BA (Hons) International Relations

Research underpins all academic study. Most scholarly monographs and journal articles present new research that has been undertaken and understanding that research helps with understanding the reading. Equally, research is not only something you will read about but something you will undertake for yourself before the end of your course. To do so, it is important that you are aware of the different options available to you as you embark upon your own research. To that end, this module will introduce you to a variety of approaches to research in your subject area and to how you might develop ideas for your own research projects.

This module is intended to develop and refine your understanding of selected aspects of international politics. It begins by looking at key schools of thought and evolving debates in international relations theory in order to explore in depth some of the key concepts regarding which factors shape how international politics and relations are conducted. The module also considers some of the key structural factors at play in international relations. To this end the role of the international and transnational organisations is examined, and debates regarding their purpose and effectiveness are considered. The module also looks at the concepts of regionalism and globalisation, and explores how states respond to these ideas in terms of policy formation.

This module explores the history of America and the Cold War between 1947 and 1991. The module traces the course of conflict from the Truman Administration, through periods of crisis and detente, to its end during the George H.W. Bush administration in 1991. At the same time, the module explores the evolving ramifications of the Cold War upon domestic politics and society across these decades.

This module will explore the role of community engagement in the delivery of public and third sector services. It will look at how policy initiatives such as ‘co-production’ and ‘partnership working’ have impacted on both the commissioning and delivery of welfare services in the UK, and how some of these initiatives have been driven by policy failures. It will also investigate the role of social movements, such as Black Lives Matter and Reclaim the Streets, on our society.  It will critically examine how enhancing the voice of service users, parent carers and community activists in decision-making can not only enhance the services being delivered and but can bring about social change.

The ‘traditional’ image of wars and conflicts tend to be of large confrontations where states’ forces are pitted against each other, but how accurate is this perception in the contemporary world? This module examines the reality of modern war and conflicts, highlighting its changing nature and examining why modern conflict is overwhelmingly intrastate rather than interstate. It encourages students to consider the shifting nature of war and conflict in terms of where wars occur, who are the likely victims of modern campaigns and the ways in which the causes, impacts and outcomes of modern warfare are significantly altered over recent decades.

International economics considers how economies and global economy have become more inter-connected.  It focusses on International trade theory, both in its historic context and in imperfect markets, before moving on to consider international trade policy, including trade barriers (both tariffs and non-tariffs) the role of global regional and bilateral integration, trading bodies and the role MNEs play in this process. The module then focusses on the balance of payments and exchange rates, before considering open economy macroeconomics and the international monetary system.  

This course explores the upheavals of modern history through the eyes of some of those who were most profoundly affected: Itinerants, migrants and refugees. With a focus on the available primary sources, we will examine the different ways that historians have attempted to reconstruct the perspective and agency of the men, women and children in question, and also consider the manner in which governments have sought to control this movement of people. The course takes as its two main themes the geographical mobility that came in the wake of nineteenth century industrialisation and the displacement of populations that resulted from war and persecution in the twentieth century.

This module provides opportunities for community-based learning through voluntary community engagement. This activity will enable you to understand the relevance of your studies within a community context, combining practical experience with academic studies. In addition, it is an opportunity to develop a critical understanding of the Third Sector, and the notion of citizenship. Both subject specific and transferable skills will be developed and utilised throughout this module, thus developing graduate employment attributes.

This module explores issues arising from the attempt on the part of the international community to develop sustainable policies and practices especially, though not exclusively, in relation to environmental concerns. The module examines the practicalities and principles that might be said to underpin sustainable development goals, and what problems might arise in both coordinating collective solutions to international problems, and subsequently implementing them. We will also consider ethical issues arising from these attempts.

This module explores the emergence of Asia as a focus for the study of International Relations. With Western governments increasingly turning to Asia as a potential market, but also as a site of relatively inexpensive production, interest has turned towards this region. Moreover, with the increasing dominance of China, not just regionally, but globally via policies such as the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative, attention in the West has ‘pivoted’ towards Asia. These shifts have also prompted speculation that the great Western powers – and especially the USA – are declining in importance as countries such as China and India grow in confidence, economically, politically and culturally. This module considers the nature of these developments, and examines their potential impact in a globalised world.

This module examines a selection of contemporary global issues and considers the policies and prescriptions that states and multinational actors develop to deal with the issues. The relative significance of state and multi-national actors in the policy process will be assessed.

Why do some countries grow rich, while others remain poor? This module introduces students to contemporary microeconomic and macroeconomic issues in development economics. It is concerned with general theoretical and empirical themes explaining income differences between countries and their growth processes. Topics covered in the module include theories of economic growth and development, the impact of factor accumulation (physical capital, population growth and human capital), foreign aid, the environment on growth and development.

The final decades of British rule in India were tumultuous times. From the iconic civil disobedience campaigns of Mahatma Gandhi to violent revolutionary activity, the imperial state was rocked by protest. At the same time the international legitimacy of colonial rule was dissolving in the wake of the Bolshevik revolution, the rise of the United States of America and the turmoil of the two World Wars. This module examines the ‘local’ and ‘global’ dimensions of decolonisation in South Asia, exploring the history of anti-colonial activism alongside the experiences of ordinary people who lived through the end of empire. In doing so, students will learn about the importance of gender, caste, class and religion in anti-colonial politics.

The Independent Study - Written Project is a sustained piece of independent study carried out in the field of International Relations, under supervision. You will be expected to devise, plan, research and write your project, the content of which will be of your own devising.

The Independent Study - Written Project is a sustained piece of independent study carried out in the field of International Relations, under supervision. You will be expected to devise, plan, research and write your project, the content of which will be of your own devising.

This module explores the nature of modern, post-colonial India through an analysis of its politics, economics, religion, caste-system and culture. Modern India is the second most populous country in the world and the world’s largest democracy, yet it is a complex and diverse country – linguistically, religiously, and ethnically – which, since achieving independence, has sought both to unify itself internally, and, as a unified nation-state, to assert its place both regionally and globally. This module examines the achievements, problems and potential of this important country.

This module will critically analyse the political, social, economic and diplomatic changes to the United States of America and the place of the US in world affairs over the late-nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Since modern nations and nationalism have existed there have been accounts that their power is set to diminish. There is no evidence that this is likely in the contemporary world. In fact, the direct opposite is the case: the centrality of the nation state and the power of nationalism as a mobilising ideology have recently come to the fore. Nationalism is a massive subject and a single module cannot hope to cover all of its aspects. Rather, it will take key aspects from its study to give students insight into key issues and debates. The module will begin with definitions of the key terms, move to consideration of the classic theoretical formulations of the rise of nations and nationalism, then assess selected conceptual relationships and, finally, look at particular case studies.

This module examine security dimensions of the European integration process, with particular emphasis on the ongoing transformation of the European Union (EU) from a ‘security community’ to a vehicle for ‘extending the zone of security around Europe’. The syllabus will cover the various security policies of the EU – including the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP), Enlargement, stabilisation of the West Balkans, the European Neighbourhood Policy, as well as associated themes such as EU-US relations and debates around whether the EU can or should become a significant global actor in the security sphere.

This module explores the emergence of Asia as a focus for the study of International Relations. With Western governments increasingly turning to Asia as a potential market, but also as a site of relatively inexpensive production, interest has turned towards this region. Moreover, with the increasing dominance of China, not just regionally, but globally via policies such as the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative, attention in the West has ‘pivoted’ towards Asia. These shifts have also prompted speculation that the great Western powers – and especially the USA – are declining in importance as countries such as China and India grow in confidence, economically, politically and culturally. This module considers the nature of these developments, and examines their potential impact in a globalised world.