Global Affairs, Politics and International Relations BA (Hons)

This module develops critical engagement with international affairs by drawing together the multiple theoretical lenses of international relations with the practice in global politics, enabling a deeper consideration of how the world might be understood, explained and possibly transformed. The core issues, concepts and theories of the discipline are approached through a series of questions. These questions are used to draw out many other challenging and complex questions and perspectives about global politics, to examine the historical context in which they are located, to consider the broader assumptions that underlie them and the theoretical approaches that structure the many possible responses. In so doing, students are encouraged to think about why the question is important, who is affected and how, and what is at stake in global politics and international relations.

Indicative content includes:

• Perspectives on the creation of the discipline of International Relations.
• Realism and Neo-Realism; Liberalism and Neo-Liberalism; the English school; Critical Theory; Marxism and Gramscianism; Constructuctivism; Feminism; Green Theory and Eco-centric approaches.
• Key questions include: How do we begin to think about the world? How might we conceptualise the world? How might we critique the world? Does the nation-state work? Is democracy a good idea? What happens if we don't take nature for granted? Can we save the planet? Why are some people better off than others? Who has rights, and what rights do they have? Why is people's movement restricted? Why does gender inequality exist? Is democracy a good idea? Should we embrace emerging technologies? What can we do to change the world?
• The state of the discipline of global politics and international relations.

The module explores the notion of citizenship within media landscapes, encouraging students to ponder their media habits and the power structures at play above and around them. It explores the accountability of media organizations and the governance surrounding them, probing into the question of who should oversee media content regulation.

Discussions unfold around the delicate balance between censorship and free expression, dissecting regulatory frameworks across different global contexts. Through comparative analysis, students gain insights into the varying approaches to media regulation, shedding light on the complexities of safeguarding both free speech and societal well-being.

Additionally, the course delves into contemporary concepts such as corporate responsibility and techno-feudalism, providing a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted nature of media governance and its implications in modern society.

This module is designed to introduce students to both the theory and practice of economic thought from a global perspective. In the first half of the module students will examine the history of economic thought through tracing the progress of economic ideas over time and learn about the work of some of the most influential economists that have shaped global affairs. In the second half of the module students will apply these economic ideas and thinkers to specific country case studies and compare the economic systems and approaches in different regions of the world. Indicative content will include:

• Mercantilism, Physiocracy, Classical Economics, Marxist Economics, Neoclassical Economics, Keynesian Economics, The Austrian School
• Adam Smith, Thomas Malthus, David Ricardo, John Stuart Mills, Jeremy Bentham, Karl Marx, John Maynard Keynes, Alfred Marshall, Joseph Schumpeter, Milton Freedman, Joseph Stiglitz
• Market Capitalism, Communism, Transitional Economies, Developing Economies, New Traditional Economies
• USA, Japan, France, Sweden, Germany, Russia, Poland, Hungry, Yugoslavia, Slovenia, China, India, Mexico, Iran

In this module you will examine political ideas such as freedom, equality, justice and democracy that have shaped today’s world. You will develop knowledge of the major concepts and ideas underlying political thought which primarily emerged out of and are associated with western political traditions. These ideas will be unpacked and explored through key thinkers and case studies in this module from classical to contemporary political thought. Indicative ideas may include power and freedom, democracy and rights, equality and justice, individual and state, security and militarism, gender, sexuality and queerness, race and nation, and class and capitalism. Students will learn to critically analyse and apply these ideas in both institutional and organisational analyses and through case study scenarios.

Indicative case studies rooted in the European context may include movements such as Just Stop Oil, Black Lives Matter, and the #MeToo Movement. Global Surrogacy; security approaches such as UK Immigration policy; UK National Security policy; Global tobacco control; environmental justice such as UK Climate Coalition; Just Stop Oil; or Fracking.

Indicative institutions within the European context include government and political institutions and European institutions, elections, political parties and interest groups, constitutionalism, bureaucracy and public service, policy-making, civil society and social movements.

You now have the opportunity to pick an optional module to learn a new language or build on your existing language skills as part of your degree. You can choose:

• Subsidiary Language for Beginners (choice of German, Italian or Spanish)
• French: Intermediate Language Development
• Spanish: Intermediate Language Development
• Chinese: Intermediate Language Development
• German: Communication in Practice
• French: Communication in Practice
• Spanish: Communication in Practice

This module will introduce students to a range of theories, ideas and processes related to international trade from several perspectives: economic, historical, political and international. Students are shown how international trade and commercial relationships impact, alter and create political and social connections. Student learn how political, social and cultural institutions play a large role in facilitating these arrangements, and how relationships develop and change over time. The exercise of power in international relationships, ad its impact on trade and through the form of economic diplomacy is explored through the module.

