2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

PIED3158 British Foreign Policy

20 creditsClass Size: 60

Module manager: Dr Victoria Honeyman
Email: V.C.Honeyman@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2017/18

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module will focus primarily on British Foreign Policy after the Second World War. The first week of teaching will focus on the theory of foreign policy analysis. Each week following will focus on a particular region or relationship which has been crucial e.g. the USA (Anglo-American Relationship), the former Colonial nations (e.g. India, Australia), the Post-War Settlement in Europe and the Cold War, former African colonies, Palestine and the Middle East and Russia.

Objectives

This module will focus on the post-war foreign policy of Britain, relating the historical context to the current position of Britain in the world. The objective here is to allow students to place Britain’s current relationships and difficulties in a wider global perspective.

Learning outcomes
Students studying on this module will:
- Gain a greater understanding of Britain’s foreign policy history and Britain’s current position in the world
- To have an understanding and appreciation of the wider literature related to the subject
- Be able to consider Britain’s role within international organisations and supranational groups.

Skills outcomes
Improved skills in research, writing, critical analysis, and the presentation of information and argument.

Syllabus

i. Foreign Policy Overview and discussion of relevant theory
ii. UK-US Relations
iii. The End of Empire
iv. Britain, Decolonisation and Development Aid
v. Reading Week
vi. Britain, the Post-War Settlement and European Relations
vii. The Quest for Oil: Middle Eastern Relations
viii. International Organisations
ix. The Two Iraq Wars
x. Blair’s Ethical Foreign Policy and Liberal Conservatism
xi. Britain and the Key Players: China and Russia

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	11	1.00	11.00
Seminar	11	1.00	11.00
Private study hours			178.00
Total Contact hours			22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Each week the students will have a reading list which they are expected to select numerous chapters and articles from in preparation for this seminar discussion. In order to try and ensure that this is done, I will be asking each student at the beginning of the seminar what they read and two students will be selected at random each week to present a brief outline of their reading to the rest of the group. I currently do this with other modules and it seems to work fairly well.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Student progress will be monitored in the seminars through discussion of the issues and also in the small reports which students will periodically provide on their reading.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	1 x 3,000 word essay, end of semester	65.00
Literature Review	1 x 2,000 word literature review, end of semester	35.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 26/04/2017

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