University of St Andrews

Key information

SCOTCAT credits : 30

ECTS credits : 15

Level : SCQF level 10

Semester: 1

Availability restrictions: Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable: Monday 3pm - 4pm

This module examines the strategic, ethical, and legal considerations inherent to leadership decisions over the deployment of force abroad. The first half of the module explores historic case studies including the British response to Hitler's rise, allied strategic bombing and the purposeful targeting of civilians in WWII, U.S. covert operations during the Cold War, international humanitarian intervention, and economic sanctions against Rhodesia and South Africa. The second half of the module is devoted to understanding recent deployments of force and developing policy responses to current crises such as the famine in East Africa and the civil conflict in Syria. Through debates, policy workshops, and simulations, students will directly contemplate the use of force as an instrument of statecraft.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisite(s): Before taking this module you must pass IR2006

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact: 1 x 1-hour lecture (x 10 weeks), 1 x 1-hour tutorial (x 10 weeks), 2 consultation hours with Coordinator (x 12 weeks). 2 hours examination feedback in week 1 of following semester.

Scheduled learning hours: 20

Guided independent study hours: 280

Assessment pattern

As used by St Andrews: 3-hour Written Examination = 50%, Coursework = 50%


Re-assessment: 3-hour Written Examination = 100%

Personnel

Module coordinator: Professor K A Harkness
Module teaching staff: Dr K Harkness
Module coordinator email kh81@st-andrews.ac.uk