The content will include topics such as:

• The origins of international trade
• The creation and role of the World Trade Organisation and other international organisations
• Barriers to trade (tariffs and quotas, political)
• International Trade Agreements and disagreements
• Regional integration areas
• The role of currencies and exchange rates
• Globalisation and finance
• Global crisis and their effects on trade
• Economic diplomacy and trade
• Economic destabilisation and trade
• Changing power in international trade: The rise of China, India, Brazil
• Effects of and constraints of international trade on development and environment

The aims of the module are to:

• Enable student appreciation of the role and relevance of international trade and international politics and their relationship to one another.
• Facilitate student understanding of the economic rationale behind the existence of international trade.
• Ensure student appreciation of the complexity of commercial relationships and their inter-relationship with political systems and with power in the international arena.
• Facilitate an appreciation of the changing nature of international trade over time and in terms of institutions, instruments, agreements and countries' roles.
• Enable application of theory to practice.

This module provides students with an in-depth understanding of contemporary geopolitics, critical political ideologies, and influential leaders from a global perspective. Designed to broaden students’ knowledge of international relations and political thought beyond Western-centric paradigms, it equips them with the analytical tools and critical thinking skills needed to engage with the complex dynamics of current global affairs.

Through this course, students will explore key geopolitical theories, foundational concepts, and historical legacies, including the impact of colonialism and the Cold War. They will examine power centres and regional dynamics across various regions—such as the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America—and gain insights into security, economic, environmental, technological, and humanitarian dimensions of geopolitics. Additionally, the module presents alternative perspectives on international relations by examining non-Western political leaders, ideologies, and movements that have shaped both regional and global politics.

The content will include:

• Introduction to Non-Western Political Thought: Overview of the module, defining key concepts, and the significance of studying non-Western political ideas.
• Alexander Dugin and Eurasianism and Multipolarity: Explore the political ideology of Alexander Dugin and its impact on Russian foreign policy; Eurasian geopolitics and Multipolarity.
• Hugo Chávez and Bolivarianism: Examine the political ideas of Hugo Chávez, the founder of Bolivarianism in Latin America, and their influence on regional politics.
• Seretse Khama and African Leadership: Study the life and leadership of Seretse Khama, the first President of Botswana, and his contributions to non-violent struggle, African independence and democracy.
• Xi Jinping and Chinese Political Thought: Analyse the political thought of Xi Jinping and its role in shaping China's domestic and international policies, multilateralism and the new global order.
• Regional Case Studies: Investigate additional non-Western political leaders and ideas from diverse regions, such as Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.

The Module aims are: 

• Foster a comprehensive understanding of Global Affairs and International Relations by exposing students to diverse political ideas, leaders, and ideologies from both Western and non-Western contexts, encouraging a nuanced perspective on global politics.
• Develop students' critical thinking and analytical skills as they examine the historical, cultural, and ideological contexts that shape contemporary geopolitics and international relations.
• Equip students with the theoretical knowledge and practical research skills necessary to assess the roles, strategies, and impacts of major state and non-state actors in global politics.
• Encourage students to engage in informed discussions, contrasting non-Western and Western political thought, to contribute thoughtfully to the discourse on global affairs and predict future geopolitical trends.

This module introduces students to the field of peace and conflict studies, violence and non-violence in international relations through the study of critical approaches to the study of violence, war, conflict, security and peace. It traces the evolution of the field from orthodox approaches originally rooted in Western political analysis; those developed and practised through international organisations and institutions in international relations; to critical questions about war, violence, conflict and peace; to alternative and indigenous approaches concerned with peace-building, sustainable peace, structural transformation and restorative and reconciliatory justice. In-depth case studies are woven through the module drawn upon from various international relations contexts including the Middle East, Europe, Latin America, North America, Africa and East Asia in order to apply concepts, approaches and theory to practice. 

