2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

PIED1511 International Politics

20 creditsClass Size: 385

Module manager: Professor Cristina Stefan & Dr Blake Lawrinson
Email: C.Stefan@leeds.ac.uk & b.w.lawrinson@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module starts by providing a brief overview of some key developments in world politics to date. Some of the most important concepts in International Politics are introduced in this context: the international system, war, sovereignty, collective security, inequality, and international organisations. The main aim of this module is to introduce students to the key international issues we face today and the puzzles these raise. This includes explaining what shaped the world we live in, and understanding the patterns of international politics (including how interests, institutions, and interactions matter in international relations). We also discuss some key structures and processes in this context, such as the changing character of war, terrorism, and nuclear proliferation. Students get introduced to the main issues pertaining to transnational politics, such as human rights, the United Nations, humanitarian intervention and ‘the Responsibility to Protect’. The module also introduces students to the importance of regionalism in international politics, using the Asia-Pacific region as an illustration. Essential for comprehending the background behind the events that dominate our daily news, the International Politics module provides the broad foundation for making sense of the increasingly global political world that we all inhabit.

Objectives

Overall, students will achieve an understanding of the key international issues of our time, and of the fundamental patterns of world politics, including how interests, interactions, rules, norms, and institutions matter in international relations.

On completion of this module, students should not only be familiar with the subject matter of international politics, but also be able to demonstrate a critical awareness of the merits and weaknesses of different theoretical approaches in explaining and understanding the key international issues covered in this module, and the contemporary international system.

Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:

1. Demonstrate a familiarity with the basic concepts, events and institutions of International Politics, and some of the main theoretical approaches to its study.
2. Demonstrate awareness of some of the main debates within the study of International Politics.
3. Be able to rehearse basic arguments and evaluations of the main debates within the study of International Politics.

Skills Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:

1. Retrieve, organise, and produce basic summaries of information and/or data.
2. Assemble basic arguments and be able to evaluate the arguments of others.
3. Work and discuss with others in a collaborative manner.
4. Have a basic understanding of digital technologies and be able to use them to retrieve data and information and to communicate this information to others.

Syllabus

Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	22	1.00	22.00
Seminar	11	1.00	11.00
Independent online learning hours			11.00
Private study hours			156.00
Total Contact hours			33.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Student progress will be monitored by means of: (1) a 1,000 word mid-term formative essay in preparation for final essay, which will provide an opportunity to receive formative feedback on written work, and (2) student progress and student contributions to class discussions, which will be monitored throughout the course, though not assessed.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Assignment	Coursework	100.00
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: 28/08/2024

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