Module POL3282 for 2022/3
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
POL3282: World Orders: Past, Present, and Future
This module descriptor refers to the 2022/3 academic year.
Module Aims
This module aims to provide students with the analytical tools to critically examine the past, present and future of world order(s). The module will be divided into three parts. The first part addresses the importance of thinking in terms of grand theories and grand narratives about international relations. We will furthermore explore a number of key concepts such as world order, power, and time.
In the second part we will address multiple perspectives on the histories and present characteristics of world orders. We will reflect on how different perspectives are profoundly shaped, among others, by distinct theoretical assumptions about what constitutes order and progress, who are the main actors and social forces in the international system, what constitute key forms of power, and what are the main sources of international change and stability.
In the third part of the module we will interrogate, in critical as well as imaginative ways, the future. We will start by reflecting on how to think about ‘the future’, also through an engagement with ideas of utopia/dystopia and methodologies like scenario planning. Students will carry out case studies and present their visions and scenarios of future world orders to the rest of the class.
This is a highly theoretical module. However, we will not simply approach theory for theory’s sake, but always relate it to the empirical reality around us. The purpose is to unpack how different conceptual and normative assumptions lead to distinct interpretations of world order and what our own place and agency within it is. The starting point is that if we are to “make the world a better place”, as so many aspire to do, we first need to make sense of what this very world we inhabit and are constituted by looks like.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
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Module-Specific Skills | 1. Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of key concepts and different perspectives on world order 2. Critically assess and evaluate distinct histories and theories of world order 3. Apply the acquired conceptual tools and theoretical frameworks to interpret and explain world ordering dynamics and changes taking place in the international system |
Discipline-Specific Skills | 4. Critically reflect on the advantages and disadvantages of thinking in systemic ways about international relations and world politics 5. Analyse and place contemporary issues in the context of larger theoretical frameworks and historical trends 6. Evaluate and problematise conventional narratives and assumptions about international relations |
Personal and Key Skills | 7. Communicate effectively by articulating a clear point of view whether in written format, group presentations, or seminar discussions 8. Work independently and as part of a team 9. Understand, summarise, and evaluate complex arguments and events |
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
Whilst the precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover all or some of the following topics:
Part I: Key Concepts
- Grand Theories and Narratives
- World Order
- Power
- Time and Progress
Part II: World Orders: Past and Present
- Pre-Modern Orders
- Rise of ‘the West’ and the Making of the Modern World
- Westphalian States-System
- Liberal World Order
- Capitalist World System
- Globalisation and Neo-Medievalism
- Empire, Colonialism, and Race
- Regions and Civilizations
Pat III: World Orders: Future
- Thinking about the Future
- Utopias and Dystopias
- Case Studies: Scenarios of Future World Orders
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 |
---|---|---|
44 | 256 | 0 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
---|---|---|
Schedule Learning and Teaching Activity | 44 | 22 x 2 hour seminars |
Guided Independent Study | 256 | Weekly preparation for class, preparing for group presentation, essay research drafting and writing. |
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 assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
---|---|---|---|
Essay Plan | 500 words | 1-9 | Written and 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 |
---|---|---|
70 | 0 | 30 |
...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 1 | 30 | 2,000 words | 1, 4, 6-9 | Written |
Essay 2 | 40 | 3,000 words | 1-3, 4-5, 7-9 | Written |
Group Presentation | 30 | 20 min presentation (equivalent to 2,000 words) | 1,3, 4-5, 6-7 | Written and Oral |
0 | ||||
0 | ||||
0 | ||||
0 |
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 1 | 2,000 words | 1, 4, 6-9 | August/September re-assessment period |
Essay 2 | 3,000 words | 1-3, 4, 5, 7-9 | August/September re-assessment period |
Group Presentation | Essay 2,000 words | 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 | August/September re-assessment period |