Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 15 Hours (15 x 1 hour) |
| Seminars / Tutorials | 10 Hours (5 x 2 hours) |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | 1 x 3,000 word essay | 50% |
| Semester Exam | 2 Hours (1 x 2 hour) | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | 1 x 3,000 word essay, if essay element failed | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | 1 x 3,000 word essay in lieu of exam, if exam element failed | 50% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Discuss key concepts such as criminalization, policing and security in relation to the academic study of international relations.
2. Apply these concepts to contemporary cases and empirical examples.
3. Identify the main policing actors involved in transnational policing.
4. Analyse the significance of global crime and the policing efforts to tackle its various forms.
5. Compare different theoretical approaches to transnational policing and evaluate their significance.
6. Discuss the way in which different discourses of crime and criminalization structure the responses of policing actors in different issue areas.
7. Assess the different utility of theoretical approaches in explaining specific issue areas.
Brief description
The module examines a range of contemporary transnational policing issues. Considering the interface between the increased globalization of crime, international order and security, the tackling of several transnational crime issues by security authorities will be explored. The module will discuss theoretical frameworks that allow one to conceptualise the increased efforts at transnational policing at the regional and global level. Additionally, it aims to identify the main assumptions, contingencies and trends concerning the intensified clandestine, illegal activities of crime actors beyond borders. It will then move on to explore the reactions of states and their security authorities to this phenomenon, focusing on police governance and co-operation. These issues are explored through the analysis of several fields of transnational policing activities, such as counter-terrorism, border policing, foreign police assistance and the policing of international events. While particular attention will be paid to activities of the police (from local forces to international police bodies, such as Interpol), other law enforcement authorities, intelligence and private security actors will be taken into account too. The module will also critically examine aspects of police ethics, accountability and human rights in the context of transnational policing.
Aims
The proposed module engages with some of the most relevant forms of global crime and the different policing responses to them. Particular attention will be paid to police co-operation at the regional and international level. As such, the module engages with forms of security provision in the international arena, with a focus on the emerging policing practices at the transnational level. By exploring and analyzing practices of criminalization and crime fighting in this context, the module adds to Departmental provision in the areas of (counter-)terrorism, security and intelligence studies. Transnational police co-operation and efforts at fighting terrorism and other forms of crime are currently of great policy relevance and this module will therefore be a useful addition to the Department's wider vocational training dimension.
Content
2. Conceptualising Transnational Policing
3. Policing Borders
4. The US-led 'War on Drugs'
5. EU Efforts at Policing Transnational Crime
6. The Role of Police in Peacekeeping
7. Foreign Police Assistance and Police Reform: EULEX Kosovo and EUPOL Afghanistan
8. Countering Terrorism and Terrorist Financing
9. Transnational Policing of Human Trafficking
10. Policing International Mass Events: The Olympics
11. Policing Transnational Protests
12. Cybercops and Cyberspace
13. Policing Nuclear Proliferation and WMD
14. The Impact of Global Trends on Domestic Policing
15. Police Ethics and Accountability in the Transnational Sphere
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | N/A |
| Communication | Students will learn how to present their ideas both verbally and in writing and how to how to present their arguments most effectively. They will learn the importance of information and clear communication and how to exploit these. They will know how to use the many sources of information available and how to use the most appropriate form of communication to best advantage. They will learn to be clear in their writing and speaking and to be direct about aims and objectives. They will learn to consider only that which is relevant to the topic, focus and objectives of their argument or discussion. This module will particularly test aural and oral communication skills as it involves assessed seminar performance. Students will also be required to submit their essays in word-processed format and the presentation of work should reflect effective expression of ideas and good use of language skills in order to ensure clarity, coherence and effective communication. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | The module aims to promote self-management but within a context in which support and assistance is available from both the convenor and fellow students alike. Students will be expected to improve their own learning and performance by undertaking their own research and exercising their own initiative, including searching for sources and deciding (under guidance) the direction of their coursework and presentation topics. The need to prepare for assessed seminar participation and to meet coursework deadlines will focus students' attention on the need to manage their time. |
| Information Technology | Students will be expected to submit their work in word-processed format. Also, students will be encouraged to search for sources of information on the web, as well as seeking sources through electronic information sources (such as Web of Science and OCLC). Students will also be expected to make use of the resources that will be available on the Blackboard VLE. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | This module is designed to hone and test skills of use to students in their working lives, particularly in speaking to small groups, listening, thinking and responding to the statement of others. Moreover, the written work includes writing clearly and concisely, which is a common task in the workplace. Students will be encouraged throughout to reflect on their performance and to consider lessons for future application. |
| Problem solving | Independent project work and problem solving will be one central goal of the module; the submission of two essays and preparation for seminar discussions will require that students develop independent research skills as well as problem solving skills. The ability of students to solve problems will be developed and assessed by asking them to: adopt differing points of view; organize data and estimate an answer to the problem; consider extreme cases; reason logically; construct theoretical models; consider similar cases; look for patterns; divide issues into smaller problems. |
| Research skills | Students will be required to undertake independent research for all elements of the assessed work. This will involve utilizing media and web sources, as well as more conventional academic texts. Students will in part be assessed on their ability to gather appropriate and interesting resources materials. |
| Subject Specific Skills | Students have the opportunity to develop, practice and test a wide range of subject specific skills that help them to understand, conceptualise and evaluate examples and ideas on the module. These subject specific skills include: - Collect and understand a wide range of data relating to the module - Evaluate competing perspectives - Demonstrate subject specific research techniques Apply a range of methodologies to complex historical and contemporary political problems |
| Team work | Students will undertake team exercises in the seminars. Blackboard facilities such as the blog will also be used and students will be encouraged to contribute their comments to the entries. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6