Course syllabus spring 2024
Course syllabus spring 2024
Title
Conflicts and development in Global Politics
Swedish title
Conflicts and development in Global Politics
Course code
IR150L
Credits
30 credits
Grading scale
UA / Excellent (A), Very Good (B), Good (C), Satisfactory (D), Pass (E) or Fail (U)
Language of instruction
English
Decision-making body
Faculty of Culture and Society
Syllabus approval date
2023-10-11
Syllabus valid from
2024-01-15
Entry requirements
at least 20 credits from International Relations I, or in some other relevant field in the social sciences.
Level
Basic level
No main field.
Progression level
G1F
Progression level in relation to degree requirements
The course is not part of a main field of study.
Course contents
- Module 1: Understanding/Explaining International Conflicts (10 hp)
- Module 2: Structures and Agency in Global Political Economy (10 hp)
- Module 3: Project (10 hp)
The first module, Understanding/Explaining International Conflicts, provides a deepened study of contemporary theorizing on global politics with a particular focus on global and/or regional conflict. Issues include war, terrorism, religion, and non-Western approaches to International Relations. The second module, Structures and Agency in Global Political Economy, provides a deepened study of contemporary theorizing on global political economy with a particular focus on structures and agencies. The third module, the Project, is intended to be a self-study and group work module with tutor-led seminars on project work presentations. Students are also required to produce an individual research report on a particular actor relevant to global politics. The module lets the student practice his/her ability to relate theorizing with good practices of research, including competing philosophies of social science and methodological approaches.
Learning outcomes
After completing module 1 (Understanding/Explaining International Conflicts) the student shall be able to:
(1) Critically discuss, explain and analyse distinct theories of global conflict in terms of actors, issues, and levels of analysis.
(2) Argue for different scientific conceptualisations, explanations and interpretations of conflicts in global politics.
After completing module 2 (Structures and Agencies in Global Political Economy), the student shall be able to:
(3) Critically discuss, explain and analyse distinct theories of global political economy in terms of actors, issues, and levels of analysis.
(4) Argue for different scientific conceptualisations, explanations and interpretations of global political economy.
After completing module 3 (Project), the student shall be able to:
(5) Identify and argue for the choice of a relevant actor in global politics.
(6) Describe and critically analyse this actor in relation to a key problem, area or process in global politics related to module 1 and/or 2, and make a project presentation.
(7) Critically discuss and evaluate competing philosophies of social science and methodological approaches.
Learning activities
Teaching takes place in lectures, seminars, and project work in groups. In addition to their attendance students are expected to spend substantial time studying the course literature and in preparation of work for assessment.
Assessment
The student’s performance in module 1 (Understanding/Explaining International Conflicts) is assessed as follows:
Intended Learning Outcomes 1 and 2 are assessed through an individual course paper and an individual oral exam.
The student’s performance in module 2 (Structures and Agency in Global Political Economy) is assessed as follows:
Intended Learning Outcomes 1 and 2 are assessed through an individual course paper and an individual oral exam.
The student’s performance in module 3 (Project) is assessed as follows:
Intended learning outcome 3 is assessed through a portfolio including an individual written assignment and group project presentations (such as paper, poster, oral presentation, etc.).
Course literature
Understanding/Explaining International Conflicts (10 hp)
- Angstrom, Jan, and J.J. Widen (2015) Contemporary Military Theory: The Dynamics of War (Abingdon: Routledge).
- Lebow, Richard Ned (2010), Why Nations Fight. Past and Future Motives for War (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press)
- Wight, Colin (2015) Rethinking Terrorism: Terrorism, Violence and the State (London: Palgrave).
Selected articles and other material (c. 250-350 pages).
Structures and Agency in Global Political Economy (10 hp)
- Broome, André (2014) Issues and Actors in the Global Political Economy. (Basingstoke: Palgrave).
- Kingsbury, Damien et al. (eds.) (2016) International Development; Issues and Challenges. 3rd edition (Basingstoke: Palgrave).
- O’Brien, Robert, and Marc Williams (2016) Global Political Economy: Evolution and Dynamics. 5th edition (London: Palgrave).
Selected articles and other material (c. 250 pages).
Project (10 hp)
- Roselle, Laura, Sharon Spray and Joel T. Shelton (2020) Research and Writing in International Relations (3rd edition) (London: Routledge).
Articles and other material (c. 500-1000 pages), selected in consultation with teacher.
Course evaluation
Malmö University provides students who participate in, or who have completed a course, with the opportunity to express their opinions and describe their experiences of the course by completing a course evaluation administered by the University. The University will compile and summarise the results of course evaluations. The University will also inform participants of the results and any decisions relating to measures taken in response to the course evaluations. The results will be made available to the students (HF 1:14).
Interim rules
If a course is no longer offered, or has undergone significant changes, the students must be offered two opportunities for re-examination based on the syllabus that applied at the time of registration, for a period of one year after the changes have been implemented.
Additional information
If a student has a decision on pedagogical support, the teacher has the right to offer the student an adjusted or alternative form of examination.
The language of instruction and examination is English.
The syllabus is a translation of a Swedish source text.