Fragmentation and Integration in Global Politics

• Credit value: 15 credits at Level 7
• Convenor and tutor: Professor Alex Colas
• Assessment: a 3500-word essay (90%) and seminar log (10%)

This module considers globalisation as a process that both integrates various parts of the world and simultaneously fragments the planet politically and socio-economically. By using concepts and theories from international relations and global political economy, the module offers an analytical primer into the nature of global politics today.

Indicative module syllabus

• Introduction to Global Politics, Governance and Security
• Revisiting Globalisation Theory
• Democracy and Global Governance
• Regionalism in Global Governance
• Globalisation, Development and Security
• Global Governance and Nuclear Proliferation
• International Organisations
• Geo-economics
• Geopolitics
• The Governance of Climate Change

By the end of this module, you will:

• understand and be able to evaluate key concepts, theories and debates regarding global politics and global governance
• be able to critically assess the historical impact of globalisation and multilateralism in the international system today
• understand and be able to evaluate arguments concerning the relationship between states, social forces and international organisations in global politics
• have developed skills of critical thinking, enquiry, synthesis, analysis and evaluation that can be employed on other modules studied at this level.