IR5837
An Introduction to National Minorities, The State and Conflict
2026-2027
15
7
SCQF level 11
1
Academic year(s): 2026-2027
SCOTCAT credits : 15
ECTS credits : 7
Level : SCQF level 11
Semester: 1
Availability restrictions: This module is only available to students enrolled on one of the School of IR's distance-learning PGT programmes.
What are national minorities? And why is it important to study state policies towards these groups in order to understand nationbuilding and security practices in the 20th and 21st centuries? This module offers an overview of the origins of population engineering policies and tracks states' efforts to restore, maintain, build or transform their national identities. It invites students to examine current events in light of this framing. The course will explore the dominant state approaches towards national minorities and consider the conditions under which states choose one policy over another. Finally, the course will examine the legal infrastructure that emerged to help protect national minorities in times of war and peace.
Anti-requisite(s): You cannot take this module if you take IR3087
Weekly contact: There are no fixed weekly contact hours. The module is made up of six units; each unit will include roughly 1h of pre-recorded content and associated asynchronous discussions and activities.
Scheduled learning hours: 12
Guided independent study hours: 132
As used by St Andrews: Coursework = 100%
As defined by QAA
Coursework: 100%
Re-assessment: Coursework = 100%
Module coordinator: Dr R A Brubaker
Module teaching staff: Dr Rebecca Brubaker
Module coordinator email rab46@st-andrews.ac.uk