- Student Records
Programme & Unit Catalogues

Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies, Unit Catalogue 2011/12


PL50749: Power, order and institutions in world politics

Click here for further information Credits: 6
Click here for further information Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Click here for further information Period: Semester 1
Click here for further information Assessment: CW 100%
Click here for further information Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Click here for further information Requisites:
Click here for further information Description: Aims:

* To provide a theoretical and empirical analysis of contemporary changes in the nature/ understanding of power and its distribution in the international system.
* To reflect on and open debate about how these changes affect several aspects of international relations, including order and institutions.
* To explore empirical cases exemplifying these shifts, i.e. the emergence/resurgence of new powers, the evolving nature of the international economic order and the North-South relations, the emergence of non-traditional forms of exercising power such as soft power, norms creation and regional/multilateral arrangements.

Learning Outcomes:
Students who successfully complete this unit will:
* acquire a thorough understanding of the contested notion of power regarding both its nature/understanding and its distribution.
* display a critical understanding of empirical examples epitomising contemporary debates about power, order and their relationship.
* understand how (new) actors, values, norms and institutions in the international system are both the result of the changes in international power and affect these changes.
* be able to assess critically topical events in world politics as well as the interests, role and actions of key players in the international scenario.
* understand and analyse key trends in contemporary international relations.

Skills:
The key skills the unit will hone and further develop are:
* Research skills in identifying, locating and exploiting a wide range of resources.
* Intellectual skills of conceptual, original and independent thinking, critical analysis, synthesis and reasoned argument.
* Skills of assessment and judgement in relation to the soundness of competing arguments and scenarios.
* Generic and transferable skills related to the oral and written presentation.
* Skills of self-direction, self-evaluation and time management.

Content:
Lectures and seminars will cover the following main topics:
* Debates about the combination of/tension between the changes in the nature/understanding of power and changes in its distribution.
* Areas in which these changes display their effects such as: international institutions, norms and values, actors, key concepts i.e. sovereignty, governance.
* The rise and fall of great powers and consequences for the international order, including the international economic order and North-South relations.
* The emergence of norms and values and the evolution of international law.
* The evolving role and status of the United States, the European Union and emerging states and regions (with particular reference to Latin America, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific) in the international order.
Click here for further informationProgramme availability:

PL50749 is a Designated Essential Unit on the following programmes:

Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies

PL50749 is Optional on the following programmes:

School of Management Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
  • THPL-AFM11 : MA Contemporary European Politics (Full-time)
  • THPL-AFM16 : MA Contemporary European Studies: Politics Policy and Society (Full-time)
  • THPL-AFM17 : MA Contemporary European Studies (with transatlantic track) (Full-time)
  • THPL-AFM15 : MA International Security (Full-time)
  • THPL-AFC16 : PG Cert International Security (Full-time)
  • THPL-AFL11 : PG Dip Contemporary European Politics (Full-time)
  • THPL-AFL16 : PG Dip International Security (Full-time)

PL50749 is available for Auditing on the following programmes:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences
NB. Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.