Introduction to Global Politics

• Credit value: 30 credits at Level 4
• Assessment: a 500-word book review (25%), 1000-word essay (25%), two 200-word seminar logs (10%) and a take-home test (40%)

Global politics is a complex arena where a vast number of actors, including nation-states, multinational corporations, and inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations, pursue often conflicting agendas. This module is designed to provide you with an overview of global politics by looking at both its historical development and the relevant contemporary issue areas in the light of various analytical approaches to international relations.

Among the main topics to be covered are the evolution of the inter-state system, the dynamics of international security, international law and organisations, processes and consequences of economic globalisation, and the changing architecture of global governance.

The module aims to:

• introduce the main concepts and the key theoretical approaches employed in the study of global politics
• provide a broad overview of the historical evolution of the interstate system
• examine the debates over various contemporary issue areas in global politics
• foster an understanding of the relationships between actors, norms and institutions in global politics today.

By the end of this module you should be able to:

• critically apply the theories, concepts, and approaches employed in the study of global politics and international relations to both historical and contemporary events and processes
• demonstrate a broad understanding of the major historical developments in global politics and international relations
• understand, analyse and critically engage a variety of sources and data relating to the study of global politics and international relations
• demonstrate practical and transferable skills of critical evaluation, analytic investigation, written argument, oral communication.