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BA WAR, PEACE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

  • UCAS code
    L252
  • Typical offer
    BBB
  • Year of entry
    2021
  • Course duration
     3 years
  • Year of entry
    2021
  • Course duration
     3 years
View all

Drawing on the research strengths of the Department of Politics and International Relations’ strategic specialists, this BA War, Peace and International Relations course enables you to specialise in war, peace, strategy and the issues that surround conflict.

It will especially appeal to you if you are interested in learning about the role of military strategy and defence policy in conflict resolution. 

Most of your contact time will be spent in small seminar groups, allowing you to interact directly with staff and add your own voice to the discussion. You will study war in a historical context and consider challenging questions such as whether war can ever be justified or whether peace should be maintained at all costs. In your final year, you will be able to choose from a wide variety of optional modules and develop interests in other areas of politics.

Through our Model United Nations and Middle East simulations, you can apply what you have learnt to a practical situation and gain an insight into the political process. Should you wish to gain real-world experience, you can undertake a work experience module or opt to carry out a year-long placement. The skills and knowledge these opportunities provide will prepare you for your future career, whether it be related to politics or in an entirely different field.

You also have the option of studying this degree over four years with a placement year.

For more information, please visit the Department of Politics and International Relations website.

Overview

It will especially appeal to you if you are interested in learning about the role of military strategy and defence policy in conflict resolution. 

Most of your contact time will be spent in small seminar groups, allowing you to interact directly with staff and add your own voice to the discussion. You will study war in a historical context and consider challenging questions such as whether war can ever be justified or whether peace should be maintained at all costs. In your final year, you will be able to choose from a wide variety of optional modules and develop interests in other areas of politics.

Through our Model United Nations and Middle East simulations, you can apply what you have learnt to a practical situation and gain an insight into the political process. Should you wish to gain real-world experience, you can undertake a work experience module or opt to carry out a year-long placement. The skills and knowledge these opportunities provide will prepare you for your future career, whether it be related to politics or in an entirely different field.

You also have the option of studying this degree over four years with a placement year.

For more information, please visit the Department of Politics and International Relations website.

Entry requirements A Level BBB | IB 30 pts overall

Typical offer

BBB

International Baccalaureate

30 points overall

Extended Project Qualification

In recognition of the excellent preparation that the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) provides to students for University study, we can now include achievement in the EPQ as part of a formal offer.

BTEC Extended Diploma

DDM 

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5, with no component below 5.5

For information on other English language qualifications, please visit our international student pages.

Alternative entry requirements for International and EU students

For country specific entry requirements look at entry requirements by country.

International Foundation Programme

If you are an international or EU student and do not meet the requirements for direct entry to your chosen degree you can join the University of Reading’s International Foundation Programme. Successful completion of this 1 year programme guarantees you a place on your chosen undergraduate degree. English language requirements start as low as IELTS 4.5 depending on progression degree and start date.

  • Learn more about our International Foundation programme

Pre-sessional English language programme

If you need to improve your English language score you can take a pre-sessional English course prior to entry onto your degree.

  • Find out the English language requirements for our courses and our pre-sessional English programme

Structure

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

Compulsory modules include:

X

Module details


Title:

Introduction to Political Ideas

Code:

PO1IPI

Convenor:

DR Rob Jubb

Summary:

An introduction to political theory, covering central topics like the state and its authority, democracy, rights and liberty, equality and social justice, and war and intervention, as well as some of the basic methods for understanding them all. 

Assessment Method:

Exam 60%, Assignment 40%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

Politics: International Relations and Strategic Studies

Code:

PO1IRS

Convenor:

DR Vladimir Rauta

Summary:

The module provides an introduction to the study of International Relations and Strategic Studies. 

