Module POL3156 for 2018/9
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
POL3156: Central Asian Politics
This module descriptor refers to the 2018/9 academic year.
Module Aims
Central Asia is a region which has received greater international attention since the emergence of the newly independent states after the end of the Soviet Union and the increased interest in the Afghanistan conflict after 2001. It is often misunderstood and is relatively inaccessible to those without a background in the region. This module will introduce you to Central Asia politics through an inter-disciplinary study of its politics and international relations. It explores the historical emergence of Central Asia and the principal schools of thought with respect to understanding its politics. The second half considers issues of contemporary Central Asian politics through issues, case studies and key events. The module draws on film and non-academic literature as well as introducing you to the key academic texts in the study of Central Asian politics
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. critically analyse the modern political history and historiographies of Central Asia. 2. critically analyse and deploy theories and discourses of Central Asian politics. 3. critically analyse and evaluate concepts and contexts of Central Asian politics 4. critically analyse and evaluate themes and cases of Central Asian politics |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 5. critically analyse both empirical and theoretical material. 6. deploy theoretical arguments and apply them to empirical case studies 7. engage in critique. |
| Personal and Key Skills | 8. comprehend, analyse and evaluate academic texts. 9. comprehend, analyse and evaluate primary sources, both verbal and visual. 10. construct reasoned argument. 11. communicate effectively through well-structured speech and writing. 12. work independently and with peers to achieve goals. |
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
1-2. Introducing and imagining Central Asia: literature, travelogue and film.
3-6. History and historiography: before, during and after the Soviet Union / the making of modern Afghanistan.
7-10. Theories and approaches: transition / geopolitics / virtual politics / state formation.
11-20. Issues and cases: Identity, nationhood and modern clan politics / Gender and bride-kidnapping / Livelihoods and labour migration / Religion and political Islam / Sovereignty and regional cooperation / Water politics and the Aral Sea crisis / Intervention in Afghanistan since 911 / Peacebuilding in Tajikistan / Uzbekistan and the Andijon Uprising / Kyrgyzstan and the Tulip Revolution
Seminars:
Subject knowledge will be communicated in short talks, and developed through private study, reading review exercises, seminar discussions, presentations and assignments. Talks will introduce intellectual and historical contexts and draw on textual sources and cinematic representations as well as case studies as examples.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | 256 | 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 activity | 44 | 22 x 2 hour seminars. |
| Guided Independent study | 256 | A variety of private study tasks directed by module leader. This includes class preparation (@5 hours per week), presentation preparation (@20 hours), essay researching, drafting and writing (@2 x 30 hours), book review researching, drafting and writing (@ 20 hours), and various extra-curricular activities which will differ from year to year including special seminars and film showings. |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
Moodle
Other Learning Resources
Audio-Video: Central Asian cinema; Fiction and travel writing
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar worksheets | 20 two-page worksheets | 1-5, 7-9, 11-12 | Oral |
| Essay plan | 1 page of A4 | 6, 10 | Oral |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 75 | 0 | 25 |
...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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book/Film review | 15 | 1,000 words | 1, 7, 9-12 | Written feedback |
| Group Presentation | 25 | In class: 20 minutes plus handout of a maximum of 500 words | 3-4, 6-8, 10-12 | Written feedback |
| Research essay 1 | 30 | 2,000 words | 2, 5-12 | Written feedback |
| Research essay 2 | 30 | 2,000 words | 3-4, 5-12 | Written feedback |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Book/Film review | Book/Film review (1,000 words) | 1, 7, 9-12 | August/September assessment period |
| Group Presentation | 1,500 word essay on the presentation question | 3-4, 6-8, 10-12 | August/September assessment period |
| Research essay 1 | Essay (2,000 words) | 2, 5-12 | August/September assessment period |
| Research essay 2 | Essay (2,000 words) | 3-4, 5-12 | August/September assessment period |
Indicative Reading List
This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.
Cummings, Understanding Central Asia
Jones-Luong, The Transformation of Central Asia
Lewis, The Temptations of Tyranny in Central Asia
Khalid, Islam After Communism
Sahadeo and Zanca, Everyday Life in Central Asia
