PIR-20061: Peace, Conflict and Security: Theories and Practice

School of Politics, International Relations & Philosophy

PIR-20061

Peace, Conflict and Security: Theories and Practice

Co-ordinator:

Mr Naveed Sheikh Room: CBB2.019, Tel:33400

Teaching Team:

Mrs Paula Hughes, Mrs Julie Street, Mr Naveed Sheikh, Dr Philip Catney, Miss Laura Barcroft, Mrs Diane Mason, Ms Ilia Xypolia

Lecture Time:

See Timetable...

Level:

Credits:

Study Hours:

150

School Office:

Programme/Approved Electives for

American Studies Dual Honours (Level 2)
American Studies Minor (Level 2)
American Studies Single Honours (Level 2)
Politics Dual Honours (Level 2)
Politics Major (Level 2)
Politics Minor (Level 2)
Politics Single Honours (Level 2)

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Barred Combinations

None

Prerequisites

None

Description

This module introduces students to the problem of security as it is addressed in the academic discipline of International Relations and as it is understood by practicioners of international politics at the level of governments and other kinds of actors in world politics. The study of security is still the single most influential sub-discipline within International Relations and the search for security in its various forms is at the heart of many activities and policies at the international level. Through this module students become familiar with the key conceptual debates in the literature on international security and come to appreciate the implications of these debates for events in the real world of international politics. They develop the ability to apply a range of relevant ideas about the nature of conflict and conflict resolution to gain a critical understanding of how security questions develop and how the security agenda is shaped, looking especially at the elements of continuity and change in the security agenda since the Cold War began to wane in the mid-1980s through to the 2010s.

In addition to learning how to analyse key aspects of the security problematique - a set of problems, concepts, and theoretical debates that still lie near the heart of the discipline of International Relations - students refine their ability to conduct independent research, to evaluate and employ abstract concepts and theories in making sense of and evaluating potential solutions to real-world problems, and effectively to communicate complex arguments supported by appropriate evidence.

The final module mark is based upon the following: 750-word annotated bibliography (15%); 2,000 word essay (45%); 2-hour unseen written exam (40%).

Aims

1. To enable students to engage with key conceptual and theoretical debates in international security.
2. To enable students critically to analyse and evaluate the concepts for peace, conflict and security and to appreciate the real-world implications of conceptual difference in these areas.
3. To enable students to analyse key practical problems on the traditional security agenda of the Cold War period and on the post-traditional security agenda that largely developed with the end of the Cold War.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Interpret and distinguish between different theoretical and empirical approaches to the study of global peace, conflict and security will be achieved by assessments: 1,2,3
Analyse key problems in international security, in the Cold War and especially in the post-Cold War period, integrating theorectical concepts and empirical material will be achieved by assessments: 1,2,3
Evaluate a range of relevant ideas about conflict and conflict resolution in terms of their applicability to the analysis of particular conflicts will be achieved by assessments: 1,2,3
Conduct independent research in order to identify, locate and make use of appropriate paper and web-based materials to supplement the module reading lists will be achieved by assessments: 1,2
Evaluate and employ abstract theories in analysing and resolving problems will be achieved by assessments: 1,2,3
Effectively and fluently communicate in written form complex arguments supported by appropriate evidence will be achieved by assessments: 1,2,3

Study hours

Lecture attendance - 15 hours
Tutorial attendance - 7 hours
Preparing for tutorial discussions - 14 hours
Preparing the annotated bibliography - 20 hours
Researching and writing the essay - 48 hours
Preparing for the exam - 44 hours
Sitting the exam - 2 hours

Description of Module Assessment

01: Bibilography weighted 15%

a 750-word bibliography
The student writes a bibliography on one of the questions scheduled for discussion in a tutorial. Guidance on how to conduct such an exercise is provided in the module guide available in the KLE to all students registered for the module.

02: Essay weighted 45%

a 2,000-word essay
the student writes an essay on a question chosen from the list of essay questions.

03: 2 Hour Exam weighted 40%

a two-hour unseen written examination
the student sits an examination, answering a specified number of questions from the questions appearing on the exam paper.

Reading Sources