BA (Hons) International Relations and Politics

Level One

Global Conflicts and Contexts

This module will introduce students to core issues of relevance to international relations study. The unit initially focuses on the development of mechanisms to control and avoid the emergence of international conflict in its various guises. It then moves on to examine a number of key contemporary issues such as global inequality, international political economy, globalization and emerging transnational civil societies. The unit is intended to expose students to the breadth of issues and approaches relevant to the study of international relations and international politics more broadly.

Identity and Citizenship

This module explicitly adopts an interdisciplinary approach to core questions of relevance to today’s society. Taking the notion of identity as its leitmotif, the module introduces students to those ways in which academic knowledge has traditionally been divided along disciplinary lines. With this by way of background, the module will guide students in bringing knowledge forms from within their own – and other – disciplines to bear on key contemporary social and political issues. As such, the module will expose students to the potentials and pitfalls of adopting an interdisciplinary approach to problem solving and policy development in areas concerning (for example) citizenship, social belonging and isolation, gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, religion or nationalism. Throughout students will be encouraged to think critically about the nature of their own identities and the impact of their future professional practise on the nature and practise of identities

Applying Research

This module aims to enable students to both recognise and also understand the different methodologies employed in social research and to apply these to their own research project and critique of methods. After completing this module students should be able to:

• Explain what research is and why we do it.

• Explain how research may be carried out: quantitatively

• Explain how research may be carried out: qualitatively

Overall, the aim of this unit is to set out methodological skills, and involve you in their application, and to encourage critical reflection on a variety of levels.

Who Runs Britain? Power Politics and Beyond

This module introduces students to the key components of the British political system, and the relationship between domestic and international politics through an examination of the distribution of power within the British political system. It will explain the various factors and actors, both domestic and foreign, which serve to shape and define the political process in Britain. In Semester A the module examines the distribution of power through an examination of the key institutions and actors in the British political process, such as the government, the Cabinet, Prime Minister, political parties, the Civil Service, and the judiciary.

Level Two

Comparative Regionalism

Regional intergovernmental organisations, which have been increasing in number, have been a common feature of international politics since the end of the Second World War. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), the European Union, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA), are just examples of such organisations. However, these organisations do not exist in a theoretical vacuum and are there to achieve certain goals both at the regional and the state level. The achievements of these goals, at regional and state levels, are very interesting areas of analysis in order to assess the extent to which these organisations have been successful or not.

Thinking International Relations

This module places theory at the centre of the study of world politics. It provides a critical overview of the disciplinary literature of international relations from both mainstream and critical perspectives. The module aims to provide students with the ability to both understand and critically employ the concepts, approaches and methods of International Relations theory, and to develop an understanding of their contested nature and the problematic character of inquiry in the discipline. Case studies and contemporary materials will be used extensively throughout the module to illustrate the varying theoretical models and their applicability in the contemporary world.

Political Parties, Elections and Voting

This module will cover a variety of issues relating to political parties in the United Kingdom. The political science literature covers a wide variety of topics around parties. Amongst those which are examined in this module are the following; the historical development of parties; the role of parties in terms of mobilisation of support, electioneering and campaigning, recruitment of personnel; representation of the electorate and issue-based politics; and the partisan divide. These will be examined primarily within the context of a discussion of the three major parties within the British political system including their development, their ideological tenets and their contemporary positions. However, towards the end of the module these will be set against the position of other parties within the UK including the Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru and the Northern Irish parties, to which will be added a comparative perspective, drawing upon the roles and experiences of parties in Western Europe.

Model UN (OPTION)

This module is designed to provide an introduction to the activities of the United Nations, as well as providing an understanding of the practices of international diplomacy and governance. The module will use a discussion of contemporary international issues to explore some of the protocol and procedures of diplomacy. It will also provide students with an introduction to issues of international organization and international law and treaty-making. All of this will assist students in preparing for their role as a “diplomat” at a Model United Nations conference.

OR

Law, Order and Politics (OPTION)

At the heart of debate on law and order is the balance between a need for states to maintain civic order and to protect the rights of the individual. One of the defining characteristics of the state is the right to use violence. Although a necessary power, it is one fraught with danger, evoking fears of a ‘police state’ or a military dictatorship, and the world is full of examples of how real this threat is. The Law, Order and Politics module seeks to use a multi-disciplinary approach to the subject area that crosses all boundaries. To this end we investigate concepts and practices in our own country, Britain, and then go on to examine the processes of globalization with crime and the growing significance of different historical and cultural experiences of law, order and social control.

Comparative Politics and Policy

This module then proceeds from an examination of some basic concepts that can help provide an understanding of the bases upon which governments are built and operate. For example, we look at political culture, legitimacy and authority, and we consider the process of democratisation from a comparative perspective. The theoretical tools and analytical knowledge from the early parts of the module are then applied empirically to consider a variety of features of contemporary politics and policy, including political systems and constitutions, parties and elections, interest groups and a range of important issues in public policy and social policy, such as immigration, asylum, the role and future of welfare states, the challenges of demographic change, and social divisions within societies.

