BA (Hons)

International Relations

Teaching & Learning

 

What you'll learn

Explore a series of real world concerns as a starting point from which to look at issues in contemporary political theory. By looking at issues such as freedom, equality, violence and rights, you will attempt to provoke critical engagement and reflection on the contested nature of contemporary political theory.
Look at the key actors and institutions in the international system, and more broadly to the study of international relations. You will explore the roles key states, regional organisations and groupings, international organisations, NGOs and transnational actors play in the international order. You will examine how their power, role and significance have been affected by change and evolution in the international system, and how in turn these affect the processes of interaction, cooperation and conflict.
Understand the the nature and structure of the international system, and how modern states evolve and develop. Consider the evolution of the 20th Century States System, beginning with the decline of pax-Britannica, the inter-war crisis, the emergence of pax-Americana, the establishment and design of key international institutions, the Cold War, the end of the Cold War, rise of non-state actors, globalisation, the decline of the west and the rise of China, the ongoing economic crisis and democratisation.
Gain a critical introduction to the history and contemporary evolution of political economy. You will engage with a variety of key historical thinkers and theoretical approaches in order to develop a qualitative understanding of the rich tapestry of political economy.
Study the main theories of international relations, including realism, liberalism, Marxism, the English School and constructivism. You will look at methodological issues in social studies including classical, positivist and post-positivist concerns.
Explore a series of real world concerns as a starting point from which to look at issues in contemporary political theory. By looking at issues such as freedom, equality, violence and rights, you will attempt to provoke critical engagement and reflection on the contested nature of contemporary political theory.
Look at the key actors and institutions in the international system, and more broadly to the study of international relations. You will explore the roles key states, regional organisations and groupings, international organisations, NGOs and transnational actors play in the international order. You will examine how their power, role and significance have been affected by change and evolution in the international system, and how in turn these affect the processes of interaction, cooperation and conflict.
Understand the the nature and structure of the international system, and how modern states evolve and develop. Consider the evolution of the 20th Century States System, beginning with the decline of pax-Britannica, the inter-war crisis, the emergence of pax-Americana, the establishment and design of key international institutions, the Cold War, the end of the Cold War, rise of non-state actors, globalisation, the decline of the west and the rise of China, the ongoing economic crisis and democratisation.
Gain a critical introduction to the history and contemporary evolution of political economy. You will engage with a variety of key historical thinkers and theoretical approaches in order to develop a qualitative understanding of the rich tapestry of political economy.
Study the main theories of international relations, including realism, liberalism, Marxism, the English School and constructivism. You will look at methodological issues in social studies including classical, positivist and post-positivist concerns.

