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: 12.00 noon Mon

Situated within a recent reassessment of the relation between religion and international politics, this module is designed to investigate the theological dimension in international theory primarily via an examination of Christian Realism and the Augustinian tradition in IR. In particular, the module revisits important theological moments in IR theory as exemplified in the work of Reinhold Niebuhr, Herbert Butterfield, Martin Wight and Hans Morgenthau and assesses the political theologies informing their thought. Finally, the module critically evaluates the recent worldwide revamping of political theology in international relations and examines the implications of recasting International Relations as a theo-political discourse for rethinking the global politics of religion.

Relationship to other modules

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

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact: 1-hour lecture and 1-hour 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 V Paipais
Module teaching staff: Dr V Paipais
Module coordinator email vp31@st-andrews.ac.uk

Intended learning outcomes

• Demonstrate knowledge of the debates in twentieth century political theology
• Classify and critically interpret the different traditions of political theology
• Identify and assess the political theologies underpinning the international thought of prominent twentieth century thinkers in the Augustinian tradition
• Analyse both twentieth and twenty-first century Christian realist texts and relate them to their historical, social and political contexts
• Critically assess the secularist bias of mainstream IR theories and outline the reasons for the neglect of the theological heritage of IR theory
• Assess the interaction between faith, politics, and violence, and critically examine how secular and religious discourses intersect in their justification of the use of force in international politics.