Postgraduate Course: Armed Force and Society (PGSP11245)
Course Outline
School |
School of Social and Political Science |
College |
College of Humanities and Social Science |
Course type |
Standard |
Availability |
Available to all students |
Credit level (Normal year taken) |
SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits |
20 |
Home subject area |
Postgrad (School of Social and Political Studies) |
Other subject area |
None |
Course website |
None
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Taught in Gaelic? |
No |
Course description |
This course explores the relationship between armed force and society, looking both at how military technology affects society, as well as at the ways that politics and other social interactions shape military technology. Theoretical perspectives will be exemplified through the extensive use of case studies, and no prior theoretical or specialist technical knowledge is required. Topics covered will include military procurement and the military-industrial complex, arms races, the role of testing and use in weapons development, nuclear weapons and deterrence, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the arms trade and the defence industry, liberal interventionism and the limits of $ùhigh-tech&© warfare, and terrorism.
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Entry Requirements
Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites |
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Prohibited Combinations |
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Other requirements |
None
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Additional Costs |
None |
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisites |
None |
Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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Delivery period: 2010/11 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1)
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WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Central | Lecture | Seminar Room 1, Chrystal Macmillan Building | 1-11 | | 14:00 - 15:50 | | | |
First Class |
First class information not currently available |
No Exam Information |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will have demonstrated through written work, oral presentations and other contributions in class, that they
- have a substantive knowledge and understanding of a selection of important policy and social issues with regard to the development and use of military technologies, and of the contending viewpoints and claims on these issues;
- can identify and characterise key approaches from social science disciplines and from interdisciplinary fields like science and technology studies to understanding and evaluating issues concerning military technology, and identify advantages, problems and implications of these approaches;
- can critically evaluate contributions to the academic, political and public debates on national security issues, and decisions on them;
- can identify, deploy and evaluate a selection of techniques and procedures used in defence policy analysis, decision-making and assessment;
- have developed their skills
- in finding and using arguments and information;
- in critically evaluating such material; and
- in essay writing and seminar presentation
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Assessment Information
essay 4000 words |
Special Arrangements
None |
Additional Information
Academic description |
Not entered |
Syllabus |
Not entered |
Transferable skills |
Not entered |
Reading list |
Not entered |
Study Abroad |
Not entered |
Study Pattern |
Not entered |
Keywords |
Not entered |
Contacts
Course organiser |
Dr Graham Spinardi
Tel: (0131 6)50 6394
Email: G.Spinardi@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary |
Miss Madina Howard
Tel:
Email: Madina.Howard@ed.ac.uk |
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copyright 2011 The University of Edinburgh -
13 January 2011 6:34 am
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