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 50%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

Introduction to Contemporary Democracy

Code:

PO1ICD

Convenor:

DR Christoph Arndt

Summary:

The module is intended to open students’ eyes to how democracy works or doesn’t work around the world today. The first section on the Origins of Democracy looks globally at where democratic and non-democratic systems exist and what factors determine this distribution. Later sections draw much of their empirical content from the UK, but also include comparisons beyond the UK where appropriate.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 50%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

Degree Core Competencies

Code:

PO1DCC

Convenor:

DR Vladimir Rauta

Summary:

The module will introduce students to key strategies and academic skills necessary to support their undergraduate studies. Students will engage with a series of key competences that will underpin three years of steadily more independent academic progression, including writing, referencing, presenting, teamwork and engaging with feedback. It will include the development of key skills to facilitate transition and adjustment to developing independent learning and building personal and academic strengths. The module will also explore a range of challenges frequently encountered by students along with coping strategies and advice on accessing the network of support available. There will also be opportunities for students to develop an understanding of how skills developed throughout their degree transfer to the workplace. 

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Code Module Convenor
PO1IPI Introduction to Political Ideas DR Rob Jubb
PO1IRS Politics: International Relations and Strategic Studies DR Vladimir Rauta
PO1ICD Introduction to Contemporary Democracy DR Christoph Arndt
PO1DCC Degree Core Competencies DR Vladimir Rauta

Optional modules include:

X

Module details


Title:

Introduction to Marketing

Code:

AP1EM1

Convenor:

MS Sandra Preciado

Summary:

Gain fundamental knowledge of the key concepts of marketing and relate these critically to contemporary practice. Examine traditional approaches to marketing such as strategic marketing, segmentation, targeting and positioning, as well as the marketing mix, and discuss issues arising within marketing theory and practice, which bring into question some of the foundational principles of the discipline. Through lectures, readings, and the analysis of case studies, address the latest thinking within the marketing discipline.

Assessment Method:

Exam 70%, Class test 30%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

Introduction to Management

Code:

AP1SB1

Convenor:

DR Yiorgos Gadanakis

Summary:

This module provides a contemporary and comprehensive introduction to management science and its relevance to businesses. Interactive in-class activities and the use of online apps will help you learn techniques for inspiring teamwork in an organisation context, discover the importance of strategic management design for achieving an organisation's goals, and understand the roles of the manager and the responsibilities this carries. You will also have a range of opportunities to gain hands-on practising decision making through case studies. Furthermore, develop your leadership skills to motivate and guide a team towards the achievement of an organisation’s objectives.  

Assessment Method:

Class test 100%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

Texts, Readers, and Writers

Code:

CL1TR

Convenor:

PROF Eleanor Dickey

Summary:

This module explores the history of texts, reading, and writing in the ancient Greek and Roman worlds. We shall look at literature, papyri, inscriptions, letters, Linear B, etc. Attention will also be given to the invention of the alphabet and to ancient writing materials and technologies. No knowledge of Latin, ancient Greek, or the ancient world more generally is required.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 40%, Set exercise 10%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

Ancient Song

Code:

CL1SO

Convenor:

PROF Ian Rutherford

Summary:

This module introduces students to the lyric poetry of ancient Greece and Rome, studying authors from both civilisations and considering a range of thematic approaches to the surviving corpus of poetry. It is intended to be suitable for beginners and for those who have studied some ancient literature before; there is no language requirement, but there will be an opportunity for students who do have relevant skills to employ them in their coursework and exams.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 50%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

Roman History: the rise and fall of the Republic

Code:

CL1RH

Convenor:

DR Andreas Gavrielatos

Summary:

This module investigates the mid- and late Republican history of Rome (2nd century BC to late first century BC), a period marked by profound socio-political changes which ultimately led to the crisis of the Republican institutions. It introduces students to the main types of evidence for ancient history and to modern methodological approaches.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 50%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

Modernisms & Mythologies

Code:

FA1MM

Convenor:

DR James Hellings

Summary:

This module will provide a broad, introductory survey of key developments in the history, theory and criticism of art during the modern period. Its starting point will be theories of the development of modernity and its social, political and economic components, and the ways in which modern art functions in and on its historical contexts. It will continue to look at the retrospective modernist critical and theoretical accounts of modern art's development.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

The Economics of Climate Change

Code:

EC110

Convenor:

DR Stefania Lovo

Summary:

The module will offer an economic perspective on the causes and consequences of climate change. It will provide an introduction to key theoretical concepts, such as externalities and public goods, and to the policy tools available to devise adequate responses to climate change, such as command and control measures, taxation and subsidies. The module will also introduce national and international policy approaches in dealing with climate change and provide an overview of their implications for economic development.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 60%, Class test 40%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

Economy, Politics and Culture in the Roman World

Code:

EC118

Convenor:

PROF Ken Dark

Summary:

Understanding the Roman world with reference to its relevance to studies of long-term political, cultural and economic change and to contemporary societies and economies.

