Peace and Conflict Studies - uni-marburg

Modulbezeichnung Modul E: PO917 Terrorism and National Security
Hochschule University of Kent
Leistungspunkte 20 Kent-LP/10 ECTS-LP
Verpflichtungsgrad Wahlpflichtmodul
Niveaustufe Vertiefungsmodul
Inhalt und Qualifikationsziel The purpose of the module is to develop an understanding of the complex
relationships between terrorism, counter-terrorism efforts, human
rights and civil liberties, both at home and abroad. The module will provide
students with an analysis of the different approaches to terrorism,
including conventional terrorism studies, critical terrorism studies, and
policy-level approaches. It will include work on the competing definitions
of and theoretical approaches to terrorism, state terrorism and security;
with case studies on: the Latin American National Security States;
Northern Ireland; Israel-Palestine; Responses to 9/11 in the US and UK
and the consequences for civil liberties; Intelligence in the ‘War on Terror’;
Terrorism and Foreign Policy – the case of Spain; and Extraordinary
Rendition. The subjects studied will be situated within the broader
context of International Relations and Security theory, and will be related
to the ethical and legal challenges that terrorism and counterterrorism
activities pose.
The intended subject specific learning outcomes and, as appropriate,
their relationship to programme learning outcomes:
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to
SLO1: Analyse competing definitions of terrorism, counter-terrorism
and state terrorism.
SLO2: Appreciate the impact that efforts in the name of counterterrorism
in liberal democratic states have had on human rights and civil
liberties at home, and relate these to broader ethical debates.
SLO3: Develop an understanding of foreign policies that liberal democratic
states have implemented in the name of countering terrorism, and
evaluate the impact that they have had on the populations of targeted
states, both throughout the 20th Century and in the current ‘War on Terror’.
SLO4: Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of competing theoretical
approaches, derived from International Relations and Security Studies,
to questions of terrorism, counter-terrorism and state terrorism in light of
the empirical cases studied.
These specific learning outcomes contribute to achieving the learning
outcomes of our taught postgraduate Masters level programmes. Students
successfully completing Masters level programmes in the School
of Politics and International Relations will be able to:
- demonstrate specialised knowledge of, and critical insight into, the key
historical and theoretical issues in their programme area, together with
familiarity with appropriate bibliographical sources.
- apply theoretical and conceptual frameworks to the analysis of politics
and international relations.
- use a variety of research methods and evaluate critically their application
in the scholarly literature.
- conduct research in politics and international relations demonstrating
awareness of epistemological, methodological and ethical principles.
The intended generic learning outcomes and, as appropriate, their relationship
to programme learning outcomes:
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