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: 10.00 am Tue

This module considers ethical and practical dilemmas facing policymakers, governments and citizens in the aftermath of war, including civil war (the norm since 1990). The ‘wrong’ choice in many of these dilemmas could plunge a society back into conflict, condemning populations to continuing violence, poverty and exclusion. The module revolves around issues beginning with an ‘r’ - restitution, retribution, reparation, reconciliation, reformation and reconstruction. Each of these policy options has a 'history' that is here linked to liberal thinking about how wars can be ended. But the ‘liberal peace’ faces many obstacles; some argue that it was in crisis even before an arguably ‘illiberal’ president returned to the White House in 2025. This module explores these dilemmas and asks students to reflect on the future of the liberal world order, how wars may develop in the future, and how approaches to peace and institution-building in the aftermath of wars may be crafted in response.

Relationship to other modules

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

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact: 1 lecture and 1 tutorial.

Assessment pattern

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


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

Personnel

Module coordinator: Dr D J Miles
Module teaching staff: Dr David Miles
Module coordinator email djm62@st-andrews.ac.uk

Intended learning outcomes

• Explain the tensions between liberalism as a doctrine that believes in the perfectability of peoples and the challenges facing states and their citizens in the aftermath of bitter conflicts.
• Explain relevant narratives on the aftermath of war in general, and civil wars in particular, and critically assess the policy options open to policymakers in ending them.
• Critically assess the literature and dominant approaches on the ending and aftermath of wars in both historical depth and contemporary relevance
• Analyse the ideas of key scholars of liberalism, peace and conflict, and war studies in order to explain the opportunities and challenges surrounding reconstruction after wars.
• Critically evaluate and synthesise material from a range of theoretical and empirical sources to address liberalism’s capacity to stop wars happening and to stop them re-erupting.
• Articulate reasoned and factually supported arguments in presentations, class discussion, and assessed work.