International Studies (Environment) - 2012 entry

Course content

Students studying for the MA/PG Dip in International Studies (International Relations) are required to complete the following three compulsory modules during Semester 1 (20 credits each):

International Relations in Theory and Practice provides an advanced investigation into theoretical approaches in the discipline of international relations, as well as an overview of contemporary debates. It aims to establish a clear understanding of the role and purpose of theory, and its relation to substantive issues in international relations.

Global Political Economy examines the emerging global political economy through the vantage point of competing theoretical perspectives and the evolution of these perspectives, resulting from theoretical debates and the progressive encounter with empirical developments. Different theories reveal different aspects and dimensions of the global political economy and they are used to present key historical developments and contemporary issues of the global political economic order.

Readings in Social Science provides a critical introduction to the practices and controversies of contemporary social analysis and their relevance to substantive research. Its overall aim is to identify and analyse the bases - and hence implications - of the methodological choices social scientists make. Particular attention is paid to meta-theoretical controversies that have surfaced in social science over recent years and decades. Rather than remaining deracinated, these points of controversy are rooted in concrete examples and substantive debates - with an emphasis on their implications for concrete research projects and relevance for the techniques of contemporary political analysis.

In Semester 2 you take 'Global Politics and the Environment' and 'Research Methods in the Social Sciences' (20 credits each) plus you can choose any one of the other options listed below (20 credits)*:

Global Politics and the Environment critically investigates the way in which the tensions brought about by the global environmental crisis have been addressed globally, looking at institutional, conceptual ideological, socio-cultural and political economic facets.

Research Methods in the Social Sciences aims to acquaint students with basic social science research methods so that they can understand how evidence is produced and critically appraise the research they use. It includes discussion of research strategies and study design; research ethics; principles and methods of sampling; questionnaire design, interviewing and focus groups; principles of qualitative, documentary and survey analysis; comparative historical analysis; statistical analysis using SPSS; presenting findings and writing up research.

Global Governance, Civil Society and Social Movements investigates the institutions of global governance and the dynamics of civil society, understood as the space for interaction between institutions and non-state actors. It looks at the existing architecture of global governance and the competing theories and approaches to analysing these phenomena. It also asks questions about the accountability and legitimacy of the institutions and processes of global governance and evaluates the potential for improving global governance. Linked to this, the module will critically evaluate the role of civil society as a democratising force in global governance.

International Development - Since the end of the Cold War one of the key dynamics in world politics, namely the gap between rich and poor, has come into sharper focus. This module examines both the theory and practice of the international politics of development. The first half of the module looks at key theoretical debates and how these have related to practice. Various contemporary issues in development are then explored to illustrate the theoretical debates. These will include the Third World Debt Crisis, fair trade, development assistance, sustainable development and the resource curse thesis.

Global Theory: From Kant to Hardt and Negri examines the conceptions of the world, its history and relations that inform the theories of Kant, Hegel, and Marx and relates these global theories to contemporary notions of globalisation maintained by contemporary theorists such as Held and Hardt and Negri. The past is brought to bear upon the present to appraise the distinctness of contemporary theory and relevance of the past to the present.

Citizenship in Theory and Practice looks at the status of citizenship in the contemporary world. Traditionally, citizenship has spoken to the relationship between the state and its individual members. However, many social, political and economic changes have brought into question the nature of this relationship in contemporary world politics, and the possibility of the emergence of post-national forms of citizenship is raised. The module will look at the theoretical approaches to citizenship and will then go on to use them to assess contemporary social, political and economic developments. These are likely to include changes in patterns of political participation, restructuring of welfare states, questions of identity, particularly involving migration, and economic changes, including globalisation and the role of the European Union.

International Energy Politics examines the complex and inter-linked relationship between energy and politics and its role in the international sphere. Students will have the opportunity to critically examine the relationship between energy and regime type, conflict, foreign policy and security. Focusing mostly on the international politics of oil and gas, the module will address these themes associated with the energy-politics nexus through an engagement with a range of theoretical perspectives and literature related to international relations, foreign policy analysis, political economy and security studies and will do so through a close reading of a number of cases studies including: Russia, Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus, the United States, China, Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Gender in a Global Context focuses on how processes of global social change affect gender relations locally, nationally and internationally. It will examine the various ways in which social scientists have made sense of gender and gender inequalities, including current theory and research on men and masculinities. The changing relationships between states, markets and households will be a key theme of this module.

Independent study allows you to undertake a programme of study of your own choosing that is then agreed with a member of staff.

Dissertation
MA students are required to complete a 15,000-word dissertation on a topic related to any aspect of international relations as agreed with the dissertation module leader. Students are asked to work on their initial proposal during Semester 2. The main work on the dissertation will normally take place from June to early September. The dissertation also involves a presentation at the annual Postgraduate Day which is held every summer. This event brings together a guest speaker from outside the university, research students and all postgraduate students on the international studies courses.

