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PL31011: Political violence

[Page last updated: 15 October 2020]

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2020/1
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
Further information on credits Credits: 6      [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Further information on notional study hours Notional Study Hours: 120
Further information on unit levels Level: Honours (FHEQ level 6)
Further information on teaching periods Period:
Semester 1
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: CW 33%, ES 67%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Review (CW 33%)
  • Essay (ES 67%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites:
Description: Aims:
This unit will provide students with an introduction into the political problem of violence. Examining the links between violence, identities, communities, and relations of power as they relate to distinct justifications, rationalities, competing claims over resources, changing historical conditions & political fortunes, along with technological developments, students will be provided with a thorough grounding in the key theoretical approaches, along with a platform for considered empirical engagement to highlight the subjective and political stakes.

Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of the unit, students will be able to:
* Understand the main theoretical approaches to the problem of violence
* Critically evaluate the contested theories which underwrite the these different and sometimes interconnected approaches
* Relate theories of violence to historical and contemporary experiences
* Have a sophisticated understanding of the contested political nature of the reasoning/use of violence.

Skills:
Critical analysis, conceptual thinking, precision in the use of written and spoken language, exercise of independent judgement, reasoned argument, teamwork and the planning/conduct/reporting of quantitative and qualitative research. Skills in effective learning and language are also developed.

Content:
Lecture topics include the following:
* What is Political Violence?
* Violence & Political Theology
* Violence & the (Post)-Colonial Encounter
* State Violence: Collective Punishment & Political Oppression
* Dehumanisation & the Violence of the Camp
* Violence & The Body
* Violence in the Age of the Spectacle
* Technologies of Destruction
* Necessary Killing: Violence & The Humanitarian Principle
* Resistance, Revolution and Political Change.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

PL31011 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
  • UHPL-AYB13 : BA(Hons) French and Politics with Year Abroad (Year 4)
  • UHPL-AYB12 : BA(Hons) German and Politics with Year Abroad (Year 4)
  • UHPL-AYB16 : BA(Hons) Italian ab initio and Politics with Year Abroad (Year 4)
  • UHPL-AYB15 : BA(Hons) Russian ab initio and Politics with Year Abroad (Year 4)
  • UHPL-AYB17 : BA(Hons) Spanish and Politics with Year Abroad (Year 4)
  • UHPL-AFB30 : BSc(Hons) Politics and International Relations (Year 3)
  • UHPL-AAB30 : BSc(Hons) Politics and International Relations with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • UHPL-AKB30 : BSc(Hons) Politics and International Relations with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • UHPL-AFB10 : BSc(Hons) Politics with Economics (Year 3)
  • UHPL-AAB10 : BSc(Hons) Politics with Economics with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • UHPL-AKB10 : BSc(Hons) Politics with Economics with Year long work placement (Year 4)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2020/21 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2021/22 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2020/21.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.