BA (Hons) International Relations and Politics

In order to understand how the state engages with other actors at the international level it is essential to understand how the state functions. It is driven both by theory and practical examples. In this module you will examine the various political models and how they operate in practice. How does China, for example, operate in the space between authoritarian rule and democracy? Does China's political model offer stability and an example for other states to follow? Can a state lose its democratic identity as well as gain one? These are all the kinds of questions that arise when comparing different political systems, states and societies with each other.

The state in international affairs is an essential component to the study of International Relations. This module will guide you through its development in Europe from the 17th Century to the present day. We will explore how the state operated during this period, and question why it has been so resilient an entity for human organisation. We will also examine the impact of the end of the Cold War along with how subsequent thinking has led to significant changes in how the state and its power are understood by the international community.

This module enables you to understand the world in which we live today. It provides a solid grounding in the study of international affairs through the varying theories that have been developed throughout the 20th and 21st Centuries. Through discussing these theories, we also examine how they have informed the international system and the institutions and practices that operate within it.

Theory is an important tool in understanding why and how we act, whether it be as an individual or a group. This module encourages us to think about the different ways in which we have attempted to understand the relationship between the human, state and society. All too often our understanding of these theories are driven by Western political thought. Whilst an essential component, this module will also explore non-Western thoughts on this relationship in an attempt to gain a greater understanding of humans and the world in which we live.

By providing you with an understanding on how you can engage with the world, this module helps encourage your political development. It is not the purpose of the module to tell you what to believe in but it is responsible for showing you how you can advocate your political positions. This module brings in activists, experts and scholars to discuss how they are involved in politics in order to give you a grounding of the different ways in which you can engage with your own politics.

This module introduces you to a range of techniques for the analysis of political activism and political communication. It pays particular attention to new and emerging methods of communicating information on a variety of social and digital media platforms. It will look at key moments during the development of social media and net platforms such as the Arab Spring, and the Black Lives Matter and #MeToo movements. The module will assess how online and social media have transformed political communication and empowered grassroots activists to become involved in major political issues.

In the first year of your degree you would have examined the different theories that are applied in International Relations, and how they were developed. Whilst you would have touched on how these theories formed and how they disputed each other, this module goes into the controversies in further detail. Structured around the 'Great Debates', this module provides greater insight into the theories that help inform our understanding of the world.

This module provides you with the opportunity to develop an in-depth understanding of a particular topic related to International Relations and Politics, and enables you to develop the necessary research skills for the work place and prepares you for your Level 6 research project module.

This module enables you to focus on a particular region of the world based on what is of particular interest in the year of delivery, and contingent on the research expertise of the instructor.

The aim of this module is to introduce you to modern African history in order to develop an understanding of colonial rule and decolonisation in Africa.

The aim is to provide students with a semester of study at an approved overseas partner that will replace one semester of their LJMU programme at level 5.This is a semester of full-time study at an approved higher education institution which will replace one semester of level 5 study at LJMU. The modules to be studied must be agreed in advance, and must be an appropriate substitute for the modules being replaced. Assuming successful completion of this semester, mark-bearing credit will be awarded by the Faculty Recognition Group. The grade conversion scale to be used will be made available in advance of the year abroad.

The aim is to provide students with an additional year of study at an approved overseas partner that will complement their programme at LJMU. This is an additional year of full-time study at an approved higher education institution. The modules to be studied must be agreed in advance, and must be appropriate for the student's programme of study. Assuming successful completion of this year, mark-bearing credit will be awarded by the Faculty Recognition Group. The grade conversion scale to be used will be made available in advance of the year abroad.

The aim is to provide students with an extended period of work experience at an approved partner that will complement their programme of study at LJMU. This will give students the opportunity to develop professional skills relevant to their programme of study as well as the attitude and behaviours necessary for employment in a diverse and changing environment. This extended placement forms a key part of a sandwich degree. All placements need to be assessed and approved prior to commencement in line with the LJMU Placement Learning Code of Practice. The Code of Practice requires students to conduct themselves in a professional and responsible manner during the placement - failure to do so may lead to the placement being terminated prematurely. Placements are normally for one calendar year on a full-time basis. Split placements of a shorter duration may be permissible. There is an expectation that a minimum of 1200 hours will be spent in the workplace.