Assessment Method:

Exam 80%, Assignment 20%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

Globalization and Language

Code:

LS1GL

Convenor:

DR Tony Capstick

Summary:

In this module students will explore the role of language in globalization. They will examine the reasons for the spread of languages around the globe historically and in the future (especially in the context of political developments such as Brexit, and the increasing importance of World languages such as English). They will also explore debates about linguistic imperialism and the political dimensions of language use and language policies. Finally, they will explore the effects of technology and migration on the linguistic situation in Latin America, New Zealand and the Middle East, including how urban centers are becoming increasingly multilingual and ‘superdiverse’, and the political and social consequences of this. Teaching is drawn from across the School of Literature and Language.

Assessment Method:

Set exercise 10%, Project 90%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

Introduction to Linguistics

Code:

ML1IL

Convenor:

DR Federico Faloppa

Summary:

This module aims to familiarise students with principles in general linguistics, and to give students an overall picture of what a language is, how it works, and what its main structures are, with a particular focus on French, German, Italian and Spanish. It will also provide useful meta-linguistic competence which can be applied to the study of any other language.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 40%, Oral 20%, Set exercise 40%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

Greats of European Cinema

Code:

ML1GEC

Convenor:

PROF Julia Waters

Summary:

The aim of this module is to provide students with an understanding of the ways in which European Cinema – and the various national cinemas that comprise it – reflects the changing political, social and cultural climate of the twentieth century. The course is designed to introduce students to key features of film analysis and to develop their ability to apply them to the films studied.

Assessment Method:

Exam 55%, Set exercise 45%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

Student Enterprise

Code:

MM1F10

Convenor:

DR Lebene Soga

Summary:

This is a dynamic module introducing students to key concepts of business start-up. Students work in a team to identify and develop a new business opportunity, and then seek to test their idea through ‘lean start-up’ experiments. Students will be introduced to key concepts of entrepreneurial management including design thinking, business model creation, entrepreneurial finance and marketing. This is a highly interactive and practical module, with a focus on experiential learning.


This module is delivered at University of Reading and University of Reading Malaysia.

 

Assessment Method:

Oral 18%, Set exercise 2%, Project 40%, Class test 40%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

Inequality

Code:

PO1INE

Convenor:

DR Jonathan Golub

Summary:

Inequality is everywhere around us: different individuals earn different salaries, people of different genders and backgrounds have access to different economic opportunities, and those at the top of the income distribution have radically distinct life chances than those at the bottom. What explains rising inequality, is it fair and what are the consequences? Should anything be done to reduce inequality, and if so, what?This course aims to answer these questions by providing students with the analytical tools and knowledge to understand and explain the evolution of earnings, racial and gender inequality over time and its variation across developed countries. It also considers the economic, normative and political implications of different forms of inequality, in particular gender and racial inequality. Is inequality at the top of the income distribution (i.e. the 1% v. the rest of us) the inevitable outcome of a well-functioning market system or does it suggest problems in the way our democracy work? Does inequality undermine democracy for instance by affecting political participation or increasing the appeal of non-liberal populist parties? Take the course and you will find out more about these fascinating questions and more!

Assessment Method:

Assignment 40%, Oral 10%, Project 50%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

Freedom

Code:

PO1FRE

Convenor:

DR Rob Jubb

Summary:

This module provides an inter-disciplinary approach to the subject of freedom, with contributions from four different departments of the University: Classics, Law, Philosophy, and Politics. Students will explore a range of different perspectives on the idea of freedom, and will examine the different ways in which freedom is valued and regulated in a variety of settings. Students will work both individually and within groups to prepare their assignments, and there are a variety of written and oral assessments.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 30%, Oral 40%, Report 30%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

The Science of Climate Change

Code:

MT1CC

Convenor:

PROF Nigel Arnell

Summary:

This module provides an introduction to the science of climate change, aimed at students who do not necessarily have a scientific background.