What you'll learn

Investigate the concept of citizenship and actively engage with it by undertaking a voluntary placement. This placement will be related to the scope of your course and reflect on their experiences to enhance your employability.
Gain an overview of contemporary security issues, encompassing different perspectives from the state to the individual, and how security threats have changed over time and continue to change.
Inequality is everywhere. People are treated differently or affected disproportionately because of their gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, age, disability, and immigration status. In this module you will conduct research on how inequalities are present at local, national and global levels.
Study an overview of contemporary environmental debates, with a particular focus on climate change and its consequences. You will critically assess the evidence for global environmental crisis, and efforts at global cooperation to address the issues, considering issues such as responsibility, and the role of environmental movements and alternative models of development.
Take a critical political economy approach to development in the Global South. You'll study the evolution and dynamics of development policy and practice in the Global South, from the period of post WWII state-led development to contemporary processes of neoliberal globalisation. You'll engage with a variety of theoretical approaches in order to understand issues facing development in the Global South. This module will also explore the roles and links between key institutions and actors at the global, national and local level.
Gain an understanding of the key concepts and theories associated with post conflict recovery and peacebuilding. You will examine the range of behavioural contexts and peacebuilding dimensions and develop some of these ideas into defining the goals and processes of building a peaceful (i.e. less prone to violence) society.
Explore the historical evolution of international human rights law at the United Nations. You will explore what rights are covered by the conventions and how the UN and human rights advocates use these legal mechanisms to promote and protect human rights internationally.
Examine the various debates within human rights, looking at the different theoretical frameworks scholars employ in the study and practice of this field. Take specific controversial debates within the field and explore them in depth. You will be challenged to see the complex nature of human rights as a moral framework for political action.
Review the recent history of British foreign policy starting in 1945. You'll explore contemporary debates regarding Britain's place in the world following Brexit. This module will cover topics such as the British empire and its legacy, the development of the Commonwealth, the UK's key strategic relationships with the United States and the European Union, and Britain's role in systems of global governance. During your study, you'll investigate key decision-points in post-war British foreign policy including the Suez crisis, entry into the European Community, the Falklands War, negotiations over the status of Hong Kong, the Iraq War and Brexit.
The state plays a fundamental part in social life and in shaping social development. It is a central concept in political analysis. On this module, you'll investigate the nature, development and prospects of the state using a variety of theoretical approaches. You'll consider big questions about the state such as why should we obey it? Who has power and how is political influence exercised? Does business exercise unrivalled influence? What are the arguments for growing or shrinking the state? Is globalisation forcing the state to retreat?
Investigate the concept of citizenship and actively engage with it by undertaking a voluntary placement. This placement will be related to the scope of your course and reflect on their experiences to enhance your employability.
Gain an overview of contemporary security issues, encompassing different perspectives from the state to the individual, and how security threats have changed over time and continue to change.
Inequality is everywhere. People are treated differently or affected disproportionately because of their gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, age, disability, and immigration status. In this module you will conduct research on how inequalities are present at local, national and global levels.
Study an overview of contemporary environmental debates, with a particular focus on climate change and its consequences. You will critically assess the evidence for global environmental crisis, and efforts at global cooperation to address the issues, considering issues such as responsibility, and the role of environmental movements and alternative models of development.
Take a critical political economy approach to development in the Global South. You'll study the evolution and dynamics of development policy and practice in the Global South, from the period of post WWII state-led development to contemporary processes of neoliberal globalisation. You'll engage with a variety of theoretical approaches in order to understand issues facing development in the Global South. This module will also explore the roles and links between key institutions and actors at the global, national and local level.
Gain an understanding of the key concepts and theories associated with post conflict recovery and peacebuilding. You will examine the range of behavioural contexts and peacebuilding dimensions and develop some of these ideas into defining the goals and processes of building a peaceful (i.e. less prone to violence) society.
Explore the historical evolution of international human rights law at the United Nations. You will explore what rights are covered by the conventions and how the UN and human rights advocates use these legal mechanisms to promote and protect human rights internationally.
Examine the various debates within human rights, looking at the different theoretical frameworks scholars employ in the study and practice of this field. Take specific controversial debates within the field and explore them in depth. You will be challenged to see the complex nature of human rights as a moral framework for political action.
Review the recent history of British foreign policy starting in 1945. You'll explore contemporary debates regarding Britain's place in the world following Brexit. This module will cover topics such as the British empire and its legacy, the development of the Commonwealth, the UK's key strategic relationships with the United States and the European Union, and Britain's role in systems of global governance. During your study, you'll investigate key decision-points in post-war British foreign policy including the Suez crisis, entry into the European Community, the Falklands War, negotiations over the status of Hong Kong, the Iraq War and Brexit.
The state plays a fundamental part in social life and in shaping social development. It is a central concept in political analysis. On this module, you'll investigate the nature, development and prospects of the state using a variety of theoretical approaches. You'll consider big questions about the state such as why should we obey it? Who has power and how is political influence exercised? Does business exercise unrivalled influence? What are the arguments for growing or shrinking the state? Is globalisation forcing the state to retreat?