This module enables you to explore politics and popular culture as a sub-field that articulates the ways in which politics is understood through popular culture. It demonstrates how theory as a means of making sense of the world impacts upon the everyday. It provides you with an opportunity to take ownership over your learning process through student-led seminars, guided by preceding interactive lectures.

This module enables you to explore the roles and relations of international organisations through a thematic approach. This will allow you to engage with key organisations focussing on broader themes of international politics, such as aid and development, health, security and the environment. This approach will allow you to engage with core debates and explore the roles of a multitude of organisations.

This module will introduce you to the structures and practical functioning of British politics and government. You will take a contemporary focus of British politics, examining the elements of continuity, change and crisis. This will allow you to explore political processes in the UK, both formal institutions of the state and alternative political processes. In doing so, you will analyse the relevance of the Westminster model of governance and set British politics within a comparative context

This module deepens students' understanding of Scandinavian history, society, and politics. They engage in key debates, study various political systems, and explore Nordic culture through media and literature. The syllabus covers topics like the Welfare Model, colonialism, modernization, and contemporary political issues, offering a well-rounded perspective on the region's past and present.

Weekly lectures will provide background and contextual setting against which students will consider a range of primary source material in seminars. The seminars will provide a structured framework where sources will be dissected by students and used to stimulate discussion and debate.

Numbers on this module are strictly capped at 5 per institution. Alongside selecting this module in OMS, students wishing to follow this course will also have to make a direct application for consideration to the host institution. That application will take the form of a letter/personal statement outlining their suitability for this role and their commitment to teaching as a profession. This will take place in May/June. Initial shortlisting will be undertaken by the LJMU IRP team taking account of the following criteria: Record of attendance through Level-4 to be at least 75% across semester 2. Academic performance at Level-4: successful applicants will have achieved a minimum overall level mean mark of at least 60%. A clearly articulated appreciation of the nature of teaching and a commitment to this vocation. Where possible, evidence of teaching experience either as a classroom assistant, or equivalent, or teaching observation. All DBS checks will be completed with the host institution.

This module aims to bring together the critical study of terrorism and critical approaches to the study of race and empire. This module will critically examine contemporary counter-terrorism practices and their historical origins in colonial contexts. As such, this module will provide students with the necessary theoretical tools to understand how contemporary discourses on ‘terrorism’ open up wider questions of power, coloniality and empire. Students will further be provided with the tools to apply decolonial approaches to contemporary issues in world politics. In particular, this module will be important for students who are keen on pursuing a career within research, policy-making, NGO work, and organisations concerned with security, development and peace-building, counter-terrorism, and counter-insurgency, as well as race, gender, and decoloniality.

The aim of this module is to consider the modern history of the Middle East from both chronological and thematic perspectives. It will also emphasise the importance of Middle Eastern historiographical perspectives for an understanding of the contemporary Middle East. You will be able to develop further the ability to use a wide range of primary and secondary source material in historical analysis.

This module focuses on post-1948 literature about ethnic diversity in Britain. You will explore a tradition of writing by and about post-colonial migrants and their British-born children, including works of prose, poetry, and drama, and read these texts in relation to contemporary debates about multiculturalism, race and (anti-)racism, and British identity and society.

It is increasingly recognised that globalisation, socio-economic and ecological interdependence, is revealed in the constant transition of people between places, societies and cultures, and globally generalised ecological impacts. Crime, its control, and social and environmental harms, transcend local and state borders – they have global dimensions. Global processes create newly marginalised and excluded groups, social constructions are destroyed, new ones emerge, organised and serious crime transcends traditional boundaries, places and identities. Globalisation also provides opportunities to contest these new elements of victimisation. This module will address these global dimensions of crime and harm, decolonise their criminological examination, explore emerging 'Southern' criminologies, Social Movements, resistance and the contested nature of crime and justice.

The dissertation is an independent research project. Working under the direct supervision of a research-active member of staff, you will produce an extended piece of original independent research which will draw upon the latest developments in your field and demonstrate your in-depth knowledge. It will further enhance key transferable skills developed from Level 5 such as project management, effective research skills, effective communication, critical analysis and high-level evaluation of data, as well as professional time-management.

The module is based on the Hacking for Defense™ (H4D) programme initially developed at Stanford University (http://hacking4defense.stanford.edu) and is an education initiative sponsored by the U.S. Defense Accelerator, and National Security Innovation Network (NSIN). In the UK, Hacking for Ministry of Defence (H4MoD) is funded by the Ministry of Defence.