Assessment Method:

Exam 70%, Assignment 30%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

British Society

Code:

PO1BRI

Convenor:

DR Dawn Clarke

Summary:

The module draws on theories and approaches from Politics, Sociology, Psychology, History and Philosophy to consider some of the main contours of contemporary British Society. The module will explore a number of images of Britain including: Britain as a Welfare State, Multicultural Britain and Britain as a Class Society. It will also explore crime and deviance in Britain, the role of the mass media and the increasing power of the food industry. 

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 50%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

Radical Philosophy

Code:

PP1RP

Convenor:

PROF Maximilian De Gaynesford

Summary:

From Plato and Marx to contemporaries like Judith Butler, Slavoj Zizek, Catharine MacKinnon and Giorgio Agamben, there is a long tradition of radicalism in philosophy. This course is about how radical philosophy can usefully question our deepest assumptions and challenge our deepest beliefs. Poets should be outlawed from our society! We can secure knowledge by doubting everything! Capitalism will be destroyed by the very forces it creates! It is not possible for us to live authentically! Gender is a social performance! We can never access the subjectivity of those we investigate! Pornography silences women! We are not responsible for migrants and other fringe groups of society who lack full access to citizenship! We must tolerate hate speech! Torture is permissible in extreme circumstances, e.g. post 9/11! We cannot hope for a perfectly reconciled and harmonious society! These are some of the claims this course investigates philosophically.Reading:Required readings will be posted online.Recommended:Thomas Nagel, Mortal Questions, Cambridge University Press, 2012

Assessment Method:

Assignment 70%, Oral 20%, Class test 10%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

Reason and Argument

Code:

PP1RA

Convenor:

DR Jumbly Grindrod

Summary:

This module enhances students’ ability to understand and construct complex arguments through the study of logic and the psychology of human reasoning. Reading: A module guide will be available. Recommended: Jamie Carlin Watson and Robert Arp, Critical Thinking: An Introduction to Reasoning Well, 2nd edition, Bloomsbury, 2015.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 90%, Class test 10%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

The Meaning of Life

Code:

PP1ML

Convenor:

DR Luke Elson

Summary:

What is the meaning of life? This is perhaps the most important philosophical question we can ask. What is the answer? Indeed, what is the question really asking? In this module, we seek the answers. Along the way, we will consider a series of fascinating questions which promise to enlighten our understanding of ourselves and our place in the world. What makes life worth living? Is there no reason to fear death? Could life in artificial reality be better or more fulfilling than life in the real world? This module investigates diverse philosophical answers to these questions, as well as drawing from fields such as Health care, Psychology, and biology. 

Reading:

Required readings will be posted online.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 70%, Oral 20%, Class test 10%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

Global Justice

Code:

PP1GJ

Convenor:

DR Shalini Sinha

Summary:

Global traditions of thought from the Buddha and Confucius to Simone Weil, Michel Foucault, Frantz Fanon, Martin Luther King Jr., and African and Native American thinkers have advocated ideas of justice that extend far beyond contemporary conceptions. This course is about looking at the idea of justice in ways that transform how we approach injustice and freedom in the contemporary world.

Some of the claims we will examine include: Justice is freedom from suffering!  Revolutionary violence is cathartic, it is a necessary means of emancipation! Political freedom begins with mental training! We belong to nature; nature has rights! Gender and sexual freedom require the dissolution of bodily identity!  Truth lies in pleasure! Epistemic justice is based in love! Only Confucian harmony can integrate a plural society! 

