Postgraduate Module Descriptor

POLM084: Conflict, Security and Development in World Politics

This module descriptor refers to the 2024/5 academic year.

Module Aims

By the end of this module you will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the processes by which conflict, security and development have come to occupy, by the 21st century, a single field of international policy-practice directed towards postcolonial and postconflict states. Furthermore, you will analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of these policies and practices in specific post-Cold war cases. Students will exhibit this knowledge in the form of extended essays and group presentations.

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 Skills	1. Demonstrate substantive knowledge of the evolution of the concepts of conflict, security and development, their inter-relationships, the context in which they have developed and the major critical positions adopted towards them; 2. Analyse specific historical and contemporary cases of global governance and international intervention in the name of conflict, security and development;
Discipline-Specific Skills	3. Identify and discuss the key theoretical debates in International Relations regarding the analysis and evaluation of conflict, security and development as fields of global governance in states subject to international intervention; 4. Exercise informed judgement concerning the practical implications of these debates 5. Demonstrate the ability to locate arguments within an historical context 6. Exhibit an understanding of the relationship between context and theory;
Personal and Key Skills	7. Conduct independent research 8. Exercise critical judgment in the form of cogent and persuasive writing 9. Make rigorous and persuasive arguments in the form of a well-designed presentation

How this Module is Assessed

In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.

Formative Assessment

A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
One essay plan	500 words	1, 2, 7	Written

Summative Assessment

A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
85	0	15

...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Essay	85	5000 words	1-8	Written
Presentation	15	20 Minutes	2,4,9	Written/oral
	0
	0
	0
	0

Re-assessment

Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Essay	5000 word essay	1-8	August/September re-assessment period.
Presentation	20 minutes	2, 4, 9	Beginning of Term 2

Re-assessment notes

Re-arranged presentations will be agreed with the Module Convenor