Module POLM217 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Postgraduate Module Descriptor
POLM217: Conflict, Security and Development in Eurasia
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
Whilst the precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover all or some of the following topics:
- When and where is Eurasia? Historical and geographical contexts: Soviet, post-Soviet, and other contexts of modernization and statebuilding
- How is power and wealth gained, held and intertwined? Political economy: market, state, liberalisation, authoritarianism, clientelism, kleptocracy
- How are people divided by identity which categories are privileged? Identity politics: nationalism, ethnic politics, sub-ethnic politics and other claims on identity
- How do you do case study research? Research puzzles and questions, research design and selecting cases, sources and methods, analysis and evaluation
- What are the cross-cutting issues driving CSD in Eurasia? Issues (at least three of the following will be covered): Gender, Environment, Religion, Security and the International
- How does CSD play out in practice? Cases (at least four of the following will be covered): Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Xinjiang
This syllabus is illustrative and cannot be guaranteed year-on-year.
Learning and Teaching
This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 278 | 0 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 22 | 11 x 2 hours seminars |
| Guided Independent Study | 90 | General reading and preparation (6-8 hours per seminar); Familiarisation with primary sources (reading reports and viewing evidence sessions, 5-10 hours); Email and visits to lecturer in office hours (2-3 hours) |
| Guided Independent Study | 15 | Reading, writing and consultation with peers and lecturer to propose research essay |
| Guided Independent Study | 153 | Reading, writing and consultation with peers and lecturer to undertake research essay |
| Guided Independent Study | 20 | Reading, writing and consultation with peers and lecturer to prepare presentation |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
Other Learning Resources
- Central Asian Survey
- Central Asian Affairs
- Europe-Asia Studies
- Asian Affairs
- Radio Free Europe: https://www.rferl.org/
- Eurasianet: http://www.eurasianet.org/
- The Diplomat http://thediplomat.com/regions/central-asia
- The Conway Bulletinhttp://0-theconwaybulletin.com.lib.exeter.ac.uk/uni-access/level-2/
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Draft presentation notes | 500 words | 1-2, 4, 6-7 | Oral, in office of lecturer, prior to the seminar |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 80 | 0 | 20 |
...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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral presentation | 20 | 10-minute presentation, Q&A, leading a small group | 1-2, 4, 6-7 | Written by email, following seminar |
| Research essay proposal | 10 | 850 words | 1-3, 5-7 | Written feedback via BART system |
| Research essay | 70 | 6,000 words | 1-7 | Written feedback via BART system |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral presentation | Private 10-minute presentation and Q&A with lecturer | 1-2, 4, 6-7 | Term 2 or 3 |
| Research essay proposal | Research essay proposal (850 words) | 1-3, 5-7 | August\September reassessment period |
| Research essay | Research essay (6,000 words) | 1-7 | August\September reassessment period |
Re-assessment notes
Students with ILPs excusing them from oral presentations should discuss this with lecturer. They will be required to present in private. Alternate assessments without oral presentation will not assess ILO 7.
