From Mincemeat to Cyberwars: A Global Perspective on Covert Operations since 1945

Cod y Modiwl: IQ20520
Teitl y Modiwl: From Mincemeat to Cyberwars: A Global Perspective on Covert Operations since 1945
Blwyddyn Academaidd: 2026/2027
Semester: Semester 2
Cyd-gysylltydd y Modiwl: Dr Aviva Guttmann
Rhestr Ddarllen: Gweld ar Aspire
Staff Eraill sy'n Cyfrannu

Dulliau Asesu

Math o Asesiad	Manylion Asesiad	Cyfran
Asesiad Semester	Seminar participation: Presentation in the seminar about a covert action, discussed from the perspective of the intervener and the target country. 10 Minutes	10%
Asesiad Semester	Podcast: The students will receive feedback on their presentation and based on this, the student will record a podcast based on the topic of the presentation. One seminar session specifically teaches students how to do podcasts. 10 Minutes	40%
Asesiad Semester	Research Essay: Students will write an essay analysing a covert operation through one or more of the above-described angles. Students will be introduced to a number of online archival resources, including the CIA CREST database and are encouraged to include primary source documents in their papers as much as possible. 2000 Words	50%
Asesiad Ailsefyll	Seminar participation: Presentation in the seminar about a covert action, discussed from the perspective of the intervener and the target country. 10 Minutes	10%
Asesiad Ailsefyll	Podcast: The students will receive feedback on their presentation and based on this, the student will record a podcast based on the topic of the presentation. One seminar session specifically teaches students how to do podcasts. 10 Minutes	40%
Asesiad Ailsefyll	Research Essay: Students will write an essay analysing a covert operation through one or more of the above-described angles. Students will be introduced to a number of online archival resources, including the CIA CREST database and are encouraged to include primary source documents in their papers as much as possible. 2000 Words	50%

Canlyniadau Dysgu

Wedi cwblhau'r modiwl dylai'r myfyrwyr fedru:

Familiarity with key concepts of covert actions as a foreign political tool and the capacity to apply these concepts to different case studies
Understanding of the variety of factors affecting the approval, planning, and execution of covert actions, including the rationale behind plausible deniability and implausible deniability
Understanding of intelligence and covert actions as both a challenge to and a support of international order
Command of literature on different approaches to intelligence studies and covert actions in history and other forms of social science
Understanding of problems and possible practical solutions to issues of intelligence, war and security
Through group presentations, enhancing communication skills and teamwork
Through the creation of a podcast, students will have enhanced their communication skills, teamwork, journalistic skills like conducting interviews, and moderating talks. The best podcasts will be put online, and the students can include the link to these podcasts in their CVs. Students will thus gain experience in producing podcasts and this is a feature that can help employability.
Through research essays, enhancing academic writing and research skills

Disgrifiad cryno

This course will teach students about the history, theory, and practice of covert operations in international relations. This module aims to enhance the voice of women and BAME authors and to diversify the case studies discussed in the module. Covert action will thus not only be discussed from an actor perspective – the traditional approach, like CIA’s reasons for intervening somewhere around the world – but it will especially look at the impact that covert actions had on local power dynamics. Altogether, the teaching angle is equally distributed among actors and targets of covert actions around the world. With this, perspectives are turned around: a global view is the result.

Cynnwys

This course will teach students about the history, theory, and practice of covert operations in international relations. Despite some efforts and calls for change, intelligence studies are still hugely dominated by white male authors, who focus on the UK and the US. This module aims to enhance the voice of women and BAME authors and to diversify the case studies discussed in the module. Covert action will thus not only be discussed from an actor perspective – the traditional approach, like CIA’s reasons for intervening somewhere around the world – but it will especially look at the impact that covert actions had on local power dynamics. Altogether, the teaching angle is equally distributed among actors and targets of covert actions around the world. With this, perspectives are turned around: a global view is the result.

Sgiliau Modiwl

Math o Sgiliau	Manylion Sgiliau
Cydlynu ag erail	The seminars will provide the students with an opportunity to dialogue and to learn how to express their thoughts in a group setting. One assessment requires the students to work in groups and this will foster their ability to work as a team.
Datrys Problemau Creadigol	For the essay, students will have to develop their own research angle, find the relevant primary and secondary sources, critically analyse them, and draft a logical, coherent, and convincing discussion about it.
Gallu digidol	The groups will create a podcast about a covert action case study. This will enhance their communication skills and digital skill.
Meddwl beirniadol a dadansoddol	Students will hone their critical thinking about word politics by learning about different perspectives of a covert intervention and its impact on the intervening and target country.
Myfyrdod	The module will offer ample opportunities for reflection.After the presentations, substantive feedback will be given, which students will reflect upon and integrate in their production of the podcast.
Sgiliau Pwnc-benodol	The students will delve into the secret world of covert action. In doing so, students will be introduced to the field of intelligence studies, a pluridisciplinary field that opens up further avenues and linkages to security studies, international history, and strategic studies. The module thus offers specialised subject learning, all the while allowing them to make connections between their primary subject areas and related disciplines..
Synnwyr byd go iawn	This module could also service employment in government and non-governmental roles relating to security

Nodau

Mae'r modiwl hwn yn cydymffurfio a FfCChC Lefel 5