Students taking the postgraduate certificate are required to complete 'International Relations in Theory and Practice', 'Global Political Economy' and one optional module from the list above.

*Note that the availability of these modules may vary from year to year.

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department

Department of Social Sciences

Course length

Full-time: MA: 12 months; PGDip: 9 months; PGCert: 9 months
Part-time: MA: 24 months; PGDip: 18 months; PGCert: 18 months

Teaching location

Headington Campus, Gipsy Lane

Start date

September 2012

UKPASS code

P037965

Entry requirements

Students are normally required to have at least a second class honours degree from a university in the UK or an equivalent qualification from countries outside the UK. The degree should be in an appropriate discipline.

Scholarships and funding

For scholarships offered for this course please go to http://ssl.brookes.ac.uk/scholarships

For general sources of financial support, see:

• funding for students from the UK and EU
• funding for students from outside the EU

Why Oxford is a great place to study International Studies (Environment)

Oxford has much to offer scholars of international studies and as one of the world's great academic cities, it is a key centre of debate, with conferences, seminars and forums taking place across a range of international relations topics within the university and within the city of Oxford. In addition to our own excellent libraries and resource centres, postgraduate International Studies students have access to Oxford's Bodleian Library. Since Oxfam was founded in the city in the 1940s, Oxford has attracted a diverse range of voluntary organisations and now has one of the highest concentrations of non-governmental organisations outside London, making it the perfect place to begin a career in the third sector.

Support for students studying International Studies (Environment)

Our Student Support Coordinators can give advice on the course, finance, accommodation or personal issues which may be affecting your study and will also regularly update you with information on visiting speakers, careers advice and course announcements. They can also help you to access other support services in the university such as ‘Upgrade’, which offers confidential advice on study skills, and English language support through the international centre.

How Brookes supports postgraduate students

Supporting your learning

From academic advisers and support co-ordinators to specialist subject librarians and other learning support staff, we want to ensure that you get the best out of your studies.

Personal support services

We want your time at Brookes to be as enjoyable and successful as possible. That's why we provide all the facilities you need to be relaxed, happy and healthy throughout your studies.

Departmental research highlights

Professor Magnus Ryner has conducted work on the financial crisis for the International Labour Organisation (ILO). He conducted a research project on historical episodes of financial crisis. The results were discussed at a symposium at the ILO Headquarters in Geneva in January 2010, and they will be published in the official ILO journal International Journal of Labour Research. He was also invited to speak at a conference organised by the State Governor of Paraná in Brazil, which was transmitted live on Brazilian public television and throughout the Americas. Professor Ryner spoke on the question of the European Union’s position in the world order that will seek to address the financial crisis.

Staff involved in teaching on the programme have in recent years been awarded a number of ESRC grants. Dr Michael Lister’s project entitled 'Anti-Terrorism, Citizenship and Security in the UK', examines to what extent citizens of the United Kingdom feel that their security has been enhanced (or even diminished) by contemporary anti-terrorism measures.

Findings from Dr Mikko Kuisma’s ESRC-funded research project on Welfare State Practices and the Constitution of the Citizen: Nordic Models of Capitalism in an Age of Globalisation have been published by Policy Network, a leading international progressive politics think tank.

Dr Rico Isaacs is conducting research funding by the British Academy into the effectiveness of Election Observation Missions (EOMs) in ensuring freer and fairer elections in the former Soviet Union. EOMs have been central to the Organisation for Cooperation and Security in Europe’s (OSCE) strategy to promote democracy in former Soviet states and his research will engage not just existing scholarship on democracy promotion, but will also inform policy towards democratic assistance in the region by ensuring it is more responsive to the interests and needs of recipient states.

Research excellence

The programme is taught by a truly international team of leading scholars from across the globe. Our vibrant research culture is driven by a thriving and collaborative community of academic staff and doctoral students. In the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 75% of our work was judged to be of international quality in terms of originality, significance and rigour. Our strong performance in the RAE, along with our expanding consultancy activities, have enabled us to attract high quality staff and students and helped to generate funding for research projects from bodies such as the ESRC, the British Academy and the European Union.

Consultancy:

Dr Michael Lister has given briefings as part of his project on public attitudes to counter-terrorism policy in the UK to policy-makers at both the Home Office and the Welsh Assembly.

Professor Tina Miller has been commissioned to do work on improving maternal and newborn health by the World Health Organisation, which is a key focus within the millennium development goals.

Research areas and clusters

The research of those staff contributing to the programme is organised within 3 dedicated research groups.

• Critical International Studies
• European Politics and Society
• Social and Political Change.

As well as meeting to discuss and analyse central texts in the field each group undertakes a number of activities including:

• Organising work-in-progress seminars
• Offering support and feedback for external grant applications
• Hosting visiting fellows
• Sponsoring seminars and symposia.

Find out more by visiting our website at http://hss.brookes.ac.uk and browsing our staff profiles.