IR4544 Wars and Peace in the Caucasus

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 2

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

11.00 am - 1.00 pm Wed

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

Module coordinator

Prof F J Fawn

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

Module Staff

Dr Marat Iliyasov

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

Module description

The Caucasus region has suffered some of the worst wars, terrorist attacks and violent state-led counter-insurgencies in recent history. This module examines the contending accounts of war, terrorism and instability, giving attention to such conflicts as Chechnya, Nagorno-Karabakh and those in Georgia, including the conventional war of 2008. The interests and efforts of regional and international actors in trying to secure the region will also be examined, as will thematic issues such as democratization and human rights promotion.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS IR2006

Anti-requisites

YOU CANNOT TAKE THIS MODULE IF YOU TAKE IR4525

Assessment pattern

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

Re-assessment

3-hour Written Examination =100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1x 2h lecture (x11 weeks); 1x 1h tutorial (x10 weeks); 2 consultation hours with Coordinator (x12 weeks); 2h exam feedback in week 1 of the following semester. Occasional film/video viewing.

Scheduled learning hours

32

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

Guided independent study hours

260

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

Intended learning outcomes

  • Through participation in this module diligent students achieve an enhanced and detailed familiarity with and a critical understanding of: the political geography, population distributions and changing internal and external borders of the great Caucasus region;
  • contending interpretations and narratives behind the tensions and conflicts that have arisen among peoples and between quasi/de facto states and recognized states within this region;
  • the uses and abuses of nationalism, in theory and in practice, in this region; specific policies and practices for dealing with these conflicts, including actual peace proposals and discussion/negotiating formats;
  • major policies towards this region of varied, major actors, including: NATO, the EU, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, the United States, the Russian Federation, and as relevant, Turkey and Iran;
  • the roles of domestic and INGOs in, for example, recording human rights abuses and the plight of IDPs and refugees; determining needs assessments;
  • facilitating dialogue; and seeking conflict transformation and resolution; and more.