HIS10520 International Order since 1990

Academic Year 2024/2025

This module, the core for the History and Politics pathway, examines the liberal international order since 1990. In the wake of the Cold War, the expansion of the liberal international order promised to consolidate peace, spread democracy and human rights, and ensure prosperity. In recent years, the liberal international order has come under sustained challenge, with many observers heralding its demise and critics highlighting its failures, including increasing economic inequality, a democratic recession, and the revival of inter-state war. This asks key questions about the liberal international order. Were key weaknesses inherent in the construction of the LIO in the early 1990s or did these weaknesses only emerge later (e.g. after the Iraq War in 2003 or Global Financial Crisis of 2008)? Did the LIO ever achieve universal coverage or was it always hierarchical and exclusionary? What have been its key achievements and failures? Does the LIO have the capacity to renew itself and what are the alternatives? Throughout the module, we will draw on recent historical research on international politics since the 1990s and the extensive international relations scholarship about international order.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this module, students will be able to:

1) Use knowledge from the two disciplines, history and international relations, to enhance their understanding of international politics since the 1990s;
2) Assess primary sources relevant to international history since the 1990s;
3) Evaluate key concepts in the study of international order;
4) Discuss critically scholarship about international politics since the 1990s

Indicative Module Content:

The module will examine the following issues:
1) What is international order? Perspectives from historians and international relations scholars
2) Security in Europe: Russia and NATO
3) Integrating China into the LIO
4) Humanitarian intervention in 1990s
5) Managing climate change in the LIO
6) The invasion of Iraq and its legacies, 2003
7) The effects of the global financial crisis, 2008
8) Migration and the LIO
9) The loss of domestic support for the LIO: Brexit and Trump
10) External challenges to the LIO: Iran, China, and Russia
11) The effects of the pandemic on the LIO

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

50
Autonomous Student Learning

30
Lectures

11
Seminar (or Webinar)

11
Total

102
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module will be taught through a combination of weekly lectures and seminars. The lectures will focus on outlining key concepts and debates, while seminars will provide students with an opportunity to discuss key sources and debates about international politics since the 1990s. Students can also avail of one-to-one meetings with the module coordinator to discuss particular issues. Students will make presentations in class to develop their communication skills and experience and they will also have several writing exercises. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Equivalents:
Elections, theory and practice (HIS10410)


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): Students will answer 2 questions from a choice of 10 questions. Students will receive a sample exam in week 8 to support their revision and preparation for the exam. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Graded No

50

 No
Assignment(Including Essay): The assignment is a short essay (1,000 words, including footnotes). Week 7 Graded No

30

 No
Participation in Learning Activities: Student participation in seminars is graded. This grade will took into account an evaluation of the student presentation. Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Graded No

20

 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.