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Politics and Security Studies BA (Hons)

Bachelor's degree

In Bradford

£ 9,250 + VAT

Description

  • Type

    Bachelor's degree

  • Location

    Bradford

  • Duration

    3 Years

  • Start date

    Different dates available

This new programme for September 2018 entry gives you a thorough grounding in politics, with particular focus on the idea of security and its impact on political systems, both in the UK and around the world.
You will explore the politics and management of non-traditional security threats such as disease, migration, radicalisation, cyber-terrorism, resource depletion, and climate change.
You’ll address the big contemporary political questions:
How serious is the terrorist threat and how is it changing?
Are we at risk from global pandemics?
How do national and regional perspectives on security differ around the globe?
How should we be operating nationally and internationally to promote a more secure world for all?
You will have opportunities to learn beyond the classroom through simulation exercises, field trips, and specialist workshops.
Also available with a sandwich placement year in industry.

Facilities

Location

Start date

Bradford (West Yorkshire)
See map
Richmond Road, BD7 1DP

Start date

Different dates availableEnrolment now open

About this course

Typical offer: BBC / 112 UCAS points

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Reviews

This centre's achievements

2018

All courses are up to date

The average rating is higher than 3.7

More than 50 reviews in the last 12 months

This centre has featured on Emagister for 14 years

Subjects

  • Conflict
  • Politics
  • Risk
  • Governance
  • Simulation
  • International
  • Global
  • University
  • Project
  • Technology
  • Industry
  • IT risk
  • Democracy

Course programme

The modules for this course can be found in the latest programme specification.

Year One

Module Title Core/Option/Elective Credits Global Issues and Challenges Core 60 Histories of the Present Core 20 States and Power Core 20 Analysing violence and security Core 20

Year One introduces you to Politics and Security Studies as an interdisciplinary field of study and gives you a sense of how the analysis of real-world problems can be approached from different conceptual perspectives and approaches to research.

In the 60 credit module Global Issues and Challenges we start exploring how we might tackle the many problems facing the world today: How do we begin to understand the immense problems that face us, in all their complexity, let alone actually tackle them? In this module you will learn how to get started: you will learn some basic tools for beginning to unpick and analyse the pressing problems of our time. You will work to develop your own understanding of key global problems as a basis for beginning to think about how they might be resolved.

Histories of the Present asks critical questions about the historical developments that have shaped present realities, and about the stories we tell about both past and present. If it is true that "History is written by the winners," that is, the powerful get to control the way that historical events are depicted and interpreted, then how, and how successfully, do they do this? To what extent does our everyday understanding of the past reflect the interests of the powerful? And how does this affect our responses to problems of the present? In this module, you will explore the relationship between knowledge and power in constructing our understanding of the contemporary world and the role that institutions such as museums and objects such as memorials play in this. Drawing on the University's own archive of documents relating to the peace movement and its special relationship with the Bradford Peace Museum, you will explore sources and documents relating to historical episodes of war and peace and get the opportunity to design and present your own museum exhibit or memorial presenting an alternative history of contemporary problems.

The modern state is central to the contemporary exercise of power, yet states differ a great deal from one another and political scientists argue about how exactly the state functions in both domestic and international politics. In the module States and Power you will learn about the institutions, ideologies and practices that comprise the modern state. You will compare the traditional "Westminster model", which political scientists have long regarded as the ideal or ‘normal’, with the messy reality of states around the world. You will explore the implications of neo-liberalism and post-liberalism for the welfare state in Europe, consider the challenges of state fragility and state failure in a variety of conflict-affected regions, and evaluate the claim that authoritarian one-party states, such as China's, are proving more effective at grappling with contemporary global challenges. In so doing, you will learn about the way power works, engage with debates on the factors constraining or contributing to social, economic and political change, and explore the interrelationship between state, society, environment, technology and human development.

Analysing Violence and Security provides an introduction to analysing a broad range of contemporary security challenges. Using real world examples of contemporary security problematics such as new wars, nuclear weapons and terrorism, arms control, biochemical warfare, health and biosecurity, risk, environmental security, post colonial security, and gender and insecurity, it will give you the conceptual, methodological and theoretical knowledge to analyse violence and security, insecurity, instability and armed conflict in the modern international system.

