MA

International Relations

Teaching & Learning

What you'll learn

Learn how to deploy the principal classical and contemporary theories of International Relations by developing theory within the context of modern and historical case studies.
Gain an understanding of the concepts, theories and methods used in the study of global development. You will study the origins, evolution and contemporary dynamics of development within the international system and the challenges facing it, and you will be able to apply your knowledge of global development with originality within advanced academic settings.
Explore the possibilities and challenges of taking gender seriously within both international relations and international political economy. You will study key theoretical, conceptual, empirical, and practice debates surrounding the role of gender in international politics and global political economy.
Engage in critical depth with a research-based project aligned to your personal interests and professional aspirations.
Explore the contested conceptualisation of human rights, via universalist/relativist and cosmopolitan/communitarian debates, and locate the theorisation of rights within the broad schools of international relations thought. You’ll study the tensions that emerge through the institutionalisation of rights at an international level, the operation of sovereignty and the politics of rights at a group and individual level.
Develop a critical understanding of research as a practice and a product. The module will develop your critical understanding of the nature of knowledge offer general training on research approaches, including key theoretical, ethical and practical considerations.
Learn how to deploy the principal classical and contemporary theories of International Relations by developing theory within the context of modern and historical case studies.
Gain an understanding of the concepts, theories and methods used in the study of global development. You will study the origins, evolution and contemporary dynamics of development within the international system and the challenges facing it, and you will be able to apply your knowledge of global development with originality within advanced academic settings.
Explore the possibilities and challenges of taking gender seriously within both international relations and international political economy. You will study key theoretical, conceptual, empirical, and practice debates surrounding the role of gender in international politics and global political economy.
Engage in critical depth with a research-based project aligned to your personal interests and professional aspirations.
Explore the contested conceptualisation of human rights, via universalist/relativist and cosmopolitan/communitarian debates, and locate the theorisation of rights within the broad schools of international relations thought. You’ll study the tensions that emerge through the institutionalisation of rights at an international level, the operation of sovereignty and the politics of rights at a group and individual level.
Develop a critical understanding of research as a practice and a product. The module will develop your critical understanding of the nature of knowledge offer general training on research approaches, including key theoretical, ethical and practical considerations.

What you'll learn

Consider how projects fit within organisations, and how they are developed, funded and managed. You will be introduced to the essential components including planning, evaluation, ethics and governance issues, and stakeholder engagement.
This module interrogates the concept of insecurity and draws on a range of theories and understandings of security, and how this has evolved from a focus on the state to incorporate human security. You will explore the relationship between conflict, security and development, including the roles of key actors, agencies, policies and interventions, and key intersections of gender, ethnicity, poverty and exclusion. You will also examine responses to traditional and new security threats from a human rights perspective via a range of local and global case studies.
Explore acts of war, political violence and ‘crimes of aggression’ through the lens of criminological discourse. You will develop an in-depth understanding of war and its relationship with ‘crime’ by critically evaluating the role of individual states, international communities, as well as victims, bystanders and known perpetrators or combatants.
Gain a better understanding of the environmental dilemmas that confront us in the contemporary world, by moving beyond the limitations of mainstream economic analysis in coming to terms with the threats of environmental degradation and climate change. This module tries to reawaken a broader type of ethical, natural and social theorisation which has been present in political economy at least since the 18th century.
Study the key theories and concepts that are used to understand violence, conflict, and peace. By examining existing case studies, you'll gain an overview of various approaches that have been applied to manage or resolve conflict and to build peace. You'll gain an understanding of the key actors and processes associated with conflict resolution and peacebuilding, as well as key achievements and obstacles to building peace.
Develop your knowledge of where public policy comes from, focusing on policies' historical and political antecedents. You'll gain a detailed understanding of the most useful theories of the policy process. This will include studying the roles of a variety of key actors and institutions, and the shifting policymaking paradigms from the late-1970s onwards. This will enable you to better understand the reasons why some policies are put in place and others are not. You'll also understand how to effectively influence the future course of public policy.
Consider how projects fit within organisations, and how they are developed, funded and managed. You will be introduced to the essential components including planning, evaluation, ethics and governance issues, and stakeholder engagement.
This module interrogates the concept of insecurity and draws on a range of theories and understandings of security, and how this has evolved from a focus on the state to incorporate human security. You will explore the relationship between conflict, security and development, including the roles of key actors, agencies, policies and interventions, and key intersections of gender, ethnicity, poverty and exclusion. You will also examine responses to traditional and new security threats from a human rights perspective via a range of local and global case studies.
Explore acts of war, political violence and ‘crimes of aggression’ through the lens of criminological discourse. You will develop an in-depth understanding of war and its relationship with ‘crime’ by critically evaluating the role of individual states, international communities, as well as victims, bystanders and known perpetrators or combatants.
Gain a better understanding of the environmental dilemmas that confront us in the contemporary world, by moving beyond the limitations of mainstream economic analysis in coming to terms with the threats of environmental degradation and climate change. This module tries to reawaken a broader type of ethical, natural and social theorisation which has been present in political economy at least since the 18th century.
Study the key theories and concepts that are used to understand violence, conflict, and peace. By examining existing case studies, you'll gain an overview of various approaches that have been applied to manage or resolve conflict and to build peace. You'll gain an understanding of the key actors and processes associated with conflict resolution and peacebuilding, as well as key achievements and obstacles to building peace.
Develop your knowledge of where public policy comes from, focusing on policies' historical and political antecedents. You'll gain a detailed understanding of the most useful theories of the policy process. This will include studying the roles of a variety of key actors and institutions, and the shifting policymaking paradigms from the late-1970s onwards. This will enable you to better understand the reasons why some policies are put in place and others are not. You'll also understand how to effectively influence the future course of public policy.