Module POL3260 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
POL3260: Russian Foreign Policy
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
Module Aims
The module aims to provide you with a good understanding of the latest trends in Russian foreign policy thinking, in decision-making processes in Russian government, and recent developments in Russia’s involvement in different regions of the world. You will become familiar with the latest research and analysis of Russian foreign policy, and will be able to use your knowledge to engage in an informed debate among different points of view on Russian foreign policy. Your assessment for this module will encourage analytical thinking and help develop skills in report-writing for a non-academic audience.
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. Demonstrate in-depth understanding of the drivers and variables of Russian foreign policy behaviour 2. Explain the significance of Russian foreign policy for other international actors, including the UK. |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 3. Demonstrate understanding of the role of Russia within wider shifts and trends in international affairs 4. Analyse different patterns of foreign policy behaviour and trends in international politics through evidence-based research. 5. Explain different worldviews and theories of international relations from your own. |
| Personal and Key Skills | 6. Engage in respectful conversation with others with different viewpoints 7. Present your own views on a topic with support from arguments and evidence 8. Study independently and manage time and assessment deadlines effectively. 9. Communicate effectively in speech and writing, including to a non-academic audience. 10. Demonstrate critical and analytical skills through tutorial discussions and module assessments. 11. Demonstrate proficiency in selecting credible media sources to inform analysis and for tutorial and assessment preparation. 12. Demonstrate effective applied 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Report outline | 500 words | 1-11 | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 50 | 2,000 words | 1-12 | Written |
| Analytical report | 50 | 2,000 words | 1-12 | Written |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay (2,000 words) | 1-12 | August/September reassessment period |
| Analytical report | Analytical report (2,000 words) | 1-12 | August/September reassessment 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.
Allison, R. (2013a), Russia, the West, and Military Intervention, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
Lo, B. (2015), Russia and the New World Disorder, London: Royal Institute of International Affairs.
Mankoff, J. (2011), Russian Foreign Policy: The Return of Great Power Politics, Plymouth: Rowman & Littlefield.
Stronski, P. and R. Sokolsky, ‘The Return of Global Russia: An Analytical Framework’, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, December 2017.
Sakwa, R. (2017) Russia Against the Rest: The Post-Cold War Crisis of World Order, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
