Module Identifier IPM0620  
Module Title INTERNATIONAL POLITICS 2: NORMATIVE APPROACHES TO GLOBAL ISSUES  
Academic Year 2003/2004  
Co-ordinator Dr Toni A Erskine  
Semester Semester 2  
Other staff Dr Toni A Erskine  
Pre-Requisite IPM0520  
Course delivery Seminars / Tutorials   22 Hours 1 x 2 hour seminars per week  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Exam2 Hours  60%
Semester Assessment Essay: 1 x 2,000 words  40%
Supplementary Exam Students may, subject to Faculty approval, have the opportunity to resit this module, normally during the supplementary examination period. For further clarification please contact the Teaching Programme Administrator in the Department of International Politics. 

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
- A critical awareness of the contending ethical theories
- Reflecting upon key issues from a range of theoretical perspectives and concepts in contemporary international politics
- Promoting an analytical approach to the study of power and sites of resistance
- The identification of the principal encounters between ''first'' and ''third'' worlds?
- Demonstrate an awareness of the nature and dynamics of the international political economy
- Developing a systematic analysis of the problems of dealing with cultural difference
- Instilling in candidates the confidence to hold their own in relevant academic contexts (seminars, workshops, conferences) for specialists in International Politics.

Brief description

This module provides an analysis of several major issues in contemporary global politics and addresses these from the theoretical perspectives taught in IPM0520.

Aims

This Semester 2 core module aims to provide an advanced specialism in theoretical approaches to the following issues and practices:

- Changing normative landscape
- Sovereignty and intervention
- Globalization
- Changing patterns of war and violence
- International terrorism and criminality
- Democratisation
- Environment, health and welfare

Content

International Politics 2 examines the application of the main IR theories discussed in IMP0520. It addresses a range of issues, from normative questions about identity and obligation, to empirical problems concerning the global distribution of wealth and resources, as well as the role of violence in the contemporary international system. The module begins with an analysis of the principal ethical traditions, and then considers a range of global issues and dilemmas/conflicts. The aim here is to provide a theoretical background to issues that have become increasingly significant in the post-Cold War period; such as poverty, HIV/Aids, environment, democratisation, terrorism, and 'ethnic' / civilizational identities. A second key theme in this part of the course is to examine the institutional order that is being developed in response to these challenges.

Transferable skills

Throughout the teaching and the assessment of the module the students will develop a range of transferable skills. The module will require the use of IT skills and general research skills in order to identify and search for appropriate data and sources. Students will also develop: critical thinking; rational argumentation strategies; logical thinking; writing skills; reading strategies; note-taking; report writing; and team working.

10 ECTS credits

Reading Lists

Books
Chris Brown (2002) Sovereignty, Rights and Justice Cambridge, Polity
Andrew Linklater (1998) The Transformation of Political Community Cambridge, Polity
Barry Buzan and Richard Little (2000) International Systems in World History Oxford: Oxford University Press
Martha Nussbaum (ed by Joshua Cohen) (2002) For Love of Country? Beacon Press

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7