University of Essex

GV113-4-SP-CO:
Contemporary Topics in International Relations

The details

Year: 2024/25

Department: Government

Campus: Colchester Campus

Term: Spring

Level: Undergraduate: Level 4

Status: Current

Start date: Monday 13 January 2025

End date: Friday 21 March 2025

Credits: 15

Last updated: 23 April 2024

Requisites for this module

Pre-requisites: (none)

Co-requisites: (none)

Pre and / or co-requisites: (none)

Prohibited modules: (none)

Key module (requisite for): (none)

Key module for

BA L900 International Development,
BA L901 International Development (Including Year Abroad),
BA L902 International Development (Including Placement Year),
BA L921 International Development (Including Foundation Year),
BA L250 International Relations (Including Foundation Year),
BA L258 International Relations,
BA L259 International Relations (Including Year Abroad),
BA L260 International Relations (Including Placement Year),
MPOLL268 International Relations,
MPOLL269 International Relations (Including Placement Year),
MPOLL370 International Relations (Including Year Abroad),
BA LR59 International Relations and Modern Languages (5 Years Including Foundation Year),
BA LRF9 International Relations and Modern Languages,
BA VL12 Modern History and International Relations,
BA VL14 Modern History and International Relations (Including Placement Year),
BA VL18 Modern History and International Relations (Including Foundation Year),
BA VL1F Modern History and International Relations (Including Year Abroad),
BA L2CH Social Sciences,
BA L2CS Social Sciences,
BA L2ES Social Sciences,
BA LFCH Social Sciences,
BA L225 Politics and International Relations,
BA L226 Politics and International Relations (Including Year Abroad),
BA L227 Politics and International Relations (Including Placement Year),
BSC L222 Politics and International Relations,
BSC L223 Politics and International Relations (Including Year Abroad),
BSC L224 Politics and International Relations (Including Placement Year),
MPOLL234 Politics and International Relations,
MPOLL235 Politics and International Relations (Including Placement Year),
MPOLL236 Politics and International Relations (Including Year Abroad),
BA L910 Global Studies with Politics,
BA L911 Global Studies with Politics (Including year abroad),
BA L912 Global Studies with Politics (Including Placement Year),
BA L913 Global Studies with Politics (Including Foundation Year),
BA R110 International Relations and Language Studies,
BA R111 International Relations and Language Studies (Including Foundation Year),
BA L212 Global Politics,
BA L213 Global Politics (including Placement Year),
BA L214 Global Politics (including Year Abroad)

Module description

This module focuses on a series of topics of international relations. It introduces students to analytical thinking about world politics, and its application to a number of substantive topics in current world affairs.

Module aims

The aim of this module is:

To provide students with the knowledge and skills to analyse substantive topics in current world affairs.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:

Understand key concepts used in analyzing topics in world affairs;

Apply strategic models, including basic game theoretic models, to topics in world affairs;

Apply conflict analytical models.

Module information

No additional information available.

Learning and teaching methods

The module will be delivered via:

2 hours per week.

Bibliography

Bueno de Mesquita, B. (2014b) Principles of international politics. 5th edition. Los Angeles: CQ Press. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1994623.
Chiba, D., Johnson, J.C. and Leeds, B.A. (2015) ‘Careful Commitments: Democratic States and Alliance Design’, The Journal of Politics, 77(4), pp. 968–982. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1086/682074.
Crenshaw, M. (1981) ‘The Causes of Terrorism’, Comparative Politics, 13(4). Available at: https://doi.org/10.2307/421717.
Asal, V., Brown, M. and Schulzke, M. (2015) ‘"Kill Them All—Old and Young, Girls and Women and Little Children”: An Examination of the Organizational Choice of Targeting Civilians’, Political Science Research and Methods, 3(3), pp. 589–607. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/psrm.2014.45.
Kydd, A.H. and Walter, B.F. (2006) ‘The Strategies of Terrorism’, International Security, 31(1), pp. 49–80. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1162/isec.2006.31.1.49.
Bakaki, Z. (2016) ‘Deconstructing Mediation: A Case Study of the Cod Wars’, Negotiation Journal, 32(1), pp. 63–78. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/nejo.12147.
Jacob Bercovitch (2009) Conflict Resolution in the 21st Century: Principles, Methods, and Approaches. Available at: https://search-ebscohost-com.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=309994.
Simon Fisher et al. (2020) Working with Conflict: Skills and Strategies for Action. Available at: https://search-ebscohost-com.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=2697853.
Chayes, A. and Chayes, A.H. (1993) ‘On compliance’, International Organization, 47(2), pp. 175–205. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0020818300027910.
Frieden, J.A., Lake, D.A. and Schultz, K.A. (2022d) World politics: interests, interactions, institutions. Fifth edition. New York: W.W. Norton and Company. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/1129625.
Frieden, J.A., Lake, D.A. and Schultz, K.A. (2022b) World politics: interests, interactions, institutions. Fifth edition. New York: W.W. Norton and Company. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/1129625.
Frieden, J.A., Lake, D.A. and Schultz, K.A. (2022c) World politics: interests, interactions, institutions. Fifth edition. New York: W.W. Norton and Company. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/1129625.
Bakaki, Z. and Bernauer, T. (2017) ‘Do global climate summits influence public awareness and policy preferences concerning climate change?’, Environmental Politics, 26(1), pp. 1–26. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/09644016.2016.1244964.
Bernauer, T. and Koubi, V. (2009) ‘Effects of political institutions on air quality’, Ecological Economics, 68(5), pp. 1355–1365. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2008.09.003.
Fagerberg, J., Srholec, M. and Knell, M. (2007) ‘The Competitiveness of Nations: Why Some Countries Prosper While Others Fall Behind’, World Development, 35(10), pp. 1595–1620. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2007.01.004.
Cai, R. et al. (2014) ‘International migration desires related to subjective well-being’, IZA Journal of Migration, 3(1). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/2193-9039-3-8.
Adamson, F.B. (2006) ‘Crossing Borders: International Migration and National Security’, International Security, 31(1), pp. 165–199. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1162/isec.2006.31.1.165.
Salehyan, I. and Gleditsch, K.S. (2006) ‘Refugees and the Spread of Civil War’, International Organization, 60(02). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0020818306060103.
Reuveny, R. (no date) ‘Climate Change-Induced Migration and Violent Conflict’, Political Geography, 26(6), pp. 656–673. Available at: https://www-sciencedirect-com.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/science/article/pii/S0962629807000601?via%3Dihub.

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam	Description	Coursework weighting
Coursework	Test 1	33.33%
Coursework	Test 2	33.33%
Coursework	Test 3	33.34%

Exam format definitions

Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Reassessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Module supervisor and teaching staff

Supervisor: Dr Zorzeta Bakaki, email: zbakak@essex.ac.uk.

Teaching staff: Dr Zorzeta Bakaki

Contact details: Module Supervisor: Dr Zorzeta Bakaki Module Administrator Nicole Hicks govquery@essex.ac.uk

Availability

Available to incoming Essex Abroad / Exchange students: Yes

Available to Outside Option: Yes

Available to Audit: No

External examiner

No external examiner information available for this module.

Resources

Teaching materials: Available via Moodle

Lecture recording: Of 730 hours, 10 (1.4%) hours available to students:
720 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).

Further information

Department website: Government

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The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.

Module Directory

GV113-4-SP-CO:Contemporary Topics in International Relations