Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL3261: Becoming an Actor in World Politics: International and Transnational Recognition

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

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:

  • State recognition in international law and politics
  • Secessionist movements and unrecognised/contested/de facto states
  • Recognition in social and political theory
  • Interstate recognition in IR: (mis)recognition or ‘disrespect’ as driver for state behaviour and cause of war
  • Interstate recognition in IR: mutual recognition as respect/status between states, case of rising powers
  • Recognition of governments: coups d'état, civil wars, decolonisation conflicts, foreign occupation
  • Transnational recognition of non-state actors: social movements, civil resistance movements, national liberation movements, rebel movements, parties to civil wars
  • (Mis)recognition in identity conflicts
  • Recognition in conflict resolution/peacebuilding: ‘thick recognition’ in transformation of intractable conflicts, reconciliation and just peace
  • Case studies (term 2) to be determined by class

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
44256

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities4422 x 2-hour seminars
Guided independent study88Reading for seminars
Guided independent study144Completion of coursework
Guided independent study24Preparation of case study presentation

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

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 assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Individual reading summary10 minutes1-7Oral

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.

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
80020

...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Essay 1403,000 words1-8Written
Case study presentation in pairs2020 minutes1-7Oral
Essay 2403,000 words1-8Written

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 assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Essay 1Essay 1 (3000 words)1-8August/September reassessment period
Case study presentation in pairs20-minute presentation1-7August/September reassessment period
Essay 2Essay 2 (3000 words)1-8August/September reassessment period