International Relations and Global Change: University of Westminster

Introduction

Hosted by the internationally recognised Department of Politics and International Relations, this course offers an innovative, interdisciplinary and intellectually challenging theoretical and empirical frameworks for the study of changes within international relations brought on by the rise of non-Western states, especially China and India.

Course Content

Does the predicted rise of China and India pose a fundamental challenge to the West-dominated international order? Does it require a revisiting of dominant theories of IR? How have domestic issues of multiculturalism and immigration become internationalised? How do religion, race, gender, ethnicity, culture and other identity related issues impact upon international relations and in turn get affected by it? Do conventional theories suffice or does this global change require different conceptual tools to explain and understand the global order? The new course will engage with conventional and postcolonial theories that enable a critical analysis of the global change brought on by the predicted rise of the non-West. It will also enable a comparative and in-depth understanding of key features of the domestic and international politics of the emerging Asian giants, China and India.

Core Modules:

• Dissertation and Research Methods
• Postcolonial International Relations: Theories and Concepts
• Global Change: Toward a new non-Western Order
• International Relations Theory 1: Theoretical Perspectives

Options, choose three from:

• Controversies in United States Foreign Policies and Processes
• Democracy and Islam
• Environmental and Urban Governance: International Perspectives
• European Immigration Policy in International Perspective
• The European Union as an International Actor
• Governance of the European Union
• International Humanitarian Law
• Latin America and Globalisation
• Modernity, Postmodernity and the Islamic Perspective
• Perspectives on Post-Cold War Chinese Foreign Policy
• Politics, Public Life and the Media

One of your options may be an approved free choice module hosted by another Masters course.

Associated Careers

This course will provide you with numerous key skills and knowledge that will prepare you for your future career in a variety of different fields. Our graduates hold posts within various international and national government departments and organisations. A substantial number of our graduates have also gone on to study for doctorates at Westminster and at other universities in different parts of the world.

Entry Requirements

• You will require a good Honours degree, First Class or Upper Second Class or equivalent. Equivalent qualifications from overseas are welcome
• If you hold or are expecting to gain a good first degree in an unrelated subject, you may be required to complete the University’s Summer School module in international relations or an equivalent approved by the course admissions tutor
• You will need fluent written and spoken English to study at postgraduate level
• If your first language is not English, an attainment of at least IELTS 6.5 or equivalent must be demonstrated
• The University offers presessional summer programmes if you need to improve your English before starting your course
• Your application must be supported by a reference written on institutional notepaper by an academic familiar with your abilities
• Applications from mature candidates are welcomed