Option modules may include

Gain an insight into the key concepts, methods and debates within Marxism and develop your capacity to reflect upon the political relevance of Marxism today. The module will be geared towards a critical understanding of capitalism and its evolution as a historically specific mode of production.
Review the recent history of British foreign policy starting in 1945. You'll explore contemporary debates regarding Britain's place in the world following Brexit. This module will cover topics such as the British empire and its legacy, the development of the Commonwealth, the UK's key strategic relationships with the United States and the European Union, and Britain's role in systems of global governance. During your study, you'll investigate key decision-points in post-war British foreign policy including the Suez crisis, entry into the European Community, the Falklands War, negotiations over the status of Hong Kong, the Iraq War and Brexit.
Gain an understanding of the key concepts and theories associated with post conflict recovery and peacebuilding. You will examine the range of behavioural contexts and peacebuilding dimensions and develop some of these ideas into defining the goals and processes of building a peaceful (i.e. less prone to violence) society.
Develop an understanding of the key theories of peace, warfare and security, and their relevance to and practice in the 21st century.
Explore the historical evolution of international human rights law at the United Nations. You will explore what rights are covered by the conventions and how the UN and human rights advocates use these legal mechanisms to promote and protect human rights internationally.
Take a critical political economy approach to development in the Global South. You'll study the evolution and dynamics of development policy and practice in the Global South, from the period of post WWII state-led development to contemporary processes of neoliberal globalisation. You'll engage with a variety of theoretical approaches in order to understand issues facing development in the Global South. This module will also explore the roles and links between key institutions and actors at the global, national and local level.
Examine the various debates within human rights, looking at the different theoretical frameworks scholars employ in the study and practice of this field. Take specific controversial debates within the field and explore them in depth. You will be challenged to see the complex nature of human rights as a moral framework for political action.
The state plays a fundamental part in social life and in shaping social development. It is a central concept in political analysis. On this module, you'll investigate the nature, development and prospects of the state using a variety of theoretical approaches. You'll consider big questions about the state such as why should we obey it? Who has power and how is political influence exercised? Does business exercise unrivalled influence? What are the arguments for growing or shrinking the state? Is globalisation forcing the state to retreat?
Gain an insight into the key concepts, methods and debates within Marxism and develop your capacity to reflect upon the political relevance of Marxism today. The module will be geared towards a critical understanding of capitalism and its evolution as a historically specific mode of production.
Review the recent history of British foreign policy starting in 1945. You'll explore contemporary debates regarding Britain's place in the world following Brexit. This module will cover topics such as the British empire and its legacy, the development of the Commonwealth, the UK's key strategic relationships with the United States and the European Union, and Britain's role in systems of global governance. During your study, you'll investigate key decision-points in post-war British foreign policy including the Suez crisis, entry into the European Community, the Falklands War, negotiations over the status of Hong Kong, the Iraq War and Brexit.
Gain an understanding of the key concepts and theories associated with post conflict recovery and peacebuilding. You will examine the range of behavioural contexts and peacebuilding dimensions and develop some of these ideas into defining the goals and processes of building a peaceful (i.e. less prone to violence) society.
Develop an understanding of the key theories of peace, warfare and security, and their relevance to and practice in the 21st century.
Explore the historical evolution of international human rights law at the United Nations. You will explore what rights are covered by the conventions and how the UN and human rights advocates use these legal mechanisms to promote and protect human rights internationally.
Take a critical political economy approach to development in the Global South. You'll study the evolution and dynamics of development policy and practice in the Global South, from the period of post WWII state-led development to contemporary processes of neoliberal globalisation. You'll engage with a variety of theoretical approaches in order to understand issues facing development in the Global South. This module will also explore the roles and links between key institutions and actors at the global, national and local level.
Examine the various debates within human rights, looking at the different theoretical frameworks scholars employ in the study and practice of this field. Take specific controversial debates within the field and explore them in depth. You will be challenged to see the complex nature of human rights as a moral framework for political action.
The state plays a fundamental part in social life and in shaping social development. It is a central concept in political analysis. On this module, you'll investigate the nature, development and prospects of the state using a variety of theoretical approaches. You'll consider big questions about the state such as why should we obey it? Who has power and how is political influence exercised? Does business exercise unrivalled influence? What are the arguments for growing or shrinking the state? Is globalisation forcing the state to retreat?

