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School of Politics and International Relations

POL383 Political Violence and Liberal Modernity

POL383 Political Violence and Liberal Modernity

Credits: 15
Semester: 2

Module Convenor: Dr Jean-François Drolet

Description: This module will introduce students to some of the most important intellectual debates concerning political violence and late modernity as a principle of socio-historical formation.  More specifically, the course will draw on literature from various fields such as political theory, philosophy, sociology and international relations to consider the relationship between political violence and the changing nature and consequences of structural phenomena associated with the process of 'liberal modernisation' since the end of the nineteenth century (e.g. secularisation,  societal rationalisation, technology, the transnationalisation of production and exchange, decolonisation, the constitutionalisation of the global order, the criminalisation of war etc.).   The themes covered include state violence, civil war, revolution, imperialism, genocide, ethnic cleansing, humanitarian warfare and terrorism/counter-terrorism.

Assessment: Item 1: 40% Research Essay Item 2: 60% Written Exam (2 hours)
Level: 6

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