Classical Thinkers and Current Events (L2014N)
Classical Thinkers and Current Events
Module L2014N
Module details for 2025/26.
15 credits
FHEQ Level 4
Module Outline
Key questions:
• Do the origins of IR lie in a desire to create peace after WWI, or a desire to maintain imperial control over former colonies?
• Are foreign policies justified through the ‘ancient’ wisdom of long dead writers?
• How can reading classical political theorists lead to innovative new ideas?
On this module you will:
• Engage with classical thinkers like Confucius, Hobbes, Kautilya, Aquinas, Ibn Khaldun, and many others.
• Relate classical thought to contemporary events like Terrorism and Just War, the Rise of China, Humanitarian Intervention, Black Lives Matter, the Clash of Civilizations.
• Demonstrate how the use of classical authors today allows us to learn something about contemporary international affairs, and provides us with the means to critique these policies and to develop alternatives.
You will develop skills in:
• Textual analysis
• Working in a group
• Writing a research paper
Module learning outcomes
Develop an overview of the theoretical foundations of the IR discipline
Acquire an understanding of the intellectual problems associated with the analysis and interpretation of primary texts
Engage with the problems of evaluating the contemporary relevance of historical texts
Develop further the intellectual, practical and transferable skills encouraged by the mode of teaching
| Type | Timing | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 100.00% | |
| Coursework components. Weighted as shown below. | ||
| Essay | T2 Week 11 | 100.00% |
Timing
Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.
Weighting
Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.
| Term | Method | Duration | Week pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Semester | Lecture | 2 hours | 11111111111 |
| Spring Semester | Class | 1 hour | 10100000000 |
How to read the week pattern
The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.
Dr Melanie Richter-Montpetit
Assess convenor
/profiles/349663
Dr Felix Roesch
Convenor
/profiles/604614
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