Assessment Method:

Assignment 70%, Oral 20%, Class test 10%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Code Module Convenor
AP1EM1 Introduction to Marketing MS Sandra Preciado
AP1SB1 Introduction to Management DR Yiorgos Gadanakis
CL1TR Texts, Readers, and Writers PROF Eleanor Dickey
CL1SO Ancient Song PROF Ian Rutherford
CL1RH Roman History: the rise and fall of the Republic DR Andreas Gavrielatos
FA1MM Modernisms & Mythologies DR James Hellings
EC110 The Economics of Climate Change DR Stefania Lovo
EC118 Economy, Politics and Culture in the Roman World PROF Ken Dark
LS1GL Globalization and Language DR Tony Capstick
ML1IL Introduction to Linguistics DR Federico Faloppa
ML1GEC Greats of European Cinema PROF Julia Waters
MM1F10 Student Enterprise DR Lebene Soga
PO1INE Inequality DR Jonathan Golub
PO1FRE Freedom DR Rob Jubb
MT1CC The Science of Climate Change PROF Nigel Arnell
PO1BRI British Society DR Dawn Clarke
PP1RP Radical Philosophy PROF Maximilian De Gaynesford
PP1RA Reason and Argument DR Jumbly Grindrod
PP1ML The Meaning of Life DR Luke Elson
PP1GJ Global Justice DR Shalini Sinha

Compulsory modules include:

X

Module details


Title:

Contemporary Strategy

Code:

PO2COS

Convenor:

DR Kenton White

Summary:

This module is an introduction to the concept of strategy and its relationship with war and politics. It complements the module PO2WAP ‘War and Peace since 1800’. This module addresses the demands and challenges of strategic and security analysis in the modern period from a theoretical and practical standpoint. After exploring some examples of strategy, this module will introduce you to a series of contemporary problems and how they stand in the field of modern strategy.  Aside from asking the question “What can military force do for you?”, the module asks “Why is strategy so difficult?”

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 40%, Oral 10%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

Modern International Relations

Code:

PO2MIR

Convenor:

DR Joseph O' Mahoney

Summary:

This module provides an advanced analysis of the principal theoretical approaches to international politics, as well as coverage of a selection of major issues on the international stage, including globalisation, conflict, nuclear weapons and terrorism. 

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 45%, Set exercise 5%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

The Study of Politics

Code:

PO2SOP

Convenor:

DR Christoph Arndt

Summary:

This module examines a range of different approaches to understanding and explaining politics. The module provides an overview of different theoretical approaches to politics, as well as different methodological approaches to political analysis. Students are also provided with opportunities to develop core skills of political research necessary for the successful completion of their undergraduate degree and further career development.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 40%, Class test 60%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

War and Peace Since 1800

Code:

PO2WAP

Convenor:

DR Geoff Sloan

Summary:

This module aims to enable students to appreciate both the roles played by war in modern history and the ways in which warfare has evolved over a two-hundred year period. The strongly empirical, historical thrust of the module will be used to introduce students to the ideas key to understanding (a) why, how, and with what consequences wars occur, and (b) how peace can be "caused" and sometimes maintained.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 40%, Oral 10%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Code Module Convenor
PO2COS Contemporary Strategy DR Kenton White
PO2MIR Modern International Relations DR Joseph O' Mahoney
PO2SOP The Study of Politics DR Christoph Arndt
PO2WAP War and Peace Since 1800 DR Geoff Sloan

Optional modules include:

X

Module details


Title:

British Government and Politics

Code:

PO2BGP

Convenor:

DR Matthew Whiting

Summary:

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of the working and development of the current British political system and culture.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 35%, Oral 15%, Report 50%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

American Government and Politics

Code:

PO2AMG

Convenor:

DR Mark Shanahan

Summary:

This module examines the historical, ideological and constitutional frameworks of American Government and Politics. It analyses the relationship between ideas and values (such as liberty and individualism) and the ways in which these condition the expression of the American political system; it looks at intermediate institutions that connect the public to the federal government (such as elections, the media, and interest groups); it explores the central institutions in Washington (such as the Presidency, Congress, and the Supreme Court), and assesses important policy areas (such as gun control); finally the module offers a concluding lecture on the state of American government and politics today.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 50%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

Political Classics

Code:

PO2PHC

Convenor:

PROF Alan Cromartie

Summary:

A survey course in the history of political thought.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

Politics of the Welfare State

Code:

PO2PWS

Convenor:

DR Brandon Beomseob Park

Summary:

