IR2203 Understanding Terrorism: Causes, Ideologies and Responses

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Flexible study

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

5

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 8

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

This module is not open to students matriculated on a University degree programme.

Planned timetable

N/A

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr D Muro

Dr D Muro
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Diego Muro

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This short course is not open to students matriculated on a University degree programme. This short course introduces the students to debates around the logic of terrorism, the causes and history of terrorist violence and the range of responses adopted by democratic states. The course engages in depth with key conceptual issues on the role of ideology, the decisions that shape targeting and the form that violence takes, and how the effectiveness of terrorism is measured and understood. In doing so, it dives into the historical record, discusses case studies in depth and focuses on specific forms of political violence like suicide terrorism.

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

N/A

Intended learning outcomes

  • Discuss the explanatory variables that account for the onset of political violence and/or terrorism.
  • Describe how terror has been used historically by both state and non-state actor.
  • Analyse how ideological frames allow processes of radicalisation and shape targeting strategies.
  • Explain how democracies respond to this threat.
  • Evaluate whether terrorism is a tactic that has delivered the results that the terrorists aimed for.

IR2203 Understanding Terrorism: Causes, Ideologies and Responses

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Flexible study

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

5

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 8

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

This module is not open to students matriculated on a University degree programme.

Planned timetable

N/A

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr D Muro

Dr D Muro
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Diego Muro

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This short course is not open to students matriculated on a University degree programme. This short course introduces the students to debates around the logic of terrorism, the causes and history of terrorist violence and the range of responses adopted by democratic states. The course engages in depth with key conceptual issues on the role of ideology, the decisions that shape targeting and the form that violence takes, and how the effectiveness of terrorism is measured and understood. In doing so, it dives into the historical record, discusses case studies in depth and focuses on specific forms of political violence like suicide terrorism.

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

N/A

Scheduled learning hours

0

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

51

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Discuss the explanatory variables that account for the onset of political violence and/or terrorism.
  • Describe how terror has been used historically by both state and non-state actor.
  • Analyse how ideological frames allow processes of radicalisation and shape targeting strategies.
  • Explain how democracies respond to this threat.
  • Evaluate whether terrorism is a tactic that has delivered the results that the terrorists aimed for.

IR2203 Understanding Terrorism: Causes, Ideologies and Responses

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Flexible study

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

5

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 8

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

This module is not open to students matriculated on a University degree programme.

Planned timetable

N/A

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr D Muro

Dr D Muro
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Diego Muro

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This short course is not open to students matriculated on a University degree programme. This short course introduces the students to debates around the logic of terrorism, the causes and history of terrorist violence and the range of responses adopted by democratic states. The course engages in depth with key conceptual issues on the role of ideology, the decisions that shape targeting and the form that violence takes, and how the effectiveness of terrorism is measured and understood. In doing so, it dives into the historical record, discusses case studies in depth and focuses on specific forms of political violence like suicide terrorism.

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

N/A

Scheduled learning hours

0

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

51

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Discuss the explanatory variables that account for the onset of political violence and/or terrorism.
  • Describe how terror has been used historically by both state and non-state actor.
  • Analyse how ideological frames allow processes of radicalisation and shape targeting strategies.
  • Explain how democracies respond to this threat.
  • Evaluate whether terrorism is a tactic that has delivered the results that the terrorists aimed for.

IR2203 Understanding Terrorism: Causes, Ideologies and Responses

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Full Year

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

5

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 8

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

This module is not open to students matriculated on a University degree programme.

Planned timetable

N/A

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr D Muro

Dr D Muro
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Diego Muro

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This short course is not open to students matriculated on a University degree programme. This short course introduces the students to debates around the logic of terrorism, the causes and history of terrorist violence and the range of responses adopted by democratic states. The course engages in depth with key conceptual issues on the role of ideology, the decisions that shape targeting and the form that violence takes, and how the effectiveness of terrorism is measured and understood. In doing so, it dives into the historical record, discusses case studies in depth and focuses on specific forms of political violence like suicide terrorism.

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

N/A

Scheduled learning hours

0

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

51

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Discuss the explanatory variables that account for the onset of political violence and/or terrorism.
  • Describe how terror has been used historically by both state and non-state actor.
  • Analyse how ideological frames allow processes of radicalisation and shape targeting strategies.
  • Explain how democracies respond to this threat.
  • Evaluate whether terrorism is a tactic that has delivered the results that the terrorists aimed for.