IR4540 The Changing Character of War

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

TBD

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

Module coordinator

Dr L F Middup

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

Module Staff

Dr D Morgan-Owen

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

Module description

The current discourse on war in International Relations and Security Studies is dominated by the assumption that armed conflict has changed dramatically over the past few decades. Academic accounts of the ‘New Wars’ and ‘Asymmetric’ conflict abound, but they have been widely criticised as ahistorical. The module aims to approach the issue of continuity and change from a historical perspective. Starting with the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars it enquires into whether, how and why war has changed. It analyses change and continuity both in the theory and practice of war. It will also look at contemporary war through the prism of Humanitarian intervention and also by looking at the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS IR2006

Assessment pattern

100% coursework

Re-assessment

3-hour Written Examination = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 x 1-hour lecture (x 10 weeks), 1 x 1-hour tutorial (x 10 weeks), 2 consultation hours with Coordinator (x 12 weeks).

Scheduled learning hours

20

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

Guided independent study hours

280

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

Intended learning outcomes

  • Have an advanced understanding of change and continuity in the history of war over past 250 years
  • Have a nuanced overview of four thematic areas: strategic thought and practice, technology, socio-political conditions and cultural representations of war
  • Be able to assess critically social science research on this topic
  • Develop their written and oral skills through essays, examinations, and presentations in the tutorial program