| Unit name | Theories of International Relations |
|---|---|
| Unit code | POLI10003 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Oksanen |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
none |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
none |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
none |
| School/department | School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
How is this unit important?
The unit provides an introduction into the theoretical and conceptual foundations of the discipline of International Relations. It covers highly influential texts and authors, broader theoretical traditions and empirical cases to demonstrate the intrinsic connections between theory, concepts and empirical examples. It traces the main theoretical influences and positions that have driven various stages of the discipline in relation to central historical and political developments. As such it provides the theoretical background that students require to successfully progress through their degree.
The unit specifically aims to:
How does the unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit will provide theoretical foundations that are highly valuable for any units related International Relations, where they can either apply theoretical frameworks learned in the unit, or learn about them in greater depth. It will also equip students with transferable skills beyond the theoretical context of International Relations on general purposes and limitations of theory in social sciences, giving them a critical understanding of theory and an appreciation for how the same situation can appear radically different depending theoretical framings. The unit is essential for any student that wishes to undertake an International Relations study for their dissertation.
An overview of content
The unit will introduce the students to a range of mainstream and critical theoretical approaches to International Relations, including Liberalism and Neoliberalism, Realism and Neorealism, the English School, Marxism, Constructivism, Poststructuralism, Feminism, Postcolonialism, Decolonialism and Cosmopolitanism.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
The students will gain an appreciation of the potential and limitations of International Relations theory in illuminating contemporary and world historical international political events and developments, and how they can be interpreted differently through various theoretical framings. They will learn to apply the theoretical tools they learn independently and to evaluate their appropriateness for a given analytical task. They will have an understanding of the historical evolution of the discipline of International Relations and how it was shaped by world historical developments.
Learning Outcomes
The students will learn though plenaries that introduce key theories and video recordings that provide a demonstration of the theory through a contextual application (ILO 1). The students will then go on to explore the theories and their applicability to concrete situations in global politics in the seminars, where they will be working under the expert guidance of their seminar tutors on a set of pre-prepared paired and group work questions designed to provoke the students into critically assessing the strength, limitations (ILO 2 and 3) and empirical application of the theories. The assessments will teach the students to conduct independent research and critically select and assess sources, and present and evaluate the concepts in written form (ILO 4).
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Students will be given advice on the assessments through a video recording for each assessment. The first assessment also leads into the second assessment, and the feedback for the first assessment will help the students prepare for the second assessment.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
A 500 word essay plan with an indicative bibliography (external to word count) - (15%) ILO 1, 3
A 2,000 word essay - (85%) ILO 1, 2, 3, 4
When assessment does not go to plan
You will normally complete reassessment in the same formats as those outlined above. You will be required to complete a different assessment question.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. POLI10003).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
