Spring Semester only

Unit(s) of Assessment	Weighting Towards Module Mark ( %)
Essay (2,500 words)	50%
Unseen exam (2 hrs)	50%
Qualifying Condition(s)    A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module.

The module expands and develops upon the issue of international security, as introduced in other modules. It begins by providing a background to the study of war. This leads into a consideration of contemporary themes and their inter-relation including the various security and defence actors from international, regional and sub-regional organisations to NGOs and private military companies. The module ends with an analysis of WMD and how to deal with ‘rogue states’.

None

• To provide students with an opportunity to consider, analyse and debate a range of key current issues in international politics 
• To develop a critical understanding of complex issues in international politics 
• To apply social and political theories and models to the analysis of contemporary events 
• To develop skills in researching fast-moving contemporary political issues, using periodicals, databases, newspapers, etc. 

To develop critical debating and argumentation skills.

At the end of this module, students should be able to:  

Knowledge and understanding

• understand and critically analyse complex issues in contemporary politics 
• understand a range of theoretical models which can be applied to the study of contemporary political issues 

Cognitive skills

• gather, organise and deploy evidence and information from a range of different sources 
• analyse and synthesise a wide range of material in different formats 
• deal with complex issues systematically and creatively  
• construct reasoned argument  
• apply theoretical frameworks to empirical analysis  

Practical skills

• make appropriate use of information and communications technology  
• form effective arguments 
• research current issues using a range of different sources   
• debate current political issues  

Transferable skills

• communicate and present ideas effectively, orally and in written format  
• reason critically 
• use information and communication technology for the retrieval and presentation of material  
• deploy a range of relevant research skills 
• make decisions in complex situations 

take responsibility for own learning

·1    Introduction: What do we mean by security?

·2    The study and causes of war – an overview of the theoretical landscape in security and defence and the weaknesses and strengths of the various approaches.

·3    The role of the UN, NATO, the EU and ECOWAS in security and defence including hard and soft security dimensions.

·4    An assessment of non-state actors, in particular the impact of NGOs and private-military companies in the security field.

·5   Defence reform in the post-Cold War era: An assessment of the changing role of military force in tackling contemporary security threats

At the outset of the module, a range of topics and issues will be discussed and agreed with students. Students will then research a range of materials relating to these, and make presentations in class. Although there will be some focussing and specialisation, all students will be expected to investigate the full range of topics.

This will vary according to the topics investigated. It is expected that students will make extensive but discriminating use of periodicals, databases, the contemporary press, and internet sources.

5th May 2011