Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL2105: Total War, Total Peace

This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.

Module Aims

The module aims to explore the different levels of violence and socio-economic mobilisation employed by societies during war. It differs from traditional approaches by being global in approach and in exploring warfare and societies from the much deeper past. Another key aim is that knowledge of the course material will be developed with a focus on your research, participation, and engagement, through simulations and interactive learning activities rather than through passive consumption of lectures. Thus, you will be encouraged to learn empathically by coming to appreciate the contingencies and limitations faced by practitioners when engaging in strategic decision-making.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. Understand distinctions between forms of warfare, levels of violence, and strategic context over the long term.
2. Demonstrate good knowledge of the disparities in the levels of violence and socio-economic mobilisation achieved by various belligerents in particular conflicts.
Discipline-Specific Skills3. Understand the links between politics, society, economics, and warfare.
4. Display good awareness of a range of conceptual frameworks to understand the complex and changing interaction between war and societies.
Personal and Key Skills5. Demonstrate empathic appreciation of policy decisions.
6. Demonstrate awareness of contingency in decision-making processes.
7. Study independently and manage time and assessment deadlines effectively.
8. Communicate effectively in speech and writing.
9. Demonstrate critical and analytical skills through module assessments.
10. Demonstrate proficiency in the use of the internet, online journal databases and other IT resources for the purposes of tutorial and assessment preparation.
11. Demonstrate effective applied writing.