GV113-4-SP-CO:
Contemporary Topics in International Relations
2024/25
Government
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
Monday 13 January 2025
Friday 21 March 2025
15
25 March 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
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 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)
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.
The aim of this module is:
- To provide students with the knowledge and skills to analyse substantive topics in current world affairs.
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.
No additional information available.
The module will be delivered via:
- Owen, John M. (1994-23) 'How Liberalism Produces Democratic Peace', in International Security. vol. 19 (2) , pp.87-
- Kydd, Andrew H.; Walter, Barbara F. (2006) 'Strategies of Terrorism', in International Security. vol. 31 (1) , pp.49-79
- Frieden, Jeffry A.; Lake, David A.; Schultz, Kenneth A. (©2019) World politics: interests, interactions, institutions, New York: W.W. Norton and Company.
- Frieden, Jeffry A.; Lake, David A.; Schultz, Kenneth A. (2019) World politics: interests, interactions, institutions, New York: W.W. Norton and Company.
- Putnam, Robert D. (1988) 'Diplomacy and domestic politics: The Logic of Two-level Games', in International Organization. vol. 42 (3) , pp.427-460
- Reiter, Dan. (2003) 'Exploring the Bargaining Model of War', in Perspectives on Politics. vol. 1 (1) , pp.27-43
- Mearsheimer, John J. (2014) 'Why the Ukraine Crisis Is the West's Fault: The Liberal Delusions That Provoked Putin', in Foreign Affairs. vol. 93 (5) , pp.77-89
- Milner, Helen. (1992) 'International Theories of Cooperation Among Nations: Strengths and Weaknesses', in World Politics. vol. 44 (3) , pp.466-496
- Garrett, Laurie. (2005) 'The Next Pandemic?', in Foreign Affairs. vol. 84 (4) , pp.3-
- Snyder, Jack. (2004-11) 'One World, Rival Theories', in Foreign Policy. (145) , pp.52-
- Di Salvatore, Jessica; Ruggeri, Andrea. (2017-09-26) 'Effectiveness of Peacekeeping Operations', in Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Politics: Oxford University Press.
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 |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Test 2 |
|
33.33% |
| Coursework |
Test 3 |
|
33.34% |
| Coursework |
Test 1 |
|
33.33% |
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
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Ireen Litvak-Zur, email: i.litvak-zur@essex.ac.uk.
Mrs Ireen Litvak-Zur
Module Supervisor: Mrs Ireen Litvak-Zur - i.litvak-zur@essex.ac.uk / Module Administrator - govquery@essex.ac.uk
Yes
Yes
No
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
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).
Government
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