Undergraduate Course: Armed Force and Society (SCIL10033)
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 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Sociology |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | This course explores the relationship between armed force and society. A main focus will be on the on the role of technology in the politics and social dynamics of armed conflict. Technology, whether it be machetes or nuclear weapons, lies at the heart of conflict, and this course uses a range of perspectives, to investigate the nature and impact of armed force. These theoretical perspectives will be exemplified through the extensive use of case studies, and no prior theoretical or specialist technical knowledge is required. The course has a particular emphasis on nuclear weapons and the Cold War, but also covers issues such as terrorism, the arms trade, and the Revolution in Military Affairs. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should have at least 3 Sociology or closely related courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). We will only consider University/College level courses.
|
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2011/12 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1)
|
WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| Central | Lecture | | 1-11 | | 14:00 - 15:50 | | | |
| First Class |
Week 1, Tuesday, 14:00 - 15:50, Zone: Central. Room S.1, 7 George Square |
| No Exam Information |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
The learning outcomes being sought are that at the end of the course you will be familiar with and be able to discuss:
1. How the fog of war increases the scope for social and political factors to shape knowledge of the effects of military technology;
2. The tendency to prepare to fight the last war, and how this shapes the design and interpretation of testing in weapons development;
3. The role that politics, and especially bureaucratic politics, play in the development of weapons systems;
4. The debate over the increasing use of high technology by the military, including what has been termed cyberwar, and the question of whether these high-tech approaches are effective;
5. The notion of a military-industrial complex, and to what extent the arms industries of industrialised nations are responsible for conflict around the world;
6. The legacy of the Cold War and the reliance on nuclear deterrence;
7. The factors that contribute to the spread of weapons of mass destruction, and the options for preventing this;
8. The terrorist threat, and to what extent technology can help stop it. |
Assessment Information
| A midterm short essay (25%) and a long essay (75%) |
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 | Ms Sue Renton
Tel: (0131 6)50 6958
Email: Sue.Renton@ed.ac.uk |
|
© Copyright 2011 The University of Edinburgh - 16 January 2012 6:47 am
|
University Homepage