Political Violence
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| POLI3130 | Politics and International Relations | 3 | 20 | Spring UK |
- Code
- POLI3130
- School
- Politics and International Relations
- Level
- 3
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Spring UK
Summary
This module will discuss political violence, including but not limited to topics on interstate war, bargaining, Thucydides traps, nuclear weapons, domestic politics of conflict, the Kantian peace, alliances, civil wars, genocide, peacekeeping, terrorism and economic sanctions. It will present a rational choice framework, as well as explore alternative approaches, for analysing these topics and engage with the quantitative and qualitative literature to study them. It will cover a range of themes, questions, and international examples related to why and how state and non-state actors rely on power and force to achieve political goals.
Target Students
Available to Final Year UG students in the School of Politics and International Relations on single and joint honours plans. Also available to Final Year UG students on the Philosophy, Politics and Economics plan, and incoming exchange students based in the School of Politics and International Relations.
Classes
This module is taught through a combination of lectures and seminars.
Assessment
- 30% Coursework 1: 1,200-word essay
- 70% Coursework 2: 2,800-word essay
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
This module aims to provide students with i) an understanding of the factors that drive political violence, including its onset, magnitude and end, ii) an appreciation of interdisciplinary contributions to violence studies – using both qualitative and quantitative methods and iii) a broad familiarity with interstate wars, civil wars and terrorism literature. The module will advance the School’s ESE strategy through the following: i) it will employ a blended delivery of qualitative and quantitative teaching methods to examine the theory and practice of political violence; ii) it will use a range of digital/online resources to examine political violence; iii) it will draw upon the School’s Visiting Professors and Research Fellows if possible.Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding:
• Knowledge of theories of and facts about political violence.
• Evaluate different explanations for the presence/absence of violence.
• Apply concepts, theories and methods used in the study of international relations to the analysis of events in the international system.
Intellectual and Transferable Skills:
• Gather, organise and deploy evidence, data and information from a variety of secondary and primary sources.
• Construct reasoned argument, synthesise relevant information and exercise critical judgement.
• Communicate effectively and fluently in speech and writing.
Digital Capabilities:
• Capacity to find, evaluate, manage, curate, organise and share digital information.
• Capacity to interpret digital information for academic and professional/vocational purposes, and to review, analyse and re-present digital information in different settings.