Course Catalogue

The Politics of Borders POLITIC4185

  • 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 will examine the politics of borders from a critical, interdisciplinary and historical perspective. It will examine how the politics of borders manifests itself in a range of issue-areas, including but not limited to debates about territory, migration, sovereignty, economy, security, nationalism, indigenous struggles against extractive industries and social movements against borders, climate change and imperialism and empire.

Timetable

Seminar: two hours per week, for 10 weeks x 2

Requirements of Entry

Entry to Honours Politics or International Relations 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

· Essay 2500 words (60%)

 

· Seminar group presentation (20%) and individual written version of the presentation (500 words) (10%)

 

· Seminar participation (10%)

Course Aims

The aim of this course is to provide students with the conceptual vocabulary and empirical knowledge to critically analyse the politics of borders. Using interdisciplinary insights from International Relations, Critical Border Studies, Migration Studies and Political Geography, the course seeks to equip participants with a conceptual toolkit to analyse borders, and understand the dynamics of their production, maintenance, extension, contestation and dissolution in key issues of global politics, such as territory, sovereignty, security, the economy, climate change, nationalism and colonialism.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Critically analyse the politics of borders in a range of issue-areas

■ Apply concepts and theories to current debates about borders in politics, International Relations and related disciplines

■ Demonstrate a historical understanding of the causes and consequences of borders in key global challenges

■ Synthesise theoretical and conceptual debates in the study of borders

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

No exceptions