Undergraduate 

Politics MA(SocSci)/LLB/MA

War and International Security POLITIC4140

  • Academic Session: 2025-26
  • 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

The overarching aim of this course is to provide students with the conceptual and theoretical tools for understanding war and international security. This course examines different explanations for war and peaceful coexistence.

Timetable

This course may not be running this year. For further information please check the Politics and IR Moodle page or contact the subject directly.

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

Two essays, 2500 words (each 50%)

Are reassessment opportunities available for all summative assessments? Not applicable for Honours courses

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below.

Course Aims

The overarching aim of this course is to provide students with the conceptual and theoretical tools for understanding and analysing war and international security. While the international security agenda has expanded beyond a traditional focus on war, the potential use of violence for political purposes remains as a key security threat within international politics. In this course, students will examine different explanations for war and political violence within international relations.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

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

■ Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of key explanations of the causes of war and conditions of peace;

■ Apply relevant concepts and theories to analyse historical and contemporary violent conflicts;

■ Critically assess the different goals of polities in pursuing narrow or more collective interests, and identify their contributions to a more peaceful world;

■ Evaluate the changing nature of war and international security

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.