Year Two

Module Title Core/Option/Elective Credits Analysing Contemporary Conflict Core 20 Populism, Authoritarianism and Extremism Core 20 Revolutions and Regime Change Core 20 Peacebuilding, Conflict and Security Core 20 Technology, Violence and War Option 20 Terrorism and Political Violence Option 20 The Politics of Development Option 20

Your second year expands and deepens interdisciplinary exploration of the historical dynamics and profound shifts in the politics and security of states. This will include the study of state and nation building, regime types, political processes, violence, conflict, terrorism, peacebuilding, regional politics and security. Both the general knowledge and the specific analytical skills developed by the modules offered in the second year are essential at several popular destinations for Politics graduates, such as government, international organisations and the NGO sector.

In Analysing Contemporary Conflict you will learn knowledge and analytic skills needed for a systematic and critical understanding of the causes, dynamics and impacts of conflict in the contemporary world. You will apply key concepts in various research and analysis tasks, exploring contemporary cases of conflict and the validity or limitations of existing academic thinking. As such, the module emphasises an applied and practical approach to conflict analysis, developing your skills in gathering and analysing information about relevant case-studies and contexts of conflict.

The module Populism, Authoritarianism and Extremism focuses on populist and authoritarian challenges to liberal democracy, and on the phenomenon of contemporary political extremism, in a broad historical context. It looks at case studies of non-democratic and hybrid regimes from the past, assessing the impact of the two world wars, the legacy of the twentieth-century 'revolt of the masses' and the emergence of extremist political ideologies. We then look at democratisation in the post-Cold War era, the latest authoritarian and populist challenges, and the re-emergence of radical and extremist movements, in various parts of the world. from Europe, Asia and the Middle East to Latin America. We examine ongoing debates about autocracy promotion, memory politics, the legacy of political radicalism and extremism, the persistent myth of the 'strong leader' and the populist concept of the 'illiberal democracy'.

The module Revolutions and Regime Change focuses on some of the most important and dramatic features of the contemporary world and its recent history - the twin processes of revolution and regime change. Beginning with the 'classical' revolutions - the French, Russian and Chinese - you will then explore how far, if at all, they have served as templates for modern ones such as those in Cuba and Iran. You will also examine the linked yet more gradual process of regime change through democratization, through case -studies such as the fall of communism in central and eastern Europe and (in some respects) the Arab spring. You will become familiar with, and able to critique, the major theories of revolution (class-based, psychological, modernization and interest group conflict).

How do we deal with situations of conflict and insecurity? Since the advent of peacebuilding as a term in United Nations parlance in the early 1990s, peacebuilding has developed into an industry, operating at a range of levels from village councils to the UN Security Council. In Peacebuilding, Conflict and Security we will consider two sides of peacebuilding. First, we will consider how the term has developed from a radical concept from the ideological fringe to a mainstream element of UN jargon, and the critiques of the way it has been used by liberal peacebuilders. Second, we will look at how peacebuilding is actually done in the field by peace, development and security practitioners. What are the tools and mechanisms that have been shown to work in stabilizing fragile contexts, and what do you need to know to use them effectively?

The module Technology, Violence and War examines contemporary debates about the relationship between society, technology and violence, focussing in particular on the implications for security and arms governance of recent innovations in drone warfare, nanotechnology, biotechnology and cyberwarfare. The module will include a visit and talk at the Royal Armouries in Leeds to familiarise students with the early history of military-technological innovation. You will be taught using a mixture of lectures, group seminar work and assessed presentations on a case study selected by the group. The case study will be chosen from examples of the recent offensive use of a novel technology. Different groups will be tasked with examining the various ethical, legal, strategic and security issues raised by the offensive use of a novel technology.

The module Terrorism and Political Violence is concerned with the phenomenon of political violence in the 20th and 21st century. It covers the politics and strategies of terrorism; the structure and dynamic of terrorist groups/terror group operations; technologies and tactics of terrorist groups; state vs. non-state terror, insurgencies and counterinsurgency strategies. It looks at terrorism and national liberation movements during the Cold War, the Arab-Israeli conflict and terrorism in the Middle East, urban terror in Western Europe and radical Islam. The emergence of Al Quaeda, global terror networks and the threat of weapons of mass destruction are discussed alongside the efforts to counter terrorism and the US led ‘war against terror’.

