and PersonalDevelopment Skills

Social and Global Justice MA Dissertation

Social Global Justice in Action

Social Global Justice in Action

Special Project A

Special Project A

Special Project B

Special Project B

Strategy and Security

Strategy and Security

Structural Equation Modelling

Terrorism

Terrorism

Text Analysis

The End of the World: Coping withCatastrophic Risk

The End of the World: Coping withCatastrophic Risk

The Making of Political Science

The Theory and Practice of Diplomacy

The Theory and Practice of Diplomacy

Theories and Concepts in InternationalRelations

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