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Futures of International Relations

Module description

How is the field of International Relations contributing to change in the world? What impact can it wield in addressing international challenges such as political, ideological, environmental, racial, technological, or societal issues in the twenty-first century? What are the practical and ethical challenges encountered when conducting research on complex topics or in challenging locations, and when communicating findings to diverse audiences?

This team-taught, core module will highlight staff expertise and diverse research methods, offering concurrent support for the dissertation module and enhancing employability. You will learn about some of the most pressing issues in International Relations, drawing on the cutting-edge research conducted by academic staff. The content of the module will vary year to year, reflecting the expertise of the teaching team, but may involve experiential learning and opportunities to interact with alumni and external speakers, gaining valuable insights into real-world applications of political theories.

Module aims - intentions of the module

• To explore current research in International Relations and its impact on diverse challenges in the 21st century
• To investigate the practical and ethical challenges inherent in conducting research on complex international issues and communicating findings to diverse audiences
• To enhance your skills in critical analysis, effective communication, and collaborative engagement, in preparation for the final year dissertation project.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate an understanding and critical evaluation of contemporary research areas and debates in Political Science and Political Theory, integrating knowledge and skills acquired throughout the degree program.
• 2. Critically engage with challenges of conducting research in controversial or difficult areas, demonstrating an understanding of ethical considerations and methodological approaches.
• 3. Effectively apply and evaluate diverse strategies for communicating research to various audiences, demonstrating proficiency in translating complex ideas into accessible and engaging formats.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 4. Identify, apply, and critically examine both primary and secondary data sources relevant to political research, demonstrating a nuanced understanding of data collection and analysis techniques.
• 5. Apply theoretical approaches to real-life examples, demonstrating the ability to connect theoretical frameworks with empirical cases and analyse political phenomena in depth.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 6. Present a clear, coherent, and critically informed analysis of a given political issue, showcasing effective communication skills and the ability to articulate complex ideas persuasively.
• 7. Collaborate with peers in a constructive manner, actively participating in discussions to evaluate theoretical approaches and empirical cases. Engage in peer-evaluation and provide constructive feedback, fostering a collaborative and intellectually stimulating learning environment.

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

• Global Governance, diplomacy and international organisations
• Emerging technologies
• Climate change
• Nuclear proliferation and non-proliferation
• Cybersecurity and AI
• Terrorism and counterterrorism strategies
• Humanitarianism
• Great power competition
• Regional security
• Migration
• Arms control and disarmament
• Guest talks from alumni/external speakers on contemporary issues

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Reading for the module will vary year to year, depending on the expertise of the teaching team. Broad introductions to the module aims include:

• Andrew M Dorman, 100 years of International Affairs, International Affairs, Volume 98, Issue 1, January 2022, Pages 1–4, https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iiab258, including Gani, Jasmine K., and Jenna Marshall. "The impact of colonialism on policy and knowledge production in International Relations." International Affairs 98, no. 1 (2022): 5-22.
• Bannister, Jon, and Irene Hardill, eds. Knowledge Mobilisation and Social Sciences: Research Impact and Engagement. Routledge, 2016.
• Gow, James, and Henry Redwood. Impact in international affairs: the quest for world-leading research. Routledge, 2020.
• Knott, Eleanor. "Beyond the field: ethics after fieldwork in politically dynamic contexts." Perspectives on Politics 17, no. 1 (2019): 140-153.
• Norris, Pippa. "What maximizes productivity and impact in political science research?." European Political Science 20 (2021): 34-57.
• Zimmer, Michael, and Katharina Kinder-Kurlanda. Internet research ethics for the social age: New challenges, cases, and contexts. Peter Lang International Academic Publishers, 2017.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE – Faculty to provide hyperlink to appropriate pages

Key words search

International Relations, Crisis, Area Studies, Security Studies, Foreign Policy, Research, Dissertation