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Conflict, Security and Development in Eurasia

Module description

This module builds on general disciplinary learning with a focus on issues and cases in a distinct geographical area: post-Soviet Central Eurasia and adjacent regions of China and Afghanistan.  Key themes will include gender, the environment, religion and security. Cases may include conflicts in Tajikistan and Afghanistan, security affairs in Uzbekistan and Xinjiang, and development issues in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.  The module will emphasise qualitative case study research and teach how to conduct research of this type.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The module aims to prepare students for qualitative case study research according to academic standards of the fields of CSD, IR and Area Studies. There are three main intentions.

The first learning intention of the module concerns the ability to contextualise core concepts of IR and CSD. Students will learn about the importance of context but also that it is non-determining. History and geography will be explored as constructed and dynamic phenomena of the Eurasian region. CSD in the region will be placed in the contexts of political economy and identity politics. Case studies will be explored individually and comparative to assess what explains variation from one to another.

The second concerns research methods. The module emphasises independent research and will be structured around the major assignment – a research essay using qualitative case study methods – with additional assignments of a proposal and oral presentation to summarise a case. The module is structured so students direct their own learning, write their own question and research proposal, and conduct secondary and primary source research.

A final learning intention concerns the ability to communicate effectively in both speech and writing. The module emphasises depth over breadth with students submitting three assignments on closely-related topics but in quite different forms and lengths, one oral and two written (a short plan and its much longer execution in the form or a research essay). The emphasis throughout will be on structured and systematic communication of logic and evidence.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

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

• 1. Demonstrate knowledge of the empirical contexts of the politics of conflict, security and development in Eurasia, and the ability to situate this knowledge critically with respect to key concepts
• 2. Demonstrate understanding of regions, issues and cases of conflict, security and development in Eurasia in their specific contexts

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

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

• 3. Demonstrate understanding of how case study research is undertaken, and demonstrate the ability to utilise this understanding by proposing research on a topic, question and case(s) of your choice
• 4. Critically analyse primary and secondary source material
• 5. Conduct case study research according to a research proposal and utilise source material to answer a research question

ILO: Personal and key skills

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

• 6. Communicate effectively in speech and writing
• 7. Construct well-structured and rigorous arguments in speech and writing

Syllabus plan

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

• When and where is Eurasia?  Historical and geographical contexts: Soviet, post-Soviet, and other contexts of modernization and statebuilding
• How is power and wealth gained, held and intertwined?  Political economy: market, state, liberalisation, authoritarianism, clientelism, kleptocracy
• How are people divided by identity which categories are privileged? Identity politics: nationalism, ethnic politics, sub-ethnic politics and other claims on identity
• How do you do case study research? Research puzzles and questions, research design and selecting cases, sources and methods, analysis and evaluation
• What are the cross-cutting issues driving CSD in Eurasia?  Issues (at least three of the following will be covered): Gender, Environment, Religion, Security and the International
• How does CSD play out in practice?  Cases (at least four of the following will be covered): Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Xinjiang

This syllabus is illustrative and cannot be guaranteed year-on-year.

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

Students with ILPs excusing them from oral presentations should discuss this with lecturer.  They will be required to present in private.  Alternate assessments without oral presentation will not assess ILO 7.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Cooley and Heathershaw, Dictators Without Borders: power and money in Central Asia (Yale University Press, 2017)

Montgomery, ed., Central Asia in Context (Pittsburgh University Press, 2019)

Gerring, Case Study Research: Principles and Practices. (Cambridge University Press, 2007)

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

• Central Asian Survey
• Central Asian Affairs
• Europe-Asia Studies
• Asian Affairs
• Radio Free Europe: https://www.rferl.org/
• Eurasianet: http://www.eurasianet.org/
• The Diplomat http://thediplomat.com/regions/central-asia
• The Conway Bulletinhttp://0-theconwaybulletin.com.lib.exeter.ac.uk/uni-access/level-2/

Key words search

Conflict, Security, Development, Eurasia, Central Asia, International Relations