The global political economy is in the process of fundamental transformation. Power relations between north and south, east and west, are changing rapidly, with huge implications for international collaboration on issues such as trade, aid, global governance and on trans-border problems. In The Politics of Development module we explore the politics of development in the Global South, following the real world links in contemporary policy and practice. We explore the relevant theories and concepts from academic research but also look in detail at the practice of development strategies and policies on the ground in these countries. We will look at the more people-focussed approaches from non-governmental organisations and social movements, as well as the top-down strategies of governments and international organisations. In reviewing ‘what works’ and ‘what happens’ we will explore and practice some of the key professional techniques of impact analysis; monitoring and evaluation techniques; project management; and governance. There will also be opportunities to meet practitioners and policy makers.

Year Three

Module Title Core/Option/Elective Credits Dissertation Core 40 Politics and Security in Africa or elective Elective 20 Pathways to Professional Practice Core 20 The Politics of International Crisis Response Core 20 Politics and Security in the Middle East Option 20 Creative Conflict Transformation Option 20 Contemporary Development Challenges Option 20

Year Three offers choice and flexibility alongside the core curriculum, with options for developing your own independent research in your dissertation. The core modules further develop key professional skills and competencies. Option modules allow for further specialisation in relevant areas and case studies of regions, in particular Africa and the Middle East.

Your dissertation is a substantial capstone project with which to conclude your degree. It represents your opportunity to undertake an extended piece of research and writing, guided by an academic supervisor. You will draw on the various concepts and theories you have learned and applying these to a case study or issue area of your choice to come up with new understandings of or solutions to pressing challenges in the world. You will learn about doing research, how to set out a pertinent and important research question, using analytical tools to analyse data, developing your ideas into arguments. The dissertation is a very useful signature piece of work to impress future employers and show them your in-depth knowledge of an area.

Bridging the divide between academic theory and professional practice is essential for you to effectively deploy your university studies to make a contribution to the real world outside. Pathways to Professional Practice aims to provide you with preliminary familiarity with the everyday challenges and problems of the practical context of peace and development work, through conducting a placement with a partner organisation in Bradford, or through designing and implenting your own practical project focused on promoting the aims and goals of the university, the student community, or an organisation outside. Under the supervision of your personal academic tutor, you will produce a professional quality project document, and you will maintain a learning journal documenting the challenges and issues you face in the professional context, leading to a reflective report on your experience of professional work. The module also offers an opportunity to interact with peace and development professionals in specially designed workshops to assist you in identifying possible career pathways.

The Politics of International Crisis Response brings you together with fellow students in politics, security, international relations, and development studies. Working across these neighbouring disciplies, you will develop an understanding of the dynamics that bear on international responses to complex crises, including disasters, humanitarian or development emergencies, gross abuse of human or minority rights, violent conflict or inter-state security crises. Through relevant case studies, this module examines existing international and regional mechanisms for crisis response and identifies lessons from past experiences. A crisis simulation game and other simulation exercises will give you the opportunity to develop skills and experience that will help you to engage with the challenges and practices of relevant international policy and practitioner communities.

Politics and Security in the Middle East covers topics such as colonialism, decolonisation, fragility, governance, democracy, gender, development, conflict, security, terrorism, intervention, the formation of nation-state model, the rise and the fall of Arab nationalism, political Islam, regional security and oil politics. The module will allow students to draw on their knowledge of broader frameworks and theories to apply them to a specific region, the Middle East, and to particular case studies or themes in the region.

Creative Conflict Transformation invites you to explore some of these questions, and to look beyond the most familiar peacemaking processes to include the arts (e.g. music, applied theatre, literature), memory work, critical/peace education, conflict resolution and mediation. It starts from the assumption that much work to address conflict and its legacies requires a capacity to both envision and act for change. How might we cultivate this capacity in ourselves and others? While this module can and should not provide final answers, it will draw inspiration from existing experiences and experiments and encourage you to reflect both creatively and critically on how they might help you shape your own approach to conflict engagement.

The global political economy is in the process of fundamental transformation. Power relations between north and south, east and west, are changing rapidly, with huge implications for international collaboration on issues such as trade, aid, global governance and on trans-border problems. In Contemporary Development Challenges students will learn about the challenges of applying theoretical models in a useful, ethical and reflective way, which is relevant to the well-being of people, and to the achievement of social, economic and environmental benefits for communities and societies. This will be done through investigating contemporary development issues which affect the Global South most acutely, and exploring these in case-study countries, by undertaking advanced supervised research projects, negotiated between students and tutors.

Politics and Security Studies BA (Hons)

£ 9,250 + VAT