IR5904 Terrorism, Political Violence, and Social Movements

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 11

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

Wednesdays 11.00am - 1.00pm

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr S V Marsden

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

Increasingly, terrorism and political violence is coming to be seen in the wider theoretical context of political collective action, social movement theory and 'contentious politics', a process which has been assisted on the one hand by this field's own growing interest in transnational activism, and recently by growing interest in civil resistance as a neglected area in the study of insurgency within the framework of conflict studies and IR. This module will address such issues as: What does it mean to take a 'political collective action' approach to terrorism? Social movement theory and terrorism; Terrorism and high-risk activism: understanding recruitment and mobilisation; Terrorism and the Collective Action Repertoire; New Social Movements, New Terrorism? Terrorism in the Context of Transnational Activism.

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

3-hour Written Examination =100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

2h seminar per week + advertised office hours