Indicative content includes:

• Key concepts and theories of violence, war, conflict, diplomacy and peace.
• Critical approaches to understand security, violence, conflict and peace.
• the origins of peace-building as a synergetic process: diplomacy, peace-making, peace-keeping and peace-building
• the seven pillars through the institutional remit of the UN, UNDP, WHO, UNESCO, UNICEF and UNHCR, and an exploration of conflict from the perspective of professional practitioners inside international institutions, including international law and conventions on genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
• key theoretical approaches of conflict management, conflict resolution and conflict transformation and their application.
• concepts and theories of negative, positive and sustainable peace-building
• structural transformation; reconciliation; restorative justice; inclusivity; rights
• indigenous approaches to conflict transformation

In addition to learning conceptual and theoretical innovations in the field, students will learn and practice a range of professional skills-sets invaluable to those wishing to work in the field of diplomacy, peacebuilding and conflict transformation.

In this module, students will:

• Explore contested conceptualisations of, and approaches to, Global Development and concepts of sustainability within these.
• Examine the most critical challenges to Global development, the risks associated with these challenges, how and why these arise and who is affected by them in the North and the South.
• Understand the professional instruments for Global development (Regulations, standards and agreements; institutions; policies and instruments)
• Explore the ways in which Global development is measured and modelled in practise, and critiques of these.
• Learn the skills and use the tools for professional work in Global development as well as explore examples of good practise.

The aims of this module are:

• To introduce the key foundations, and develop an understanding of the importance and value, of Sustainable Development including its environmental, social, political and economic dimensions, its inherent tensions, and its position in relation to global challenges.
• To introduce key information sources and examples relating to articulating, driving, measuring, modelling and evidencing Sustainable Development.
• To enable understanding of the interconnected nature of global Sustainable Development challenges across Global South and Global North contexts, and at a range of connected scales.
• To develop transferable skills in critical reading; data collection; analysis and interpretation; communication and presentation.
• To equip students with the tools and knowledge to comprehensively examine the most critical challenges to Global Development, including understanding the associated risks, root causes, and their impact on diverse regions, both in the Global North and South.
• To develop students' professional competence in the realm of Global Development by providing insights into the regulatory, institutional, and policy instruments that drive global development efforts. Students will gain familiarity with the professional tools and skills required for impactful work in this field.

This module is designed to equip students with the essential skills and knowledge required to excel in research, practice, and professional life. Emphasising a transdisciplinary approach, experiential learning and practitioner tools and approaches, the module aims to enhance critical thinking, research abilities, and practical skills essential for careers in Global Affairs, International Relations and related fields. Students will engage with theoretical concepts, practical and practitioner-based tools and applications, and professional development, with an emphasis on current global challenges and trends, enabling them to become informed, effective, and adaptable professionals. 

Indicative content includes:

• In-depth analysis of contemporary global challenges, such as climate change, conflict resolution, humanitarian crises, and global health issues.
• Examination of current geopolitical trends and their implications for international relations.
• Case studies on the role of international organisations (e.g., UN, IMF, World Bank) and regional organisations in addressing global issues.
• Analysis of real-world policy documents, international agreements, indicators and schematics.
• Use of qualitative and quantitative tools and information eco-systems for research, practice and professional work.
• Communication skills for effective writing, public speaking, and international negotiations.
• Intercultural awareness and competency to navigate diverse international environments.
• Ethical decision-making and the importance of professional ethics

This module provides a structured, university-level work placement for 4, 5 or 7 weeks as one continuous block / period with a placement provider (i.e. industry apprioprate sector). It is designed to enhance your professional skills in a real-world job setting.

The placement can either be organised by you or with support from university staff.

All work placements within this module must be university-level; this means:

• Undertaking high-skilled work commensurate with level 5 study (e.g. report writing, attending meetings, delivering presentations, producing spreadsheets, writing content on webpages, social media, marketing services/products etc)
• Physically placed (albeit part of it can be hybrid) within an employer setting in one continuous block / period for 4, 5 or 7 weeks for a minimum of 140-147 hours over the course of the entire work placement

Where applicable, your existing part-time employer can be approached/used as the placement provider, if the high-skilled work.

• criterion above is fulfilled for the full duration of the placement.
• All quality assurances/agreements provided by the University are adhered to, by you and the employer.

The work placement context may not necessarily, reflect your degree discipline per se, but rather, it will give you an enriched experience to enhance your professional skills in a real-world job setting.