The course is an introduction to the politics of welfare states in the developed economies of OECD countries with a particular focus on Western Europe. It focuses on the interaction between political and economic factors in explaining the emergence and evolution of welfare states and their various forms across countries. Students learn the major theoretical approaches in the study of the welfare state and apply them to contemporary debates about the welfare state as well as the politics of welfare state reform.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 90%, Oral 10%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

Comparative Government and Politics

Code:

PO2CGP

Convenor:

DR Daphne Halikiopoulou

Summary:

This module introduces students to the discipline of Comparative Politics. It examines the origins of political systems, regime formation and processes of a range of states from all regions of the world from a comparative perspective. Studying this module will give students a good understanding of comparative methods and research design; the ability to comparatively analyse the development of state formation and democratization processes around the world; and the tools to nuance, unpack and conceptualize some of the contemporary challenges that democratic nation- states face. 

Assessment Method:

Exam 40%, Assignment 30%, Oral 10%, Class test 20%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

The Media and Politics

Code:

PO2TMP

Convenor:

DR Dawn Clarke

Summary:

The module introduces students to the practice of discussing politics through the media, to theories of the roles played by the media in politics, and to how the media work in the world today.  It combines lectures and seminars with participation in a radio show.  In the event the module is oversubscribed those studying politics as part of their programmes will normally be given priority.  Students are chosen from those prepared to do a short broadcast on the politics show in the summer term of Part 1 study, and attend the editorial meetings at 1:00 pm on a Tuesday.  The module requires student attendance at most radio shows across the two terms – these are delivered live at 7:00 pm each Tuesday evening.  Contact the module convenor for further details.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 30%, Practical 15%, Oral 15%, Project 40%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

Political Thinking

Code:

PO2THI

Convenor:

DR Alice Baderin

Summary:

Issues-based survey course in political theory, involving work on case studies.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Code Module Convenor
PO2BGP British Government and Politics DR Matthew Whiting
PO2AMG American Government and Politics DR Mark Shanahan
PO2PHC Political Classics PROF Alan Cromartie
PO2PWS Politics of the Welfare State DR Brandon Beomseob Park
PO2CGP Comparative Government and Politics DR Daphne Halikiopoulou
PO2TMP The Media and Politics DR Dawn Clarke
PO2THI Political Thinking DR Alice Baderin

Compulsory modules include:

X

Module details


Title:

Dissertation

Code:

PO3DIS

Convenor:

DR Adam Humphreys

Summary:

Students prepare a thesis of 8,000-10,000 words on a topic chosen in consultation with advisers within the Department of Politics.

Assessment Method:

Oral 10%, Dissertation 90%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Code Module Convenor
PO3DIS Dissertation DR Adam Humphreys

Optional modules include:

X

Module details


Title:

Feminism and Political Theory

Code:

PO3FPT

Convenor:

PROF David Marshall

Summary:

This module studies a variety of issues and topics within feminist political theory. It introduces students to a variety of kinds of feminism and the different analyses that they offer of society, gender, and any disparity of power and advantage between genders. It also considers a range of topics that have been of special interest to feminists but also have broader concern, such as abortion, commercial surrogacy, prostitution, pornography, and affirmative action.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 50%, Report 50%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

The Far Right

Code:

PO3FAR

Convenor:

DR Daphne Halikiopoulou

Summary:

Far right parties are on the rise across Europe. Their shared populist rhetoric, emphasis on sovereignty and policies that promote a ‘national preference’ has facilitated the term ‘the new nationalism’. How may we explain this phenomenon? Is it driven by demand or supply-side dynamics? Are different European far right parties comparable? What are their similarities and differences? This course provides a broad overview of the theories and approaches to the study of the far right across Europe, focusing on the commonalities and differences in support for such parties across case and circumstance.

