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POL42060

Academic Year 2024/2025

International Security (POL42060)

Subject:
Politics
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Politics & Int Relations
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Dr Harrison Swinhoe
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This seminar will introduce you to the major themes and debates in the contemporary study of International Security, including such fundamental questions as what is security in the first place, where can and should it be located, who can it belong to, can it ever fully be achieved, and does it require the possibility of violence or does this prevent “true” security from ever being realised? We will explore a range of issues, theoretical approaches, and debates, regarding the causes, management, and ending of conflicts, the possibility of ‘peace’, and the impact of a changing world. By the end of the module, you will have a general overview of the literature in contemporary security studies. You should also have acquired a set of conceptual tools that can be used for understanding the causes and courses of conflict, its impact on a variety of actors, and how peace might be achieved. In addition, you should be familiar with the main issues confronting contemporary policy-makers in the field of international security, and be equipped to conduct independent research on contemporary security issues and debates.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should:
1. have a good understanding of the various debates in the field of security studies;
2. be able to critically engage with the scholarly literature on international security;
3. be able to apply theories and concepts from the field of security studies to understand and explain real-world events

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

200

Seminar (or Webinar)

24

Total

224


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures; Active/ Task-Based learning; Engagement with Primary Sources; Peer and Small Group Activities; Class Discussions; Critical Writing; Reflective Learning

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Reflective Assignment: Brief written reflection (100-150 words) based on the reading materials to be submitted prior to every class. 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
Participation in Learning Activities: You are expected to actively participate in class discussion having completed all the required reading materials prior to class. 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
Assignment(Including Essay): Blog post to be written on a topic of your choice. Week 6 Graded No
30
No
Assignment(Including Essay): Policy Brief on a Topic of Your Choosing Week 12 Graded No
30
No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer 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.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 33 Fri 12:00 - 13:50