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PIR-30168 - Module Specification
School of Social Sciences
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

For academic year: 2024/25 Last Updated: 29 June 2024

PIR-30168 - Gender, Sexuality and Statecraft in International Relations
Coordinator: Harry Mace Room: N/A Tel: 01782733365
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office:

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

Statecraft is gendered and gendering. Until the mid-twentieth century it was solely the preserve of elite men. This module explores the intersection of political science and gender studies in International Relations (IR). Through engaging case studies about diplomacy and espionage, students will analyse how international statecraft and institutions have been shaped by gender dynamics and, in turn, national and global power, hierarchies, and status. The course will delve into diplomatic and bureaucratic aspects of national statecraft and develop students' sensitivity to the roles, experiences, representation, and legacies of men and women representing the State over time.

Aims
This module explores the intersection of political science and gender studies in International Relations (IR). Through engaging case studies, students will analyse how international statecraft has been shaped by gender dynamics and, in turn, influenced notions of national and global power, hierarchies and status. The course will delve into diplomatic and bureaucratic aspects of national statecraft and develop students' sensitivity to the role of individuals representing the State through this new and innovative sub-discipline of IR.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Critique the gendered and gendering nature of modern diplomacy and espionage in international relations: 2
Analyse the variety of roles undertaken by men and women in modern statecraft and the significance of intersectional identities (class, race, sexuality, and generation) upon the making of international relations: 1,2
Demonstrate a systematic understanding of representations of masculinity and femininity in statecraft, past and present, through different case studies in order to make sense of global inequalities: 1,2
Judge between relevant scholarly debates about gender, diplomacy and espionage, weighing evidence to bolster arguments and to persuade others: 2
Deploy evidence accurately in academic arguments, and demonstrate how this evidence might challenge or extend existing scholarly debates: 2
Formulate arguments on a variety of scholarly approaches: 2
Communicate clearly and concisely about complex themes on the module for a non-academic audience: 1

Study hours

This module will be taught through:
11 hours attendance at lectures;
11 hours attendance at seminars;
44 hours of structured engagement with online resources (digitally available, weekly readings, lecture slides) in preparation for tutorials;
24 hours independent study in preparation of blog;
60 hours independent study in preparation of essay.

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Short Paper weighted 25%
Blog post - 500 words
Students will choose a module topic, or a theme of their choosing, to write a blog for a general audience. The blog should include evidence, visual images, suggested further reading to scholarly work but no footnotes for students to demonstrate the communication of theoretical concepts concisely. An example of a blog will be posted on the KLE. This assignment requires students to demonstrate comprehension of case studies and to write about them clearly: an important building block in preparation for assignment 2 and for employability skills.

2: Essay weighted 75%
Essay - 2500 words
Students will answer a question from a list of essay questions, dealing with generic and specific themes of the module and encourage students to apply scholarly approaches, key concepts and theories, to empirical case studies.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. 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/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 29 June 2024