What you'll learn

Focus on a subject of your choosing related to International Relations and your own future aspirations. You will be required to select an International Relations based dissertation topic and to engage with theoretical, methods and empirical material that is appropriate to study in this field. You will identify, plan and deliver a sustained and in-depth piece of work, linking it to theory, and critically reflecting on their subject matter and research findings.
Investigate the operation, practice and context of contemporary diplomacy and international relations. You will explore traditional forms of and approaches to diplomacy and analyse the impact of changes in the international system on the practice and operation of international relations in order to understand contemporary forms of diplomacy. You will analyse diplomacy in the context of the cold war and post cold war, the rise of new actors in international diplomacy and the impact of technology and the media on international relations.
Gain an introduction to the ideas of global governance and globalisation and the intersection between them. You will begin to think critically about future patterns of world order and their institutionalisation.
This module will introduce the key issues in understanding development and change at a community, grassroots level. You’ll study the policy contexts that influence community development. And you’ll tackle key issues including funding, diversity and accountability.
Focus on the politics of human rights movement, the context within which it operates and its key players. Workshops will allow you to explore these issues in greater depth as well as providing the opportunity for group work and practical exercises.
Explore the actors, mechanisms and practice of policy making, and the drivers of policy change, via a focus on specific case studies. You will engage with key decision making theories and models of the policy process, exploring how institutional analyses and other theoretical approaches help to understand the complexity of the policy process.
Focus on a subject of your choosing related to International Relations and your own future aspirations. You will be required to select an International Relations based dissertation topic and to engage with theoretical, methods and empirical material that is appropriate to study in this field. You will identify, plan and deliver a sustained and in-depth piece of work, linking it to theory, and critically reflecting on their subject matter and research findings.
Investigate the operation, practice and context of contemporary diplomacy and international relations. You will explore traditional forms of and approaches to diplomacy and analyse the impact of changes in the international system on the practice and operation of international relations in order to understand contemporary forms of diplomacy. You will analyse diplomacy in the context of the cold war and post cold war, the rise of new actors in international diplomacy and the impact of technology and the media on international relations.
Gain an introduction to the ideas of global governance and globalisation and the intersection between them. You will begin to think critically about future patterns of world order and their institutionalisation.
This module will introduce the key issues in understanding development and change at a community, grassroots level. You’ll study the policy contexts that influence community development. And you’ll tackle key issues including funding, diversity and accountability.
Focus on the politics of human rights movement, the context within which it operates and its key players. Workshops will allow you to explore these issues in greater depth as well as providing the opportunity for group work and practical exercises.
Explore the actors, mechanisms and practice of policy making, and the drivers of policy change, via a focus on specific case studies. You will engage with key decision making theories and models of the policy process, exploring how institutional analyses and other theoretical approaches help to understand the complexity of the policy process.

