Postgraduate Course: Terrorism in Global Politics (PGSP11603)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | What is terrorism and how does it differ from violent extremism? What causes individuals and groups to engage in terrorist activities? What are the most appropriate responses to such kind of violence? This course draws on a range of case studies to address these and related questions. Case studies include international groups such as Al-Qaeda and ISIS, as well as domestic actors such as the IRA, Boko Haram and the Red Army Faction |
| Course description |
The course examines issues related to terrorism and counterterrorism, which have (re)emerged as prominent issues in international relations. It aims to develop students' ability to critically understand and assess a variety of challenges associated with terrorism and their implications for counterterrorism measures. The course addresses debates surrounding the definition of terrorism, the history of the concept and possible causes. Other topics include issues such as gendered terrorism and state terrorism. Different counterterrorist strategies, such as war models, criminal justice models, prevention, and de-radicalisation efforts, are analysed to evaluate ways of addressing terrorist threats. The course will make extensive use of case studies that represent the diversity of issues and questions raised in the course. Discussions will not only explore global terrorism and responses to it, but will also engage with domestic and regional actors (e.g. IRA, White Supremacists) that require different responses.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2022/23, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 25 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 10,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
176 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Policy brief (1500 words) 30%«br /»
Essay (2500 words) 60%«br /»
Seminar participation 10%«br /»
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| Feedback |
The Policy Brief will be returned before the essay deadline to give students feedback on their writing before the next assessment is due. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Develop an advanced critical understanding of principal theories and concepts related to terrorism and counterterrorism
- Engage critically with the work of terrorism scholars, and evaluate their arguments
- Assess and evaluate competing claims and make informed judgments about complex questions related to the course¿s topics
- Demonstrate the ability to present - in written and verbal form -- coherent, balanced arguments surrounding historic and contemporary issues pertinent to understanding controversies related to terrorism and counterterrorism
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Reading List
Blakeley, Ruth (2009) State Terrorism and Neoliberalism, Routledge
Jackson, Richard, Marie Breen Smyth and Jeroen Gunning (eds.) (2009) Critical Terrorism Studies - A New Research Agenda. Routledge
Nacos, Brigitte L. (2016) Terrorism and Counterterrorism, Routledge
Silke, Andrew (ed.) (2018) Routledge Handbook of Terrorism and Counterterrorism, Routledge
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
By the end of the course students will have strengthened their skills in:
- Critical analysis and evaluation of evidence.
- Effective formulation and articulation of a line of argument.
- Being able to identify and critically engage with arguments in scholarship and public discourse.
- Effective written communication.
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| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Andrea Birdsall
Tel: (0131 6)50 6974
Email: a.birdsall@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Casey Behringer
Tel: (0131 6)50 2456
Email: Casey.behringer@ed.ac.uk |
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