Undergraduate Course: Debating International Relations (LLLJ08005)
Course Outline
| School | Centre for Open Learning |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Part-year visiting students only |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | Why do countries go to war? How likely is meaningful global action to halt climate change? In what ways does colonialism continue to shape international politics? This course considers different answers to these and many other vital questions about global affairs by exploring a range of contemporary and historical cases through diverse scholarly perspectives. |
| Course description |
This course will examine key issues and debates in the study of world affairs and global politics. It will look at a range of theories, considering how each makes distinctive use of key concepts, including those also employed by other theories, to offer unique understandings of the processes of world affairs. Theories and concepts will be explored and tested through engagement with historical and contemporary case studies, capturing examples of warfare, economic and social crises, international trade, and the failures and successes of diplomacy. These case studies will thus be considered not only as isolated series of events but as examples of important and recurring phenomena in world affairs.
Theories:
The course will consider different variants of the ¿mainstream¿ International Relations approaches of realism and liberalism as well as 'critical' alternatives such as constructivism, feminism, post-colonialism, and Marxism.
Case studies:
Possible case studies to be discussed include, the Cold War, the 2003 invasion of Iraq, recurring economic crises, the COVID-19 pandemic, and Russia's on-going invasion of Ukraine.
Issues:
Case studies and theories will allow exploration of broader issues such as security and insecurity, economic interdependence, the role of global institutions and international law, human rights and humanitarian intervention.
Each session will intersperse lectures with tutorial activities and discussions. These will develop knowledge and understanding of International Relations as well as general academic skills and principles of good scholarship. In order to participate effectively in class discussions and get the most out of each session, students should ensure they have completed the essential reading in preparation for each session. The course material is cumulative with each session building on the content of those that preceded it.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of key events and processes in world affairs.
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of important theories in International Relations.
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of the diverse definitions of key concepts in the study and practice of International Relations.
- Use a range of concepts, theories and empirical evidence to critically assess major current issues and debates in world affairs and International Relations.
- Employ skills of interpretation, argument and critical analysis in both writing and discussion.
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Reading List
Baylis, J., S. Smith and P. Owens (2014) (eds), The Globalization of World Politics, 6th ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Brown, C. and K. Ainley (2009) Understanding International Relations. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Heywood, A. (2014) Global Politics, 2nd ed.. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Knowledge of key issues, concepts and theories in international relations.
Application of theoretical concepts on past developments and contemporary political issues and actor-behaviour.
Critical thinking and analytical skills.
Advanced research skills.
Effective written and oral communication skills.
Global citizenship |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Mr Gisli Vogler
Tel:
Email: |
Course secretary | Mr John Ethcuit
Tel: (0131 6)50 3409
Email: |
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