Module POL3214 for 2020/1
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
POL3214: Disrupting Western Hegemony: Insurgency and Counterinsurgency Post-WWII
This module descriptor refers to the 2020/1 academic year.
Module Aims
This module will provide you with:
- A comprehensive understanding of the conceptual issues associated with the definition and study of low-intensity conflict, and particularly, of insurgency and counter-insurgency.
- An awareness of the competing theories and practices of low-intensity conflict.
- An understanding of the kinds of predicaments, including strategic, operational and ethical dilemmas, produced by low-intensity conflict activities.
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the nature of low-intensity conflict and its evolving features. 2. Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the developing characteristics of the Western way of counter-insurgency warfare and its effect on those challenging Western hegemony. 3. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the growing asymmetric challenges confronted by Western states and the way that these have reacted to such challenges from the strategic, operational, ethical and organizational perspectives. |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 4. Display a critical understanding of the evolution of sub-conventional military operations, and their role in contemporary conflict; 5. Exercise informed judgement about change and continuity of sub-conventional conflicts; |
| Personal and Key Skills | 6. Study independently and manage time and assessment deadlines effectively. 7. Communicate effectively in speech and writing. 8. Demonstrate critical and analytical skills through tutorial discussions and module assessments. 9. Demonstrate proficiency in the use of the internet, online journal databases and other IT resources for the purposes of tutorial and assessment preparation. |
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover for example the following topics: Definitions of irregular warfare, insurgency and terrorism; Classic theories of insurgency/guerrilla war; Classic theories of counterinsurgency; Historical and contemporary case studies of insurgency/counterinsurgency campaigns.
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 | 128 | 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 | 22 | 11 x 2-hour seminars |
| Guided Independent Study | 50 | Private study reading and preparing for seminars |
| Guided Independent Study | 78 | Preparation for assessments including researching and collating relevant sources; planning the structure and argument; writing up the essay and presentation brief; preparing and rehearsing presentation. |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
- Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy: https://centreforfeministforeignpolicy.org/
- Complex Terrain Laboratory: http://www.terraplexic.org/
- Consortium on Gender, Security & Human Rights: https://genderandsecurity.org/
- Stockholm International Peace Research Institute: http://www.sipri.org/
- Combating Terrorism Centre (Westpoint): http://ctc.usma.edu/sentinel/
- UK Defence Academy: http://www.da.mod.uk/podcasts
- ‘MERLIN’ US National Defence University: http://merln.ndu.edu/
- US Institute of Peace: http://www.usip.org/
- Institute for War and Peace Reporting: http://www.iwpr.org
- US Army War College: http://www.carlisle.army.mil/
- International Studies Association web resources: http://www.isanet.org/links/
- US Naval Postgraduate School: http://www.nps.edu/
- RAND Corps: http://www.rand.org/
- Center for Strategic and International Studies: http://csis.org/
- Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies: http://www.rusi.org
- Chatham House (Royal Institute for International Affairs): http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk
- International Institute for Strategic Studies: http://www.iiss.org
- Brookings Institute: http://www.brookings.edu/
- Bitter Lemons: http://www.bitterlemons.org/
- Canadian Institute of Strategic Studies: http://www.ciss.ca/
- Centre for Defence Information: http://www.cdi.org/
- CIA Factbook: http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/
- Human Rights Watch http://www.hrw.org/
- International Crisis Group: http://www.icg.org/home/index.cfm
- Peace Pledge Union: https://www.ppu.org.uk/
- Rand Corporation: http://www.rand.org/
- The Costs of War Project: https://watson.brown.edu/costsofwar/
Other Learning Resources
Other materials and resources will be identified by the module convener in lectures and via ELE and by tutors in tutorials.
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 Plan | 500 words | 1-9 | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 79 | 0 | 21 |
...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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feedback Sheet (see pp. 7-8 below). | ||||
| Presentation Brief | 29 | 1,000 word brief | 1-9 | Written comments |
| Essay | 71 | 2,500 word essay | 1-9 | Written comments |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation Brief | 1,000 word brief | 1-9 | August/September re-assessment period |
| Essay | 2,500 word essay | 1-9 | August/September re-assessment period |
