Gwybodaeth Modiwlau

Module Identifier
IQ31320
Module Title
Espionage Studies
Academic Year
2016/2017
Co-ordinator
Dr Warren Dockter
Semester
Semester 2
Other Staff
 

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Seminar 5 x 2 Hour Seminars
Lecture 22 x 1 Hour Lectures
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment 1 X 3,000 word essay  50%
Semester Exam 2 Hours   (1 x 2 hour exam)  50%
Supplementary Assessment 1 x 3,000 word essay, if essay element failed  50%
Supplementary Exam 2 Hours   (1 x 2 hour exam)  50%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

1. assess the role and significance of espionage in the Cold War.
2. evaluate the relationship between intelligence and counter-intelligence.
3. possess critical insight into the nature of treachery and betrayal.
4. critically assess the implications of the end of the Cold War and 9/11 forespionage activities
5. critically evaluate the efficacy and morality of spying in politics
6. develop critical insights into the literary and cinematic representations of espionage
7. develop critical understanding of the historiography of espionage

Brief description

The module provides understanding of the role and significance of espionage in national security, during the Cold War, after 9/11 and more generally in world politics. It generates critical insights into the historiography and representation of espionage, including in literary and cinematic genres. The motives for spying, and in particular concepts of betrayal and treachery are explored. While the principal focus is on inter-state activity the challenges and opportunities for agent running for counter-terrorist and anti-criminal purposes are additionally examined.

Content

Lecture 1 Introduction: Terms and Concepts
Lecture 2: Cold War case studies: Atom Bomb spies
Lecture 3: Cold War case studies: Cambridge Five
Lecture 4: Cold War case studies: Penkovsky and Gordievsky
Lecture 5: Motivation: Ideology
Lecture 6: Motivation: non-spiritual enticements
Lecture 7: Tradecraft
Lecture 8: Counter-espionage: double cross
Lecture 9: Counter-espionage: molehunts
Lecture 10: Espionage after 9/11
Lecture 11: Counter-terrorism: Northern Ireland
Lecture 12: Ethics
Lecture: 13: Representations in literature
Lecture 14: Representations in cinema
Lecture 15: Overview

Seminar 1: Cold War Case Studies 1
Seminar 2: Cold War Case Studies 2
Seminar 3: Counter-espionage
Seminar 4: 9/11 and Beyond
Seminar 5: Ethics

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number N/A
Communication Students learn how to present their ideas both verbally and in writing and how to assert themselves to advantage. They will understand the importance of information and clear communication and how to exploit these. They will learn 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 and 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. Seminars will be run in groups where oral discussion and presentations will form the main medium of teaching and the emphasis throughout the module will be on student participation and communication. This is facilitated by group-role play based on teams operating within and beyond the seminar environment.
Improving own Learning and Performance The module aims to promote self-management but within a context of assistance from both the convener and the fellow students alike. Students will be expected to improve their own learning and performance by undertaking their own research and to exercise their own initiative, including searching for sources, compiling reading lists, and deciding (under guidance) the direction of their essay and presentation topics. Group work is integral to the seminars and provides opportunities or students to reflect individually and collectively on their performance. The need to contribute to the group presentation in seminars and to meet an essay deadline will focus students’ attention on the need to manage their time and opportunity resources well.
Information Technology Students will be expected to submit their work in word-processed format through Blackboard. 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 BIDS and OCLC).
Personal Development and Career planning The discussions in particular will help to develop students’ verbal, presentational and team-working skills. Learning about the process of planning an essay and a presentation, framing the parameters of the projects, honing and developing the projects and seeing through to completion will contribute towards their portfolio of transferable skills.
Problem solving Independent project work and problem solving will be one central goal of the module; the submission of an essay will require the student to develop independent research skills as well as problem solving skills. The need to research and prepare seminar presentations will also enable the student to develop independent project 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 alternative cases; reason logically; construct theoretical models; consider similar cases; look for patterns; divide issues into smaller problems. A final examination will ensure that an assessment of the student’s ability to work alone can be undertaken.
Research skills The submission of the essay will reflect the independent research skills of the student. The need to locate appropriate research resources and write up results will also facilitate research skills. Research preparation for a seminar presentation will also enable the student to develop independent project skills. A final examination will ensure that an assessment of the student’s ability to research alone can be undertaken.
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 • Ability to evaluate competing perspectives • Demonstrate subject specific research techniques • Develop conceptual and inter-personal skills necessary to detect and counter forms of deceit illuminated by the module • Apply a range of methodologies to complex political problems
Team work The module aims to promote self-management but within a context of assistance from both the convener and the fellow students alike. Students will be expected to improve their own learning and performance by undertaking their own research and to exercise their own initiative, including searching for sources, compiling reading lists, and deciding (under guidance) the direction of their essay and presentation topics. Group work is integral to the seminars and provides opportunities or students to reflect individually and collectively on their performance. The need to contribute to the group presentation in seminars and to meet an essay deadline will focus students’ attention on the need to manage their time and opportunity resources well.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6