View Specification DocumentIssues In International Relations POLITIC4010
- Academic Session: 2026-27
- School: School of Social and Political Sciences
- Credits: 20
- Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
- Typically Offered: Either Semester 1 or Semester 2
- Available to Visiting Students: Yes
- Collaborative Online International Learning: No
- Curriculum For Life: No
Short Description
This course is a survey of some key contemporary issues in international relations. It will examine both some current manifestations of perennial problems of international politics, and some issues new to our time. As such, it is not simply a descriptive course on "current events," but is rather an in-depth analytical and critical evaluation of the challenges posed by a range of issues whose significance stretch far beyond the boundaries of any one country.
Timetable
Lecture: one hour per week, for 10 weeks
Tutorial: one hour per week, for 10 weeks
Requirements of Entry
Mandatory Entry Requirements
Entry to Honours Politics requires a grade point average of 12 (Grade C) over Politics 2A and Politics 2B as a first attempt.
Excluded Courses
None
Co-requisites
None
Assessment
Presentation (10%)
1250 word policy brief (40%)
2500 word essay (50%)
Are reassessment opportunities available for all summative assessments? Not applicable
It is the default expectation that all courses will offer opportunities for reassessment or deferred assessment. Where it is not possible to offer this in some assessment components, the grade achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade, and any exceptions for this course are described below.
[No exceptions]
Course Aims
The aim of the module is to introduce students to a variety of competing perspectives on a variety of global issues, requiring critical consideration of the insights and problems each perspective offers. It will provoke students to critically reflect upon the different ways to think about and conceptualize key issues in contemporary world politics.
The course is intended to be a "visitor's option", i.e., a course that can be taught by a visiting lecturer.
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of this programme students will be able to:
■ Have obtained a thorough understanding of a number of key issues and challenges in contemporary world politics
■ Be able to engage and analyse global problems through a number of theoretical approaches
■ Discern the links between theoretical analyses of global problems and potential policy prescriptions
■ Recognise the interconnectedness of contemporary global issues that stretch beyond the borders of single countries
■ Recognise interlocking political, institutional, economic and cultural dimensions of global problems.