The Level 5, 40-credit modules require a basic foundation of knowledge of your chosen language e.g. GCSE or equivalent,  a Level 4 module in the same language or equivalent previous learning. This module includes an optional placement abroad, such as an intensive course at a partner university. You can choose:

• Advanced Language Development and Global Sustainability (choice of German, French or Spanish)
• Upper Intermediate Language Development and Global Employability (choice of Chinese, French or Spanish)
• Post Beginner Language Development and Global Cultures (choice of German, Italian or Spanish)

This module on International Political Economy is concerned with the (re)production of power and wealth within the contemporary world order. The module explores complex questions and global challenges that are rooted in an understanding of power, international relations and economy. Students are asked to think critically about how the politics of the international economy is governed and through an evaluation of power and inequality. Such questions include: Why and how does the politics and economics of the world take its current form? In what ways do the structural features of the world economy shape power and visa versa, and with what consequences? In what ways does the international political economy create uneven consequences and shape interactions in the international community?  Case studies will be drawn from across the world and, in particular, from Latin America. Indicative content includes:

• Theoretical Approaches of IPE: Orthodox, Critical and Radical theories.
• The Subject of International Political Economy and its Methods
• The Evolution of the IPE: Empires and mercantilism; economic liberalism; the liberal economic order; Pax Britannica, industrial capitalism and imperialism; Power, Contemporary capitalism and global governance – who does the governing?; contemporary imperialism.
• Bretton Woods Institutions; the Washington Consensus, Post-Washington Consensus and Critique; Dismantling Embedded Liberalism; States, Markets and Institutions.
• Key issues, global challenges and responses in the IPE: Globalization and its discontents; North-South Relationships; International Trade, Finance and Development; Transnational Production; Global Division of Labour; Sustainable Development; International Security, Conflict and Migration; Culture, Indigeneity and IPE; Resistance to the Global norms; Climate change and energy security; the IPE of ideas and knowledge production

The aims of this module are four-fold:

• To provide an in-depth understanding of the historical development of the IPE.
• To provide a critical analysis of the main institutional and structural contours of the global political economy and the effects of these.
• To offer perspectives and insights that engage with, stand in contrast to and challenge dominant paradigms about power dynamics within the global political economy.
• To provide a sophisticated understanding of global issues and challenges through mainstream, critical and radical theories of IPE.

The overarching aim of this module is to develop in students an in-depth understanding of  how  media stories, whether factual or fictional, are generated globally: by whom, why and in whose political interests are a multiplicity of stories circulated and competing? What is at stake when some stories are amplified, whilst others are invisibilised? What methods of journalism whether transnationally-disseminated  or citizen -led, serve to obscure or enlighten? How are stories  received or resisted  in distinct parts of the globe?  In what ways do popular culture narratives serve as a form of  cultural imperialism? Students will  critically analyse and evaluate the role of communication in the political sphere.

The module will cover the following areas: political and media organisations and their relationships with one another; propaganda and disinformation; globalisation, popular culture and power; theories and practice of political marketing; political campaigning; new campaigning methods; the role of spin doctors, media managers, polling companies. The role of lobbyists and public affairs agencies; political representation; theories of media analysis,  and visual decoding. Implications of new and social networking media in a range of global contexts will be considered.

The quest to understand the contemporary politics and international relations of the African continent often appears elusive. That this should be so is not surprising since it has frequently been driven by a need to approach the complexities of the continent from an explanatory scheme that is congruent with Westernisation and liberalism and rooted in western epistemological traditions and experience. Instead, this module explores African politics and international relations from "the inside", through the concepts, theories, paradigms and contexts in which the political, economic and social logic of Africa come together and which engage and challenge contemporary thinking and dominant discourses about society, peoples, cultures, international relations and global affairs.

Content will include reference to: 

• A postcolonial "African" critique of the disciplines of politics and international relations, the Global system, its origins and nature.
• Africa in, and of, the Global South and BRICS and at the centre of Critical International Political Economy.
• The Political Instrumentalization of Disorder - Modernity, Tradition, Power, Progress and Legitimacy in Africa.
• The Postcolonial African State and Post-State - Political Thought and Philosophical Critique; the state as a Matrix; Crisis States, Collapsed States, New States, developmental and post-developmental states.
• Being and Belonging: Origin and culture, land, ethnicity, religion, social class.
• The Productivity of Economic and Political Failure: Migration, Trade and the Informal Economies of the African Sub-Regions; Debt, Trade and Aid; development and Post-Development.
• Conflict, Peace and Justice in Africa - Restorative, Distributory, Reparative, Reconciliatory and Indigenous African Approaches and Practices.
• Modernity: Africa as a critical site of modernity and legitimacy in the world.

