IR4548 Force and Statecraft

Academic year

2024 to 2025 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

Monday 3pm - 4pm

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

Module coordinator

Prof K A Harkness

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

Module Staff

Dr K Harkness

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 the strategic, ethical, and legal considerations inherent to leadership decisions over the deployment of force abroad. The first half of the module explores historic case studies including the British response to Hitler's rise, allied strategic bombing and the purposeful targeting of civilians in WWII, U.S. covert operations during the Cold War, international humanitarian intervention, and economic sanctions against Rhodesia and South Africa. The second half of the module is devoted to understanding recent deployments of force and developing policy responses to current crises such as the famine in East Africa and the civil conflict in Syria. Through debates, policy workshops, and simulations, students will directly contemplate the use of force as an instrument of statecraft.

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 x 1-hour lecture (x 10 weeks), 1 x 1-hour tutorial (x 10 weeks), 2 consultation hours with Coordinator (x 12 weeks). 2 hours examination feedback in week 1 of following semester.

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.