IR4024 Breaking Bad: Leadership Over Time in International Relations

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

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 10

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.

Planned timetable

To be confirmed

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

Module coordinator

Prof J B Kaarbo

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

Module Staff

Prof Juliet Kaarbo

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

Module description

This module examines how political leaders change over time, as they govern states and other key actors in international relations. The module focuses on a particular, negative type of change in leaders, examining how they may become insular in their decision-making, authoritarian, and overconfident – how they ‘break bad’ over time -- and the implications of these changes for foreign policies and domestic politics. The module explores non-leader explanations for these changes but concentrates on leader personality perspectives, such as leader aging and learning. The course also examines policies designed to address consequences such as democratic backsliding and failed foreign policies. Although the focus is on research and theories of changes in leaders, several examples of real-world leaders and policies are included in the module content. This module is delivered in a discussion-style seminar format.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS IR2006

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Examination = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 seminar (X10/11 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

28

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

Guided independent study hours

286

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

Intended learning outcomes

  • Understand the different ways how and why leaders change over their rule and the potential consequences for domestic politics and international relations.
  • Master interdisciplinary and theoretical foundations with which to understand, explain, and address changes in foreign policies and politics.
  • Better critically assess and evaluate research and apply research concepts to empirical phenomena.
  • Appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of an agent approach to studying social phenomena.