Option modules may include

Investigate the related issues of terrorism, security and human rights. You will explore the synthesis between the fear of terrorism which is a pervasive threat felt by both states and individuals, the response to these threats that states adopt in creating security policy, and the impact upon human and civil rights.
Develop the knowledge and skills to understand, evaluate and critically appraise the range of approaches in international peacekeeping.
Recent years have seen British politics navigating multiple seismic and systemic events, from the 2008 financial crisis and the following period of austerity, to Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic. This module will help you to make sense of British politics in these era-defining moments by charting its most significant developments over the last century. You'll examine the current condition of Britain and consider the key issues and challenges faced in British politics today, as well as how British politics might develop in the future. In covering the past, present, and future of British politics, you'll gain a detailed understanding of its key actors, institutions, processes and ideologies. You'll also build techniques for critical analysis and develop your own evidence-based arguments about the subject.
This module will provide an advanced introduction to current debates about the persisting relevance of colonialism to thinking about politics today. It will introduce you to the critical theoretical literature around 'coloniality' and race from post-colonial and decolonial perspectives and applies these ideas to contemporary political issues.
There are currently more than 280 million migrants on the move in the world. Millions of refugees and other people have been displaced from their homes due to violence, economic desperation, climate change, conflict and persecution. Although this is not a new problem, this level of displacement and forced and voluntary mobility is unprecedented and is increasingly framed as a crisis. This module will give you a strong understanding of how the social and political geographies of displacement and migration are produced, experienced and governed at various scales. You'll also examine how local communities are responding to the complex issues experienced by displaced people and migrant communities.
Focus on the politics of human rights movement, the context within which it operates and its key players. Workshops will allow you to explore these issues in greater depth as well as providing the opportunity for group work and practical exercises.
Through a series of workshops, you will focus on the politics of social justice and nonviolent resistance, the context within which activism takes place, and the key players that undertake the work of social change. You will explore these issues in greater depth through case studies of activism undertaken in particular geographical areas (i.e Africa, Myanmar, Russia, Brazil) as well as on different issues (i.e Corruption, landrights, oppression and environmental protection).
Discover the field of study known as International Political Economy (IPE). You will engage with a variety of theoretical and empirical debates in order to situate and understand the field of IPE and its major object of study globalisation. Emphasis will be placed on how different theoretical approaches seek to understand, reform and critique the contemporary global political economy.
Explore the operation, practice and context of contemporary policy making at the national level. Examine the actors, mechanisms and practice of policy making, and the drivers of policy change, via a focus on specific case studies. You will engage with key decision making theories and models of the policy process, exploring how institutional analyses and other theoretical approaches help to understand the complexity of the policy process.
Investigate the related issues of terrorism, security and human rights. You will explore the synthesis between the fear of terrorism which is a pervasive threat felt by both states and individuals, the response to these threats that states adopt in creating security policy, and the impact upon human and civil rights.
Develop the knowledge and skills to understand, evaluate and critically appraise the range of approaches in international peacekeeping.
Recent years have seen British politics navigating multiple seismic and systemic events, from the 2008 financial crisis and the following period of austerity, to Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic. This module will help you to make sense of British politics in these era-defining moments by charting its most significant developments over the last century. You'll examine the current condition of Britain and consider the key issues and challenges faced in British politics today, as well as how British politics might develop in the future. In covering the past, present, and future of British politics, you'll gain a detailed understanding of its key actors, institutions, processes and ideologies. You'll also build techniques for critical analysis and develop your own evidence-based arguments about the subject.
This module will provide an advanced introduction to current debates about the persisting relevance of colonialism to thinking about politics today. It will introduce you to the critical theoretical literature around 'coloniality' and race from post-colonial and decolonial perspectives and applies these ideas to contemporary political issues.
There are currently more than 280 million migrants on the move in the world. Millions of refugees and other people have been displaced from their homes due to violence, economic desperation, climate change, conflict and persecution. Although this is not a new problem, this level of displacement and forced and voluntary mobility is unprecedented and is increasingly framed as a crisis. This module will give you a strong understanding of how the social and political geographies of displacement and migration are produced, experienced and governed at various scales. You'll also examine how local communities are responding to the complex issues experienced by displaced people and migrant communities.
Focus on the politics of human rights movement, the context within which it operates and its key players. Workshops will allow you to explore these issues in greater depth as well as providing the opportunity for group work and practical exercises.
Through a series of workshops, you will focus on the politics of social justice and nonviolent resistance, the context within which activism takes place, and the key players that undertake the work of social change. You will explore these issues in greater depth through case studies of activism undertaken in particular geographical areas (i.e Africa, Myanmar, Russia, Brazil) as well as on different issues (i.e Corruption, landrights, oppression and environmental protection).
Discover the field of study known as International Political Economy (IPE). You will engage with a variety of theoretical and empirical debates in order to situate and understand the field of IPE and its major object of study globalisation. Emphasis will be placed on how different theoretical approaches seek to understand, reform and critique the contemporary global political economy.
Explore the operation, practice and context of contemporary policy making at the national level. Examine the actors, mechanisms and practice of policy making, and the drivers of policy change, via a focus on specific case studies. You will engage with key decision making theories and models of the policy process, exploring how institutional analyses and other theoretical approaches help to understand the complexity of the policy process.