s

Title

/ Global Political Architecture
Code / SS376
Level / 6
Credit rating / 20
Pre-requisites / Normally level 5 politics modules or equivalent
Type of module / Extensive over one semester
Aims / ·  To complement students understanding of politics at the local and national level with a critical understanding of politics at the global and regional levels.
·  To develop an understanding of some global and regional political institutions.
·  To develop an understanding of some global and regional political actors.
·  To introduce students to ‘global civil society’.
Learning outcomes/objectives / On successful completion of the module the student will:
1.  demonstrate a critical understanding of the need to deal with some issues on a global rather than a national scale and the different mechanisms available for doing this.
2.  explain the relationship between national and international law and constitutional and human rights.
3.  analyse of the history behind particular policy directives and the ways in which international agreements are both made and influenced.
4.  demonstrate an in-depth, critical understanding of an issue in international politics and the role of different formal and informal actors and institutions in its resolution.
Content / Each year the module team will select three issues in global politics (e.g. Climate Change; Peace Keeping; Nuclear Weapons Proliferation; Human Rights; Fair Trade v Development Aid) and examine the role of various actors and institutions, primarily at the global and regional level, involved in dealing with the issue. These will include organisations such as the United Nations, its forums and its various agencies; other global institutions such as the World Trade Organisation and the World Bank; international courts; regional organisations such as the European Union or the African Union. It will also include global social movements; international non-governmental organisations; international lobbies and media campaigns.
Teaching and learning strategies / 200 hours study time delivered through 36 hours direct teaching and 164 hours directed private study outlined in the module handbook.
·  The module will be delivered through a series of weekly, two hourly workshops which will be made up of informal lectures, discussions, formative presentations and group work. These will use a total of 24 hours.
·  Students will be expected to spend 100 hours in private study.
·  Students will be expected to spend 76 hours on their assessments.
Learning support / Indicative reading:
Barrett, S. 2005. Environment and Statecraft. The strategy of environmental Treaty making. Oxford: Oxford UP
Bercovitch, J., Kremenyuk, V. and I William Zartman. 2007. Handbook of Conflict Resolution. London: Sage
Dai, Xinyuan. 2007. International Institutions and National Policies. Cambridge: Cambridge UP.
De Jong, W. M. Shaw and N. Stammers. 2005. Global Activism. Global Media. London: Pluto Press:
Jordan, T and A. Lent. 1999. Storming the millennium : the new politics of change. London: Lawrence & Wishart
Murphy, Craig N. 2006. The United nations Development Programme. A better way? Cambridge: Cambridge UP
Oberleitner, Gerd. 2007. Global Human Rights Institutions Cambridge: Polity
Ramsbotham, O., T. Woodhouse, and H. Miall. 2005. Contemporary Conflict Resolution. 2nd Ed. Cambridge: Polity
Welsh, Jennifer M. 2006. Humanitarian Intervention and International Relations. Oxford: Oxford UP
Young, Z. 2002 A New Green Order. The World Bank and the politics of the Global Environment Facility London: Pluto Press
Journals:
Government & Opposition
Politics
Political Studies
Political Studies Review
British Journal of Politics & International Relations
Students will be encouraged to regularly read a serious newspaper (e.g. Daily Telegraph, Times, Guardian, Independent or Financial Times) and watch and listen to serious news broadcasts (e.g. Channel 4 news, BBC 10 o’clock news and various Radio 4 programmes such as Analysis and File on Four.)
Assessment tasks / A case study on an current issue demonstrating an understanding of how and why it is dealt with at a global level and an awareness of the problematic nature of the relationship between the national and international arena. 1,500 words assessing LOs 1 & 2. (40%)
A case study on a current issue demonstrating an analysis of the history of the relevant international agreements, and the formal and informal actors and institutions involved. 2,500 words assessing LOs 3 & 4. (60%)
Brief description of module content and/or aims (maximum 80 words) / Students will be introduced to a wide range of global and regional political, regulatory and legal institutions and formal and informal actors through an examination of three current issues and or problems. For example climate change, economic development and poverty alleviation or peace keeping.
Area examination board to which module relates / SASS Undergraduate
Module team/authors/coordinator / Rob Raeburn (Module Coordinator) and Juliet Millican
Semester offered, where appropriate / 2
Site where delivered / Falmer
Date of first approval / February 2008
Date of last revision
Date of approval of this version / February 2008
Version number / 1
Replacement for previous module
Field for which module is acceptable and status in that field
Course(s) for which module is acceptable and status in that course / Compulsory:
BA (Hons) Politics and Sociology
BA (Hons) Politics and Applied Psychology
BA (Hons) Politics and Criminology
BA (Hons) Politics and Social Policy
Optional:
BA (Hons) Social Science
BA(Hons) Applied Social Science
School home / School of Applied Social Science
External examiner / TBC