Module POC2012 for 2019/0
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
POC2012: The Ethics and Politics of Humanitarian Intervention
This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.
Please note that this module is only delivered on the Penryn Campus.
Module Aims
The aim of this module is to introduce you to a range of theoretical and practical issues in the study of humanitarian intervention and to enable students to critically analyse contemporary theory, policy and practice. The module begins by examining the key principles and international norms underlying humanitarian action and introduces the dominant theoretical positions (pluralism and solidarism) commonly used to assess the legality and legitimacy of humanitarian intervention. The wider economic and post-colonial context will then be explored with the aim of encouraging a critical reflection on the dominant perspectives, for example by asking what they assume, occlude and the political effects of this. The module then moves on to look at the change in the nature of conflict, the idea of ‘new wars’ and ‘Complex Political Emergencies’ the role of NGOs and the broader principles of humanitarianism, aid and development. Finally the representation of humanitarian emergencies in the news media and other cultural production is considered with the aim of encouraging you to critically analyse these representations.
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. Discuss, analyse and critically evaluate competing theoretical perspectives in the study of humanitarian intervention in world politics; 2. Demonstrate familiarity with the empirical issues addressed; 3. Apply theoretical perspectives in order to analyse empirical issues in humanitarian intervention and be aware of the limitations and implications of each perspective; |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 4. Grasp and apply a variety of theories found in Politics and International Studies in order to assess and/or critique each theory in its application to specific practices; 5. Locate these theories and the debates/questions which surround them in the larger context of the study of Politics, for example contending conceptualisations of sovereignty and rival framings of world politics; 6. Identify and engage with an array of case study material, involving web based data, academic journals, news sources and research monographs, in order to develop in-depth knowledge of particular issues; |
| Personal and Key Skills | 7. Engage with challenging literature and articulate complex ideas in written and oral form; 8. Design and deliver presentations to peers, communicate effectively in speech and writing. 9. Use ICT for both research and presentation purposes; 10. Facilitate group discussions and debate, to explain and discuss their own ideas and to select material suitable for inclusion in discussion (through student-led seminar discussions). |
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
Traditional approaches: pluralism and solidarism, legality, legitimacy and sovereignty
Effectiveness of military intervention: Case Studies
Moral arguments and the ‘Responsibility to Protect’
Economic Context: Rethinking sovereignty, responsibility and intervention
Postcolonial Context: Rethinking humanitarian intervention
From wars to complex political emergencies
The politics of aid and humanitarianism
News media and intervention
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | 132 | 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 | 11 | Lectures |
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 10 | Seminars including group presentations and discussion |
| Independent Guided Study | 44 | Reading and preparing for seminars (around 4 hours per seminar) |
| Independent Guided Study | 85 | Researching and writing assessment portfolio |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
www.un.org (United Nations central site)
www.unhcr.ch (United Nations High Commission for Refugees)
www.amnesty.org (Amnesty International)
www.forcedmigration.org (Refugee Studies Centre, Oxford University)
www.iom.ch (International Organisation for Migration)
www.usip.org (United Sates Institute of Peace)
www.odi.org.uk (Overseas Development Institute, UK)
http://www.responsibilitytoprotect.org/ (International Coalition for the Responsibility to Protect)
Other Learning Resources
Noam Chomsky on Humanitarian Intervention http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77U1tlAyWVA
Black Gold (2006) Documentary (directed by Francis and Francis)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 500-1000 words | 1-7, 9 | Written and verbal |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
...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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | 100 | 3,500 words comprising 4 short essays marked individually before generating an overall average which is the mark awarded for the assessment | 1-7, 9 | Written (also continuous informal during seminars) |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | Portfolio | 1-7, 9 | August/September re-assessment period, |
Re-assessment notes
Where you have been referred/ deferred for the portfolio you will submit a portfolio (containing 3 different pieces) in the August/September re-assessment period. . This will constitute 100% of the module.
