COURSE CURRICULUM

The Contemporary Security in International Relations: Providers and Challenges module (30 credits) allows you to navigate the complexities of modern security challenges. You'll examine urgent issues facing policymakers today, such as terrorism and state collapse, and reflect on the changing nature of war, regionalism, and development. The module invites critical debate on the shifting meanings of security, the processes of securitisation, and the credibility of security providers, with a special focus on West Africa. In the Exploring International Relations module (30 credits), you'll explore pivotal concepts and institutions shaping international relations. By evaluating key theoretical frameworks, you'll develop your own informed perspectives on global cooperation and conflict, ranging from human rights to climate change. This module encourages students to apply these frameworks to analyze the roles of state and non-state actors in world affairs, addressing pressing questions faced by diplomats and policymakers. The Comparative Public Policy module (30 credits) provides an opportunity to compare policies across borders, offering a solid grounding in public policy theory and its real-world applications through case studies from around the world. You'll analyze the influences on decision-makers and the constraints they face, while developing critical thinking skills to question policy principles and practices, as well as the ability to explain policy outcomes. In the Defence and Deterrence module (30 credits), you'll develop an understanding of modern defense and deterrence strategies. You'll critically engage with debates surrounding the evolving nature of security threats, focusing on technological advancements and warfare methods. The module encourages reflective thinking as you analyze policy issues related to deterring threats from both state and non-state actors.