IR4607 Britain and Iraq 1914-2004

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

Tuesday 3pm - 4pm

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

Module coordinator

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 L Middup

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 looks at Britain's role in the Iraq War of 2003. In order to do this, it goes back and looks at Britain's policy towards and involvement in Iraq and the Middle East since the end of the First World War. There are a number of questions that run through this module: what role should the United Kingdom play in world affairs?; what's the nature of the UK's security relationship with the United States and what are the costs and benefits of this relationship?; what role does the UK play as one of the permanent five members of the UN Security Council?; and what is the UK's relationship in the triangular relationship between the UK, US and Europe, both in the sense of its fellow members of the European Union and in the sense of its fellow members of NATO.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS IR2006

Assessment pattern

2 x 2500 word essays = 50%, 1x Simulation Exercise = 10%, 1 x 3500 word Essay = 40%

Re-assessment

3-hour Written Examination = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

One lecture (x10 weeks), one seminar (x10 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

20

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

Guided independent study hours

292

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

Intended learning outcomes

  • Have an understanding of Britain’s relationship with the modern state of Iraq from the early 20th century to the early 21st century.
  • Have a nuanced overview of the following thematic areas: the UK’s relationship with the greater Middle East, Iraq in particular, the UK’s relationship with the United States, and the UK’s relationship with multilateral organisations, particularly the United Nations and the European Union.
  • Have an understanding of how the UK makes foreign and defence policy.
  • Be able to assess critically historical and scientific research on this topic.
  • Develop their written and oral skills through essays, examinations, and presentations in the tutorial program.