School of Politics, International Relations & Philosophy  
 
 
PIR-20070 The UN in world politics  
Co-ordinator: Dr Lorna Lloyd    Room: CBB2.011, Tel:33215  
Teaching Team: Mrs Paula  Hughes, Mrs Julie  Street, Dr Lorna  Lloyd, Miss Laura  Barcroft, Mrs Diane  Mason, Mr Seref  Kavak, Dr Ann  Hughes  
Lecture Time: See Timetable...  
Level: 2 Credits: 15 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)
International Relations Dual Honours (Level 2)
International Relations Major (Level 2)
International Relations Minor (Level 2)
International Relations 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
No
Barred Combinations
None

Prerequisites
None

Description

The United Nations has shaped international relations in multiple, complex and significant ways, but has not had the kind of impact for which many people hoped. Students taking this course will be able to explain why. They will analyse the interplay between world politics and international organisation by reference to the background to the creation of the United Nations; the lessons learned from the failure (and successes) of the UN's predecessor, the League of Nations; the policies of member states; and the international environment. Students will have the opportunity to work in teams as well as study topics that particulary interest them. In so doing they will further develop their ability to conduct research using a variety of sources to analyse the role of the UN in world politics. Assessment will be by means of one 2,000-word essay (50 per cent) and one two-hour unseen examination (50 per cent).
Aims
1. To enable students to understand the emergence and development of global international organisation since 1815 and to understand how this culminated in in the creation of the United Nations Organisation in 1945;
2. To enable students to know how the United Nations operates in world politics and to analyse and explain the factors that have affected its operation and evolution;
3. In the process, to enable students to understand the possibilities and limitations of international cooperation.
Intended Learning Outcomes
Evaluate the essential features of the United Nations will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
Explain the background to, and evolution of, the United Nations will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
Evaluate the ability of the UN to achieve its purposes through critically assessing the factors enabling and constraining co-operation between its member states will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
Acquire, assess, organise and engage with a variety of sources as part of conducting research will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
Analyse complex issues will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
Formulate and express complex ideas logically and coherently in written form will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
Study hours
Lecture attendance - 15 hours
Tutorial attendance - 5 hours
Preparation for tutorials - 30 hours
Research for, and writing of, essay - 50 hours
Preparation for the written exam - 48 hours
Sitting the written exam - 2 hour
Description of Module Assessment
01: Essay weighted 50%
2,000-word essay
The student chooses an essay question from a list of over twenty questions and writes a 2,000-word essay using sources identified on the relevant readling list provided in the module website lodged in the KLE.
02: 2 Hour Exam weighted 50%
A two-hour unseen written exam
The student has to answer two questions from a list of questions which reflects the overall thematic content of the module.
Version: (1.06B) Updated: 03/Mar/2013

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.