World Politics: Theorising Continuity and Change

This course is an elective, i.e., open to students enrolled in the Master’s Programme in Political Science as well as interested Master’s students from other fields.

The course may be taken as a single course by students who fulfill the admission requirements.

This course examines theoretical approaches to international/world politics in historical perspective, and important contemporary debates. Under consideration are both the more traditional approaches - broadly realist and liberal - which dominate the field, and those criticising and opposing them. The course builds directly on the foundations of STV-1005: International Politics by providing deeper insight into the central assumptions of, and disagreements between, the major theoretical approaches, as well their implications for international relations (IR) scholarship and understanding.

Attention is paid especially to IR’s susceptibility and/or resistance to change. Substantive themes include: integrative and disintegrative trends and their impact; the implications of political-cultural phenomena like ‘postmodernism’ and ‘securitisation;’ emerging trends in, and evolving ethical standards pertaining to, foreign intervention.

A Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, European Studies or another relevant subject.

A minimum grade average comparable to a Norwegian C (2,5) in the ECTS scale, see UiT's webpage for international admissions for more information on how the point average is calculated.

The course requires solid competence in reading and writing English.

Application code: 9371

Students who successfully complete the course have the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge and understanding

• Solid grounding in the discipline's central theoretical ideas and approaches and how to apply them to the study of international politics.

Analytical abilities

• Able to work independently - and employ relevant scholarly foundations - to address a variety of analytical challenges.
• Critically evaluate existing theories, methods and interpretations within the study of international politics.
• Apply scholarly knowledge critically, including reflection on their own scholarly practice.
• Take the initiative to apply knowledge to new domains.
• Formulate and structure complex scholarly arguments.

Competencies

• Able to continue systematically, and properly framed in the context of the field, the development of their own scholarly grounding and specialisation.
• Communicate (in English) research issues, questions, analyses and conclusions pertaining to the field with both specialists and lay-people.
• Participate in public debate on the basis of relevant knowledge from the field.

If you pass the examination in this course, you will get an reduction in credits (as stated below), if you previously have passed the following courses:

• STATSV-304 International Politics 10 ects

Teaching consists of 10 lectures/seminars coming to a total of 20 in-class hours.

Emphasis is placed on theoretically informed problem-based learning. Students will be given the opportunity, both in and outside class, to actively address and interpret real-world developments with the help of relevant ideas and explanatory frameworks.

Quality assurance

The course is assessed once every programme-period with both in-progress and final evaluations. Evaluation includes the opportunity for students and teacher to establish an oral dialogue concerning the possibility and/or need for changes and improvements.

Language of instruction and examination

Schedule

More info about the coursework requirements

Re-sit examination