PIM103: War in Theory and Practice

Module code: PIM103

Module provider: Graduate Institute for Politics and International Studies

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Kerry Goettlich, email: k.goettlich@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 23 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module is a graduate-level introduction to the study of the relationship between political aims and organized violence, covering both classic works and current debates. With an eye to the latest developments in contemporary warfare, it asks fundamental questions about the nature and purpose of war. Is war purely a means to an end, or does it have its own nature? Is there such a thing as a ‘just war’? How does warfare change historically? Is counterinsurgency a strategy or an ideology? What, if anything, do technologies such as airplanes, nuclear weapons, and cyberweapons really change about war? Is grand strategy possible, and does it offer anything to a post-Brexit UK? 

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Appropriately employ key concepts and theories surrounding the practice of warfare 
2. Understand and analyse classic works on the subject of warfare 
3. Develop a coherent critical approach to strategic questions, taking due account of political, ethical, and other relevant factors 
4. Apply this knowledge to the history and contemporary practice of warfare 

Module content

Topics likely to be covered: 

• Justice and Armed Force 
• Clausewitz’s On War 
• Strategic Culture 
• Sea Power 
• Civil-Military Relations 
• Counterinsurgency 
• Technology and Change 
• Grand Strategy 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be delivered in 11, 2-hour seminars. Students are expected to come to class having read the essential readings given on the reading list, and ready to critically discuss them. 

Study hours

At least 22 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

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

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs