AHMES08-Contemporary Strategic Studies and International Relations

Module Provider: Leadership, Organisations and Behaviour
Number of credits: 30 [15 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring / Summer module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

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

Type of module:

Summary module description:

ONLY AVAILABLE ON THE AHEP PROGRAMME

This module is run by SPEIR.

This module explores contemporary debates in the fields of Strategic Studies and International Relations, placing a particular emphasis on their theoretical and conceptual underpinnings. Focusing on developments in the academic understanding of war and strategy, it aims to deepen students’ understanding of the contemporary global strategic environment. Throughout the module, students are encouraged to think critically about the use and limitation of evidence and the ways in which this helps to inform structured thinking about strategy and international relations.

Aims:

The module aims to:

• Develop knowledge of debates within Strategic Studies and International Relations about the different types of war – inter and intra-state;

• Develop an understanding of a range of theories and concepts which may inform a critical understanding of the contemporary strategic environment, such as proxy wars and hybrid warfare;

• Develop students’ capacity to engage in conceptually and theoretically-informed thinking about war and strategy;

• Enable students to articulate a clear understanding of the global contemporary strategic environment, the UK’s place within it, and the implications for the Army;

• Cultivate the critical skills, awareness, and understanding necessary to recognize, evaluate, and explain current and future developments in global security, war, and strategy.

Assessable learning outcomes:

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

• Knowledge of a range of theoretical and conceptual debates in Strategic Studies and International Relations and how they inform understanding of war and strategy;

• Understanding of central features of the contemporary global strategic environment;

• Appreciation of a range of perspectives on the changing character of war and strategy;

Additional outcomes:

The module also aims to:

• Foster an ability to analyse, evaluate, and explain contemporary strategic developments;

• Nurture an ability to reflect critically on the possible implications, for the Army, of progressions in the global strategic environment and of academic debates about these developments.

• Enhance students’ ability to think critically about the uses and limitations of evidence in relation to war and strategy;

• Cultivate an appreciation of different approaches to Strategic Studies and International Relations, and of their strengths and weaknesses;

• Build the knowledge and skills required to undertake an extended research project related to war and strategy in the broader context of the MSc pathway.

Outline content:

The module explores a range of topics designed to build on and further develop students’ existing understanding of contemporary debates in Strategic Studies and International Relations.

Ìý

Module Section Name:

1. Introduction to CSSIR

2. Inter-state Competition (China)

3. Inter-state Competition (Russia)

4. Transnational Threats (international terrorism)

5. Surrogate/Proxy Warfare

6. Cyber WarfareÌý

7. Sub-threshold Threats

8. The Future of War and Warfare

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Students are required to:

• Work through a series of asynchronous and on-line teaching materials, including slides, videos, and practical activities;

• Read extensively from the supporting literature;

• Reflect on the module content and readings individually and through contributions to online discussion fora;

• Complete a variety of formative on-line tests and exercises that assess knowledge o f the module material;

Complete summative assignments on various aspects of the module.

Contact hours:

Ìý	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	10
Seminars	5
Guided independent study:	Ìý	Ìý	Ìý
Ìý Ìý Wider reading (independent)	50
Ìý Ìý Wider reading (directed)	100
Ìý Ìý Essay preparation	120
Ìý Ìý Reflection	15
Ìý	Ìý	Ìý	Ìý
Total hours by term	300	0	0
Ìý	Ìý	Ìý	Ìý
Total hours for module	300

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	40
Portfolio	60

Summative assessment- Examinations:

No examination.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Essay (referred as Written assignment, including essay in the table above) – 40%

Portfolio (made of a Research Paper accompanied by a Reflective Component) – 60%

The total word count across the essay and the portfolio should be between 2,500-3,000 words. The students are also required to prepare a presentation consisting of a maximum of 10 slides with annotated notes that will be submitted to the student’s Chain of Command. This element is not marked but the marker will provide formative feedback on the slides.

Formative assessment methods:

These may include:

• Quizzes and multiple-choice questions

• Discussion fora

• Essay and portfolio plans can be reviewed by the module convenor for formative feedback.

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy 'Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes', which can be found here: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf
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: /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:

Module pass mark of 50%.

Reassessment arrangements:

Resubmission of the failed elements of the module.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 5 September 2023