Thinking Politics

Thinking Politics examines the historical background to the various strands of political thought and ideas. In doing this, it builds upon some of the major ideas and concepts introduced at level one, by illustrating linkages between political theories and other aspects of politics. In particular, reference is made to key thinkers who have left their intellectual imprint on political ideas and beliefs. Specific reference is made to the work of Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Bentham, Mill, and Marx in order to assess the contribution that each has made to political theory and the extent to which they had a more or less lasting impact upon the practice and analysis of politics. This module provides the theoretical underpinnings needed to facilitate a thorough understanding of political ideas and belief. This module involves an examination of what constitutes ideology and a detailed investigation of the dominant ideologies from the French Revolution right up to and including the collapse of communism.

Research in Politics and International Relations

Building on the level 1 module, ‘Applying Research’, this module systematically scrutinises examples of research undertaken in the subject areas of Politics and International Relations. One of the main aims of the module is to enable students to understand, in concrete terms, what constitutes research in Politics and IR and how the research process leads to the production of specific research outputs including dissertations, theses, published academic articles and research monographs. In addition, the module aims to provide students with the knowledge base necessary for the production of research proposals and outputs.

Level Three

Globalisation and Developing Societies

The module introduces students to the possibilities of rethinking the processes of international change and exchange as they affect developing societies and peoples. This involves both a critical reading of disciplinary international relations and an engagement with alternative sources of knowledge about international processes. Beginning with the impact of Western imperial penetration, the module explores the interaction between North and South. It then reviews paradigms drawn from postcolonial studies, the discipline of history and globalization theory as they bear upon contemporary issues such as nation, development, violence and gender. Throughout students will be encouraged to relate theory to accounts of lived experience.

Independent Study

This module gives students an opportunity to undertake an extended piece of their own research, applying research and wider intellectual skills gained during the programme to a specific aspect of Politics or Criminology chosen by students in negotiation with a module supervisor. A typical piece of independent study for this module would form the basis for a 10,000 word dissertation.

Anti- Politics

Politics and political participation tends dominantly to be understood in terms of formal processes associated with the institutional state, especially the liberal democratic state. But politics extends beyond such a conception to include groups and associations in civil society which, through association, protest and the establishment of alternatives, challenge formal politics and seek to take the meaning of politics and political action and association beyond liberal democratic definitions. Such forms are often referred to as anti-systemic politics. This module examines various forms of political activity and association beyond the formal liberal democratic state.

Human Rights

This module addresses the general ideas of Human Rights and focuses in particular on the critical reading of Human Rights as one single universal paradigm. The practical critique of Human Rights proposed in this module is founded on the belief that Human Rights must and can be improved. The three main propositions outlined in this module relate to the concept of Human Rights wrongly presented as universal; the notion that Human Rights pertain to a logic which focuses on the individual to the neglect of solidarity and other social values, and the fact that the meaning of Human Rights derives from a reasoning which is far too abstract.

War Crimes and Genocide (option)

This module is constructed as an attempt to understand the ‘anatomy’ of war crimes and genocide – their origins, ideological basis, socio-political contexts, the techniques and technologies used, precedented and unprecedented aspects. It is organised as a set of thoughts, springboards for further consideration on the historical, philosophical, political and sociological aspects of war crimes and genocide and for this reason it is particularly appealing to students who wish to develop a wider understanding of academic disciplines such as criminology, sociology, anthropology, international relation studies, politics, psychology, law and modern and contemporary history.

OR

Body Politics (option)

This unit introduces the students to different paradigms of the ‘body’ and ‘embodiment’. Recent research suggests that our understandings and our relationship with our own and other ‘bodies’ has been and is continuing to undergo radical changes. This unit will explore these ongoing developments in Western and non-Western cultures and societies.

Studying Politics and International Relations at Lincoln combines directed and independent learning. Each module is delivered my means of a weekly lecture and an associated weekly seminar. The seminars provide an opportunity for students to discuss issues raised in the lecture and engage in critical reflection on set readings. Students will also have the opportunity to meet with module leaders in tutorial sessions. As well as directed study, students will undertake independent learning utilising traditional library as well as a wide range of electronic resources. The level 1 module Applying Research aims to provide students with the requisite skills for effective independent learning.

Degrees involving Politics and International Relations use a variety of teaching and learning methods including lectures and seminars, group projects and workshops. In an average week students will attend a lecture in each of their modules, with a follow-up seminar. Seminars are usually more informal, to enable students to discuss the topic with their tutor in a smaller group and they sometimes involve students working together in groups to prepare presentations or reports.

Assessment is by a combination of continuous assessment in the form of essays, reports, presentations and reviews, and examinations. Assessment varies from module to module depending on the subject of study.

Students will gain the skills and confidence to operate effectively within an international business, political or policy environment. Graduate opportunities are available in, for example:

• Foreign Office
• European Union institutions
• Journalism
• Local government.

There is also a variety of other public and private sector opportunities, as well as generic graduate level job opportunities available to social science graduates. In addition, many graduates choose to continue their studies at postgraduate level at Lincoln or elsewhere.

For further information and funding your studey please see our Fees & Funding pages.

Fees and Funding