PO1WAR-War and Warfare

Module Provider: School of Politics, Economics and International Relations
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Spring / Summer term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2022/3

Module Convenor: Dr Vladimir Rauta
Email: v.rauta@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This is an introductory module for students seeking foundational knowledge of war in international relations. The emphasis will be on concepts and types of war, their causes, and how they relate to real world issues in international relations and international security. By thinking through and examining a subset of wars and types of warfare the ultimate objective is to have students embrace a range of theoretical arguments about both historical and contemporary examples, to apply these insights to current debates about war in international relations and to prepare students for future scholarly research and security/strategy-focused analysis. The module draws on the department’s international longstanding reputation and robust intellectual tradition in the study of war, strategy and the uses of military force, and embeds in its teaching the department’s links with the British security and defence establishment, evidenced by the links with the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst.

Aims:

The aims of this module are as follows:

• to introduce students to the academic study of war in international relations;


• to provide an overview of the major types of war and warfare in both historical and contemporary empirical contexts; 


• to equip Politics and International Relations students with the theoretical foundations and tradition for study of war in international relations as it links to international security and strategic studies;


• to equip non-Politics and International Relations students with sufficient knowledge to allow them to conceptualise how war in international relations shapes the dimensions of their chosen fields;


• to develop critical and analytical skills through the engagement with a diverse and demanding range of literature and to demonstrate these skills in essays, presentations and examinations.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module it is expected that the student will be able to:

• define, conceptualise and compare different types of war and warfare in international relations;


• demonstrate understanding of causes of different types of wars in comparative perspective;


• identify and analyse the main theoretical approaches to the study of war in international relations; 


• analyse and examine the spectrum of contemporary war and warfare including, for example, great power war, nuclear inter-state war, civil wars and hybrid/cyber/proxy/grey zone warfare.


• evaluate, compare, and present material, orally and in writing, in a coherent and well-structured form.

Additional outcomes:

Outline content:

What is war? How do we classify war? What causes different types of war? How are wars fought? What kinds of warfare can we identify and how have these changed in history? In what intellectual traditions has war been researched? How do we link the detail of historical analysis of war with the efforts to gather systematic data on conflict in a debate currently being shaped by the turn to ‘critical war studies’? How do we make sense, theoretically and empirically, of the growing spectrum of contemporary war - including, but not limited to, great power war, nuclear inter-state war, civil wars, hybrid/cyber/proxy/grey zone warfare? Content is indicative and may be subject to change but generally the course will examine:

• Concepts, definitions and types of wars in international relations;


• Causes of wars; 


• Theoretical approaches to the study of war in international relations;


• Current empiricalissues concerning war in international relations.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

This module is divided into a main lecture series in which the first half focuses on war and the second on warfare. The lecture series is matched by a seminar series that run in tandem with the lectures (each topic has, therefore, one lecture and one seminars). There will be on revision seminar in the summer term. The lectures are designed to give the broad overview of the concepts, types, and methods related to the study of war and warfare. The student-centred seminars focus on a sub-set of problems linked to the lecture topic and informed by weekly compulsory reading. Seminar teaching may involve: presentations, simulations, debates, and text-based discussion and war gaming.  

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures		10
Seminars		10	1
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)		18
Wider reading (directed)		36
Exam revision/preparation			25
Advance preparation for classes		36
Preparation for seminars		24
Essay preparation		20
Reflection		20
Total hours by term	0	174	26
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written exam	50
Written assignment including essay	50

Summative assessment- Examinations:

One 8-hour take home examination counting towards 50% of the overall module marks. Examinations take place in the summer term.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Students will complete two 1,500 word written assignments for this module, each counting towards 25% of the overall module mark.

Visiting students will follow the same assessments and if enrolled for the full year will also sit the examination. Those visiting students who are here for Spring term only but wish to gain full credits will write a 3,000 word essay in place of the examination, to be submitted by the first day of term following their leaving date.

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

40%

Reassessment arrangements:

If a student fails to pass the year at the first attempt there is an opportunity to be re-assessed on one further occasion at the next opportunity in those modules achieving a mark of less than 40%. Students who are eligible for re-assessment have the right to re-assessment in all elements even if they have previously passed one of those elements. It is expected, however, that the majority of students would probably elect not to repeat an element in which they had already passed, in which case the confirmed marks would be carried forward.

Coursework: Failed or missing coursework should be re-submitted on Blackboard within the specified resubmission period.

Examination: Re-examination takes place in August/September of the same year.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 3 November 2022