Assessment Method:

Exam 30%, Assignment 40%, Oral 10%, Project 20%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

British Foreign and Defence Policy since 1945

Code:

PO3BFD

Convenor:

DR Kenton White

Summary:

The purpose of this unit is to encourage students to critically evaluate Britain's foreign and security policy record in the post-war era. It begins by examining how competing groups influence foreign policy formation and public opinion. The course then moves on to examine the end of the British Empire, the development of the Commonwealth, the nature of Britain’s relationship with the US and Britain’s sometimes ‘awkward’ relationship with other European states. The course then critically examines a series of major post-war challenges – the Suez crisis, , the Falklands War, British involvement in the arms trade, its retention of nuclear weapons, the impact of New Labour on British foreign policy including the conflict in Iraq. The course concludes with an exercise assessing the UK's place in the world today and strategy for the future, particularly in relation to Brexit. 

Assessment Method:

Assignment 40%, Oral 10%, Project 50%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

US Foreign and Defence Policy since 1950

Code:

PO3USF

Convenor:

DR Graham O'Dwyer

Summary:

This module examines US foreign and defence policy from the end of the Second World War to the present, with a focus on understanding US foreign policy processes, institutions, and decision-making. At heart the module seeks to address three broad questions: who makes (and influences) US foreign policy? How has US foreign policy changed since the end of the Second World War? What is the role of US foreign policy in the world today? By exploring historical and contemporary cases, students will analyse how foreign policy decisions are made, who influences them, and how this has evolved overtime. Drawing on primary and secondary sources, students will gain an understanding of crucial events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War, the end of the Cold War, and the War on Terror. Finally, the course will explore salient challenges faced by US foreign policymakers today.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 50%, Report 50%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

Risk

Code:

PO3RIS

Convenor:

DR Alice Baderin

Summary:

Advanced course in political theory, focusing on questions about the ethics and politics of risk. The course brings together ethical theory with the study of applied cases.

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

Worlding International Relations

Code:

PO3WIR

Convenor:

DR Andreas Behnke

Summary:

This module is directed to students interested in the history and current development of International Relations. It addresses the challenges formulated in diverse parts of the world to the Western dominance of the field of International Relations. Focusing on how central concept of IR are understood in different parts of the world, the module investigates how scholars from around the world think about central concepts such as sovereignty, the state, war, peace, religion and ‘the international’. Highlighting the conceptual differences in non-Western approaches, the module casts light on their implication for IR and the study of world politics.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 90%, Oral 10%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

War, Peace and International Ethics

Code:

PO3WPE

Convenor:

PROF Alan Cromartie

Summary:

This module is about the ethical dimension of international relations in peace and war. While this module focuses on issues within moral thought and theory, it does so with an eye to real world conflicts. Among the issues discussed are war crimes and moral responsibility, strategic bombing, revolutionary war, terrorism, and peacemaking.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 50%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

International Political Economy

Code:

PO3IPE

Convenor:

DR Jonathan Golub

Summary:

The course is an introduction to International and Comparative Political Economy (IPE and CPE, respectively), which focuses on the interaction between states and markets at the domestic and international levels. It covers the major theoretical approaches to IPE and CPE and applies them to study international trade, globalisation, the crisis, capitalism, inflation and growth regimes. It also considers the relation between globalisation and the welfare state as well as capitalism.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 40%, Oral 10%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

Politics & International Relations of the Middle East

Code:

PO3MEA

Convenor:

DR Younis Lahwej

Summary:

This module seeks to provide students with a nuanced understanding of the Politics and International Relations of the Middle East. Divided into two sections, it links the domestic politics of Middle Eastern states with the international tensions and conflicts of the region. The first part begins with a survey of the history of states and empires, followed by the emergence of nationalism and the establishment of the modern state system. We examine in detail the influence and overlapping roles of Pan-Islam, Pan-Arabism, State-Nationalism, Zionism, Palestinian Nationalism, Islamic Fundamentalism and Gender throughout the region and assess the extent to which they impact and define contemporary state politics. The second part turns to the issue of state-civil society relations in the region and the special role of water and oil in national and international politics. Examination of the international politics of the region further includes inter-Arab relations, the Arab-Israeli dispute, the Gulf wars and the complexities of the Syrian Crisis as well as the roles of the superpowers and their interests in the region. The course concludes with a role-play simulation involving negotiation and conflict resolution within the context of a politically sensitive issue for the Israelis and Arab/Palestinians and the current regional conflicts. 

