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 ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
222780

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities2211 x 2 hours seminars
Guided Independent Study90General 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 Study15Reading, writing and consultation with peers and lecturer to propose research essay
Guided Independent Study153Reading, writing and consultation with peers and lecturer to undertake research essay
Guided Independent Study20Reading, 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