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PIR-30178 - Module Specification
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Faculty of Business, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 06 October 2026

PIR-30178 - Global Challenges: War, Terrorism and Global Violence
Coordinator:
Lecture Time:
Level: Level 6
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office:

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2026/27


Aims
1. Introduce students to contemporary and prospective cases of war, terrorism and violence in global politics.
2. Equip students with analytical tools to explain and critique trends of war, terrorism and violence in global politics.
3. Present student with complex contemporary and evolving problems that require change-making solutions, thus building leadership and team-work skills through a crisis simulation.
4. Equip student with problem-solving skills and empower students with the knowledge and analytical abilities to generate innovative solutions.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate expert understanding and awareness of emerging events and crises in relation to war, terrorism and violence in IR.: 1,2,3
Critically investigate the origins and transformations of war, terrorism and global violence in IR.: 1,2
Synthesise empirical data and analytical skills to produce creative and concrete findings and solutions in relation to contemporary cases of war, terrorism and violence in global politics.: 1,2
Develop and assess their role in a simulation exercise in a creative and reflexive form.: 3

Study hours

1. 48 hours of seminars/workshops throughout the year.
2. 252 hours of independent study:
a. 120 hours weekly preparations (e.g., readings, summarising, notes organisation).
b. Policy Report assignment 30 hours.
c. Hotspot analysis assignment 51 hours.
d. Reflective analysis 51 hours.

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Report weighted 30%
1500 words Policy Report
Students will choose a current case of violence/war/terrorism in global politics and write a policy report, which will offer the following: 1. An executive summary of the report (around 250 words). 2. Context to the case selected and the issues involved (e.g., major reasons for the outburst of violence; the main actors involved). (around 700 words). 3. Evaluation of existing policies such as diplomacy, negotiations, military action, security practices (around 300 words). 4. Policy recommendation based on critical analysis and evaluation of existing materials with a problem-solving orientation (around 250 words).

2: Assignment weighted 40%
2000 words Hotspot/flashpoint Analysis Assignment
Students will choose one current hotspot/flashpoint in global politics (e.g., where tensions are high and potentially leading to war/terrorism/violence) and offer a focused analysis. This assignment will include the following: 1. Origins of the hotspot and context to past and current violent trends (around 700 words). 2. An application of at least two major theoretical frameworks in order to assess the existing literature and evaluate which framework explains better the hotspot (around 900 words). 3. An evaluation and assessment of the possibility of violence (regional and/or global) in any form in the foreseeable future (around 400 words).

3: Assignment weighted 30%
1500 words reflective analysis
Following a class-based hotspot/flashpoint simulation, students will write a 1500-word reflective analysis in which they will reflect in an analytical and academic manner on their learning process in relation to the simulation. The analysis will include the following: 1. Reflection on the student's learning journey before, during, and after the simulation (around 600 words). 2. Analysis of key concepts/ideas/frameworks the students used or perhaps should/could have used in the simulation (around 700 words) 3. Overall reflective analysis of what went well, and what can be improved (around 200 words).

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 06 October 2026