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PIR-20076 - Module Specification
School of Social, Political and Global Studies
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

For academic year: 2022/23 Last Updated: 19 January 2023

PIR-20076 - Contemporary International Relations Theory
Coordinator: Barry Ryan Tel: +44 1782 7 33354
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office:

Programme/Approved Electives for 2022/23

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Yes

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

none


Barred Combinations

none

Description for 2022/23

There are many ways to look at events around the world, and these perspectives come with political baggage. How you see the world not only determines what you see in the world but also what you think is meaningful: what you think is an indicator of change or whether that change is progressive or regressive. People taking this module often enter week one with a particular attitude towards international relations; they may be liberal or realist or radical in the way they the way they see certain problems are best solved. The module looks deeply and without favour at the history, politics and aims of these perspectives. It provides the student with the intellectual tools not only to question their own perspective but to understand where it came from, what it implies and how it differs from rival views on issues such as peace, conflict, diplomacy and development. The module will give you the knowledge required to make strong consistent arguments, to select the appropriate methodologies when undertaking research and explore the nuances and politics contained within perspectives. While doing this, it also educates you more broadly about the intellectual development of international relations, the most important thinkers in the discipline and the future of IR as a tool of analysis and change.

Aims
1. By focussing on the application of theory to particular themes in the study of International Relations, to give students the opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of the theoretical problems that have shaped the development of international political theory.
2. To reinforce students' understanding of the perspectives on International Relations and introduce students to contemporary theoretical approaches to the study of IR.
3. To equip students with a solid theoretical foundation relevant to the other modules offered at Level 2 and for further study in the discipline of International Relations.

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/pir-20076/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

interpret and distinguish between the different theoretical perspectives in the discipline of International Relations: 1,2
analyse, interpret and critically evaluate the treatment by different authors of a range of themes in International Relations: 1,2
evaluate and apply abstract theories in analysing and solving problems related to contemporary developments in international affairs: 1,2
effectively and fluently communicate complex arguments supported by appropriate evidence in written form: 1,2
analyse key themes in the academic study of International Relations, integrating theoretical concepts and empirical material: 1,2

Study hours

Lecture attendance - 15 hours
Tutorial attendance - 7 hours
Tutorial preparation - 28 hours
Review essay research and writing - 40 hours
Essay research and writing - 58 hours
Exam - 2 hours

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Exam weighted 60%
28 hour take home/open book exam with two questions to be answered from a list of six.
This examination will consist of six questions with two to be answered. The questions will test the student's knowledge of the theories covered during the module and will compel the student to compare and contrast different approaches to the study of international relations. The allotted time to complete the examination is 28 hours but it is not expected of the candidate to invest more than two hours on this assessment.

2: Essay weighted 40%
1500-word essay on a theoretical paradigm
An assignment to discuss and explore the theory being taught, in which the student summarises and evaluates a theory by responding to one of a number of questions which will be provided by the module leader. The student will outline the main tenets of the paradigm, contextualise it in relation to other theories of IR, show knowledge its main proponents and demonstrate an understanding of its epistemological roots by incorporating readings on the module guide. This is submitted in the middle of the teaching period.

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 19 January 2023