GV902-7-AU-CO:
International Relations: Theory and Analysis
2024/25
Government
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Thursday 03 October 2024
Friday 13 December 2024
15
23 April 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
MA L25012 International Relations,
MA L250EB International Relations,
MA L250EK International Relations,
MRESL25024 International Relations,
MSC L25012 International Relations,
MSC L250EB International Relations,
MSC L250EK International Relations,
MPOLL268 International Relations,
MPOLL269 International Relations (Including Placement Year),
MPOLL370 International Relations (Including Year Abroad),
MPOLL234 Politics and International Relations,
MPOLL235 Politics and International Relations (Including Placement Year),
MPOLL236 Politics and International Relations (Including Year Abroad)
The objective of the course is to provide students with an overview of different epistemological and theoretical perspectives commonly encountered in the discipline of international relations and to consider how these different approaches are used to explain historical and contemporary events in world politics. The course aims to provide a sound basis for studying international relations and world politics from different epistemological, theoretical, and methodological viewpoints.
Through the module, student will: (i) understand the origins, historical evolution, and current debates and challenges of the discipline of international relations, (ii) identity and explain different theories and paradigmatic perspectives commonly employed in international relations research, (iii) critically evaluate common theoretical approaches and critique contemporary disciplinary scholarship in international politics, (iv) apply different theoretical lenses to analyse historical and contemporary events in international politics.
The aims of this module are:
- To provide students with an overview of a wide and intellectually demanding range of IR literature and the ability to use this material to analyze world politics.
- To provide a basis for studying politics from different theoretical and methodological viewpoints.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Understand the origins, historical evolution, and current debates and challenges of the discipline of international relations.
- Identity and explain different theories and paradigmatic perspectives commonly employed in international relations research.
- Critically evaluate common theoretical approaches and critique contemporary disciplinary scholarship in international politics.
- Apply different theoretical lenses to analyse historical and contemporary events in international politics.
- Synthesise different arguments from international relations scholarship in order to evaluate the current state of knowledge on a topic within the field.
This course will help students to develop the following skills: (i) Communication, presentation and argumentation skills, (ii) team-work skills in joint presentations and small discussion groups, (iii) writing and research skills through essays, assignments, and presentations, (iv) improving their own learning and performance by responding to comments, including criticism, (v) information technology skills through using research tools, (vi) self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, (vii) development of qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment, requiring the exercise of initiative and personal responsibility.
The module will run over 10 weeks. There will be a two-hour class.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Curated reading list |
|
25% |
| Coursework |
Group data presentation |
|
25% |
| Coursework |
Exam |
|
50% |
| Exam |
Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 120 minutes during January
|
| Exam |
Reassessment Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 120 minutes during September (Reassessment Period)
|
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
Prof Reed Wood, email: reed.wood@essex.ac.uk.
Professor Reed Wood
Please contact govpgquery@essex.ac.uk
Yes
No
Yes
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
Government
* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.
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