Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL2076: Rising Powers, Peace and Conflict

This module descriptor refers to the 2022/3 academic year.

Module Aims

This module aims to familiarise you with an emerging debate in international relations about the most appropriate and effective responses to intrastate armed conflicts. You will further develop your understanding of the dominant ‘Western’ liberal peace-building model, before going on to engage with alternatives to this model, both in relation to thematic issues, such as democratisation, economic liberalisation, and the use of force, and in relation to specific outbreaks of conflict around the world. The module also aims to provide insight into the divergent policies of major non-Western powers on questions of international peace and security, and the impact of these policies on international institutions, such as the UN. The module will also provide an opportunity to develop your skills in analysing conflicts and policy responses, through in-depth studies of contemporary conflicts.

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 Skills	1. understand contemporary debates around international responses to armed conflict; 2. critically evaluate a range of policies towards specific conflicts; 3. understand competing theoretical frameworks for assessing conflict and responses to conflict;
Discipline-Specific Skills	4. critically analyse both empirical and theoretical material; 5. deploy theoretical arguments and apply them to empirical case studies;
Personal and Key Skills	6. collect, analyse and evaluate relevant secondary and primary sources; 7. work independently and with peers; and 8. communicate effectively through well-structured speech and writing.

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:

1. The ‘liberal peace’ and its discontents: an examination of the main normative and institutional elements in the dominant international framework for addressing armed conflict; the changing global order and its impact on the existing international system of security and conflict management.

2. Country-specific approaches to international security, conflict management and development: the responses of major non-Western powers, such as Brazil, Russia, India and China, towards armed conflict.

3. Global institutions, norms and regimes: how shifts in the international system are impacting on global responses to conflict in the UN and other international institutions.

Contemporary case-studies will be examined in detail throughout the course to illustrate particular areas of international contestation/cooperation.

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
26.5	123.5

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

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities	16.5	11 x 1.5 hour lectures
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities	10	10 x 1 hour seminar
Guided Independent Study	20	Preparing for seminars: reading and research
Guided Independent Study	103.5	Completing assessment tasks: reading, research and writing

Online Resources

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

ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/