Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL1045: International Politics of the Global South

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Aims

1) To introduce students to the historical construction and evolution of the Global South in international politics

2) To critically discuss theories of International Relations (IR) that pay particular attention to the Global South as well as non-Western contributions to IR

3) To identify key features of foreign policy, security and regionalism in the Global South, as well as the Global South’s impact on the global governance

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. Demonstrate a contextualised understanding of the historical evolution of the Global South in international politics as well as the key contemporary features of foreign policy, security, regionalism and global governance in/from these areas;
2. Demonstrate the capacity to critically situate and engage with IR theories that deal with the Global South, originating from both the Global South itself and the Western mainstream/core of the discipline;
Discipline-Specific Skills3. Find, use and analyse secondary and primary data relevant to specific issues in politics and IR;
4. Place contemporary political issues in larger contexts;
5. Deploy critical arguments in analysing political issues and evaluating sources;
Personal and Key Skills6. Work independently and in a group, including the presentation of material for group discussion;
7. Demonstrate analytical skills and the ability to digest, select and organise material;
8. Demonstrate writing skills including the ability to produce well organised and coherent essays to a deadline, practice in articulating and defending positions on tutorial topics.

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.

Basic reading:

  • Acharya, A. (2014) Rethinking Power, Institutions and Ideas in World Politics: Whose IR? (Oxon/New York: Routledge).
  • Acharya, A. and B. Buzan (eds.) (2010) Non-Western International Relations Theory: Perspectives On and Beyond Asia (Oxon/New York: Routledge).
  • Alejandro, A. (2018) Western Dominance in International Relations? The Internationalisation of IR in Brazil and India (Oxon/New York: Routledge).
  • Ayoob, M. (1995) The Third World Security Predicament: State Making, Regional Conflict, and the International System (London: Lynne Rienner).
  • Bergamaschi, I., P. Moore and A.B. Tickner (2017) South-South Cooperation Beyond The Myths: Rising Donors, New Aid Practices? (New York: Palgrave Macmillan).
  • Betts, A. (ed.) (2011) Global Migration Governance (Oxford: Oxford University Press).
  • Braveboy-Wagner, J.A. (ed.) (2003) The Foreign Policies of the Global South: Rethinking Conceptual Frameworks (Boulder/London: Lynne Rienner).
  • Braveboy-Wagner, J.A. (ed.) (2009) Institutions of the Global South (Oxon/New York: Routledge).
  • Braveboy-Wagner, J.A. (ed.) (2016) Diplomatic Strategies of Nations in the Global South: The Search for Leadership (New York: Palgrave Macmillan).
  • Burnell, P., L. Rakner and V. Randall (eds.) (2017) Politics in the Developing World (5th ed.) (Oxford: Oxford University Press).
  • Chan, S. (2017) Plural International Relations in a Divided World (Cambridge: Polity Press).
  • Chimni, B.S. and S. Mallavarapu (2012) International Relations: Perspectives for the Global South (New Delhi: Pearson).
  • Cox, R.W. (ed.) (1997) The New Realism: Perspectives on Multilateralism and World Order (Tokyo/Hampshire: United Nations University Press/Macmillan).
  • Fanta, E., T.M. Shaw and V.T. Tang (eds.) (2013) Comparative Regionalisms for Development in the 21st Century: Insights from the Global South (Oxon/New York: Routledge).
  • McMahon, R.J. (ed.) (2013) The Cold War in the Third World (Oxford: Oxford University Press).
  • Nagar, D. and C. Mutasa (eds.) (2018) Africa and the World: Bilateral and Multilateral International Diplomacy (New York: Palgrave Macmillan).
  • Peters, I. and W. Wemheuer-Vogelaar (eds.) (2016) Globalizing International Relations: Scholarship Amidst Divides and Diversity (New York: Palgrave Macmillan).
  • Sabaratnam, M. (2017) Decolonising Intervention: International Statebuilding in Mozambique (London: Rowman & Littlefield).
  • Seth, S. (ed.) (2013) Postcolonial Theory and International Relations: A Critical Introduction (Oxon/New York: Routledge).
  • Tickner, A.B. and Ole Wæver (eds.) (2009) International Relations Scholarship around the World: Worlding Beyond the West (Oxon/New York: Routledge).
  • Tickner, A.B. and K. Smith (eds.) (2020) International Relations from the Global South: Worlds of Difference (Oxon/New York: Routledge).
  • Warner, J. and T.M. Shaw (eds.) (2018) African Foreign Policies in International Institutions (New York: Palgrave Macmillan).
  • Wright, S. (ed.) (1999) African Foreign Policies (Boulder: Westview Press).