IR4523 The Aftermath of the Wars: Liberal Dilemmas

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.

Availability restrictions

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable

10.00 am Tue

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

Module coordinator

Dr D J Miles

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

Module Staff

Dr David Miles

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 considers ethical and practical dilemmas facing policymakers, governments and citizens in the aftermath of war, including civil war (the norm since 1990). The ‘wrong’ choice in many of these dilemmas could plunge a society back into conflict, condemning populations to continuing violence, poverty and exclusion. The module revolves around issues beginning with an ‘r’ - restitution, retribution, reparation, reconciliation, reformation and reconstruction. Each of these policy options has a 'history' that is here linked to liberal thinking about how wars can be ended. But the ‘liberal peace’ faces many obstacles; some argue that it was in crisis even before an arguably ‘illiberal’ president returned to the White House in 2025. This module explores these dilemmas and asks students to reflect on the future of the liberal world order, how wars may develop in the future, and how approaches to peace and institution-building in the aftermath of wars may be crafted in response.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS IR2006

Assessment pattern

3-hour Written Examination = 50%, Coursework = 50%

Re-assessment

3-hour Written Examination= 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 lecture and 1 tutorial.

Scheduled learning hours

46

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

Guided independent study hours

254

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

Intended learning outcomes

  • Explain the tensions between liberalism as a doctrine that believes in the perfectability of peoples and the challenges facing states and their citizens in the aftermath of bitter conflicts.
  • Explain relevant narratives on the aftermath of war in general, and civil wars in particular, and critically assess the policy options open to policymakers in ending them.
  • Critically assess the literature and dominant approaches on the ending and aftermath of wars in both historical depth and contemporary relevance
  • Analyse the ideas of key scholars of liberalism, peace and conflict, and war studies in order to explain the opportunities and challenges surrounding reconstruction after wars.
  • Critically evaluate and synthesise material from a range of theoretical and empirical sources to address liberalism’s capacity to stop wars happening and to stop them re-erupting.
  • Articulate reasoned and factually supported arguments in presentations, class discussion, and assessed work.