This module is designed with the understanding that our extant historical knowledge (which is implicitly Eurocentric) needs to be globalised. It means the non-western world should be better weighted and given due attention rather than seen as a passive receiver of western impacts. It emphasises a lot on the historically situated forces in the making of non-western world of ideas and, more importantly, their connections and complex relationships.

This module provides you with a critical reflection on the application of democracy promotion by successive US governments, and questions whether democracy promotion as employed by the US delivers democracy.

This module adopts various sociological and critical criminological approaches in the understanding of sport in contemporary societies. You will look at issues relating to recent transformations, prejudices and cultural cohesion in the world of sport, focusing in particular on developments relating to issues such as racism, nationalism, globalisation and gender prejudice. The module will also be centrally concerned with the transformation of sport in the light of ongoing changes to a consumerist society.

This module will help you to understand the different forms of organised political violence. During the module you will engage in traditional and critical theories of international security to understand the role of states and nonstate actors in organised political violence.

In this module you will explore sociological and feminist debates around the body, gender and sexuality. You will engage with ideas which challenge the normative representations and 'taken for granted ideas' around body shape and image, gender and sexualities. It covers topics such as body modification, beauty, pornography, sex work, trans* identities and violences against the body.

Within this module you will explore the contested concepts and practices of security in the twenty-first century. You will engage with existing debates in the fields of international relations, security studies and critical security studies. Alongside this, you will also be introduced to the socio-spatial implications of contemporary security governance. Exploring the impact of external security developments on urban places and environments such as cities, built environments and crowded spaces.

This module will introduce you to the comparative study of nationalism and secession. You will explore the historical and contemporary relevance of nationalism and secession. Whilst understanding the contestation involved in studying such topics. Throughout the module, you will be required to apply theoretical knowledge to empirical examples, whilst comparing and analysing various case studies from around the world.

This module is designed to familiarise students with debates surrounding the international politics of development. We live in an international system deeply divided in terms of national income and access to basic human welfare. This module aims to explore the politics behind why certain regions are rich and others poor. It does so by narrowing its focus onto a specific region of the world and examines the historical and contemporary factors shaping its economic development (or underdevelopment). In this module, students will examine key theories of development from the fields of international politics, political economy and development studies and the points of contention between them. It will then apply these empirically to explore different themes and case studies related to the development trajectory of a specific region of the world.

This module will begin by examining major philosophical and theoretical approaches to the study of emotions. Thereafter the module will examine a series of case studies in aversive emotions such as fear, hate, anger, and disgust. By the end of the module, students will have a strong understanding of the ways in which we might approach the analysis of emotions, and will have covered a range of contemporary cases allowing them to unpick the politics and aesthetics of aversive emotion.

This module highlights the relationships between politicians and the media and the role of the media as a primary space for political agenda setting. The module will look at the political structures in Britain, including what devolution has meant for people in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It will encourage you to engage closely with the political economy of the news media in Britain and the role that it plays in political communication. It will address the historically often jingoistic and patriotic nature of the English-based national news media and how that led to the grotesque caricatures of other nationalities and identities from the 19th century onwards. This ultimately led to the Euro-sceptic tradition in British newspapers which developed from the 1980s, just a decade after Britain had entered Europe, to the heated media and public debates leading up to Britain’s exit from the European Union following the Brexit referendum of 2016.

This module will demonstrate the long historical trajectory of anti-Semitic belief through the systematic study of primary and secondary sources. You will learn how to compare and contrast the developments and mutations of anti-Semitic belief in both European and Middle Eastern historical and contemporary contexts.

This module was developed to provide a summative overview of the theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of Human Rights. Participation in this module will enable you to examine the ideas, theories, and politics of global human rights, as well as evaluating the discrepancy between the theory and practice of human rights.

This module examines the challenges associated with defining and studying terrorism and insurgency. As a criminology student, you will assess how terrorism is constructed in social, political, legal, and media discourses. You will analyse how governments and nation-states respond and react to contemporary forms of terrorism in a globalised world, mapping the connections between organised crime and terrorist actors. Alongside this, you will also document the effects of counterterrorism and security policy on communities and counter-hegemonic politics.

This module provides you with an understanding of the history, nature and operation of international law and the actors and bodies involved in the development and enforcement of international law. It encourages reasoned, critical analysis and debate of contemporary issues within international law, with particular reference to the role of the United Nations in the maintenance of international peace and security.