Module Identifier IP30420  
Module Title KEY CONCEPTS  
Academic Year 2001/2002  
Co-ordinator Professor Andrew Linklater  
Semester Semester 1  
Other staff Miss Rebecca Jones  
Course delivery Lecture   18 Hours (8 x 1 hours)  
  Round Table   4 Hours (4 x 1 hours)  
Assessment Essay   3,000 words   50%  
  Exam   2 Hours   50%  

Brief description


The primary aim of this module is to provide students with advanced skills in conceptual analysis and to provide training in applying these skills to empirical and theoretical areas of the study of international politics.

Aims


The module provides an advanced introduction to key concepts from different areas of the study of politics and international politics, including stategic and security security studies, international political economy and normative approaches. Students will explore the meaning of key concepts in depth. The module also provides students with skills in thinking about the connections between diverse areas of the contemporary study of politics.

Content


The module is in four sections. The first section asks whether the future of world politics is destined to repeat the past, most centrally bywitnessing the rise and fall of great powers. The second section considers the use of force in the modern world, and asks whether ideas about the obsolescence of force suggest that international cooperation is replacing war and conflict. The third section asks whether global inequalities are bound to increase in the future or may yet be reduced. The fourth section considers the future of national sovereignty given the development of a universal human rights culture and what may be the emerging norm of humanitarian intervention.

Learning outcomes


On completion of this module, students will have a greater awareness of the diverse meanings and uses of key concepts in political analysis. The ability to apply these skills to empirical and theoretical areas of international politics will be developed. The module will develop conceptual skills which can be used in advanced essay writing and in researching and writing the third year dissertation.


10 ECTS Credits

Transferable skills


The essay will develop analytical skills which can be applied in various areas of employment. Students will be required to write a short abstract of the essay which will help develop the skill of clearly summarising complex arguments. The ability to write short statements about several issue-areas under pressure will be developed through a final examination.

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Text
John Baylis and Steve Smith (eds). The Globalisation of World Politics, Cambridge. 2001. Cambridge University Press