The primary aims of this module are:

• To provide a critical understanding of the historical, political and economic positionally of Africa, in and of the world, as seen through multiple paradigms, theories, concepts and contexts which shape our understanding.
• To offer perspectives and insights that engage with, stand in contrast to, and challenge, dominant paradigms of the global North about politics and international relations, as seen through the lens of 'the other'.
• To develop critical thinking amongst participants about the subject of inquiry.
• To develop research capacity appropriate to level 6 of study and as foundational to success for postgraduate studies.

Following the seventeen sustainable development goals initiated by the United Nations in 2015, this module embedded the social, economic and environmental challenges we encounter in the next century to examine the intersection of crisis management, humanitarian action, and economic strategies for resilience and recovery. Students will explore critical themes, including disaster response, the role of humanitarian organizations, and the socio-economic challenges of recovery. It delves into how societies and international systems respond to disasters, both natural and man-made, and how these responses influence long-term recovery, peace, and economic stability. The module emphasizes the importance of sustainable and equitable recovery practices and encourages students to evaluate various international approaches to managing crises.

In this module, students will develop a deep understanding of the political, economic, and environmental factors that contribute to disasters and crisis, as well as analyse the short-term and long-term impacts of these crises on societies and global stability. They will critically assess the principles, roles, and ethical challenges involved in humanitarian responses, using real-world cases to explore the complexities and dilemmas inherent in delivering aid across diverse crisis situations.

Additionally, students will examine economic theories and development practices that promote sustainable recovery and resilience, with a particular focus on reconstruction strategies that address underlying social and economic vulnerabilities. By integrating theoretical frameworks with practical case studies, students will develop the skills needed to propose effective solutions for real-world crises, addressing both immediate humanitarian needs and the challenges of long-term resilience to crisis and economic development.

 Key Themes and Topics

1. Understanding Crisis and Disasters

Definition and types of crises: natural disasters, economic collapses, pandemics, and political instability Root causes and contributing factors, including climate change, inequality, governance, and resource scarcity. The immediate and long-term impacts of crises on societies, economies, and international relations.

2. Humanitarian Response and Ethics

The principles of humanitarian action: neutrality, impartiality, and independence. The role of humanitarian organisations, NGOs, and international bodies in crisis response. Ethical dilemmas in humanitarian aid: intervention vs. sovereignty, short-term relief vs. long-term development.

3. Peace Economics and Post-Crisis Recovery

Economic theories and models for sustainable recovery. Reconstruction and development: rebuilding infrastructure, restoring economies. Case studies on successful and unsuccessful recovery efforts, examining factors that contribute to resilience.

4. Global Challenges and Emerging Issues in Crisis Management

The role of technology, social media, and big data in disaster response and recovery. Cross-border challenges. Climate adaptation and resilience planning in vulnerable regions

5. Big data and analysis

Use of data sets to understand resilience, disaster responses, and policy interventions to mitigate the negative impacts of the climate and disaster to the sustainable development

6. Amartya Sen and his model

Amartya Sen's model of development, known as the capability approach, focuses on the freedom of individuals to lead the lives they value. Sen believed that development should be measured by the extent to which it increases human capabilities, rather than by economic growth or technical progress.

The Major Independent Project in Global Affairs is designed to provide an opportunity for sustained and independent study in the final year of the Global Affairs, Politics and International Relations Programme. It intends to develop knowledge of, and critical insight into, a topic of the student's choice within the subject area under study. Students are enabled to undertake first-hand enquiry and encouraged to develop an analytical and reflective approach to the subject identified for study. The module aims to encourage the articulation of a critically informed perspective on the subject being studied. It also intends to enable the production of a coherent document of rigorous academic standards.

There are three routes within this module, each producing a major piece of written work through different methodologies and formats.

Route 1: Major Independent Project in Global Affairs: Dissertation

Route 2: Major Independent Project in Global Affairs: Policy Document

Route 3: Major Independent Project in Global Affairs: Field/Archival Immersion and Publishable Research Article

Each of these routes combine scheduled teaching and learning, individual supervision, and independent research. The number of hours for each, depend upon the route taken. In addition, those on the Field/Archival Immersion route will spend dedicated hours on this. The total number of hours for the module add up to 400.

The module concludes with a Professional Conference for students to showcase their work.