Assessment Method:

Assignment 50%, Report 50%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

International Terrorism

Code:

PO3ITE

Convenor:

DR Christina Hellmich

Summary:

This course examines key issues in the study of contemporary international terrorism. It starts by examining what terrorism is and what distinguishes it from other forms of conflict and warfare in the international system before tracing the causes and consequences of terrorism throughout history, from the 19th-century anarchists to religious terrorism across a range of faiths. From here, the focus shifts to the question of whether there is a particular terrorist type, and the nexus between terrorism and the media. We examine what factors influence terrorist target selection and the modus operandi as well as the options available to counterterrorism, specifically focusing on the effectiveness of political, economic, military and judicial instruments. Terrorism and counterterrorism are further examined with a view to just-war theory and within the context of the civil liberties debate. The course concludes with a look to the future, both in terms of terrorism itself as well as the contribution the social sciences can make to conceptual and theoretical progress in the area.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

International Organizations in Global Politics

Code:

PO3IOG

Convenor:

DR Martin Binder

Summary:

This module introduces students to the study of international organisations. International organisations are key players in global politics. They help states coordinate policies, solve cooperation problems and advance national interests. At the same time, international organisations have become actors in their own right that regulate ever more issue areas and intervene deeply into the domestic realm of states. This has given rise to controversies in academic and policy communities not only over why international organisations exist and whether they matter in international politics, but also over whether they can effectively alleviate global problems and how legitimate they are. The aim of the module is to

  1. Discuss the main theoretical and conceptual approaches to the study of international organisations;
  2. Examine how international organisations are designed, how they work, and how effective they are;
  3. Analyse the major challenges international organisations face – legitimacy problems, politicization – and the ways they respond to these challenges.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

X

Module details


Title:

Intelligence, War and International Relations

Code:

PO3INT

Convenor:

DR Geoff Sloan

Summary:

The module aims to provide students with an insight into the pertinence and diversity of the intelligence function within war, strategy and international politics. This will entail acquiring a thorough understanding of the various concepts, changes and continuities associated with intelligence activities in the twentieth and early twenty first centuries.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 50%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Code Module Convenor
PO3FPT Feminism and Political Theory PROF David Marshall
PO3FAR The Far Right DR Daphne Halikiopoulou
PO3BFD British Foreign and Defence Policy since 1945 DR Kenton White
PO3USF US Foreign and Defence Policy since 1950 DR Graham O'Dwyer
PO3RIS Risk DR Alice Baderin
PO3WIR Worlding International Relations DR Andreas Behnke
PO3WPE War, Peace and International Ethics PROF Alan Cromartie
PO3IPE International Political Economy DR Jonathan Golub
PO3MEA Politics & International Relations of the Middle East DR Younis Lahwej
PO3ITE International Terrorism DR Christina Hellmich
PO3IOG International Organizations in Global Politics DR Martin Binder
PO3INT Intelligence, War and International Relations DR Geoff Sloan

Fees

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,250* per year

New international students: £17,320 per year

*UK/Republic of Ireland fee changes

UK/Republic of Ireland undergraduate tuition fees are regulated by the UK government. These fees are subject to parliamentary approval and any decision on raising the tuition fees cap for new UK students would require the formal approval of both Houses of Parliament before it becomes law.

EU student fees

With effect from 1 August 2021, new EU students will pay international tuition fees. For exceptions, please read the UK government’s guidance for EU students.

Additional costs

Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.

Financial support for your studies

You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.

Careers

Through this course you will develop strong analytical and research skills and become experienced in delivering presentations and working in a group which makes you suitable for a wide range of careers. Graduates with degrees in social sciences subjects such as politics and international relations are highly sought after by employers for their wide range of transferable skills.

Past students have put their political analysis skills to direct use in the home and European civil services, political research units, think tanks, non-governmental organisations and journalism. Others have gone into media, retail, management consultancy and banking.

Related Courses

  • BA Politics and International Relations L258
    Full Time: 3 Years
  • BA International Relations and Economics LL21
    Full Time: 3 Years
  • BA Politics and Economics LL12
    Full Time: 3 Years
  • BA History and Politics VLD2
    Full Time: 3 Years
View all Politics & International Relations degree courses courses

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