THE EVOLUTION OF CONTEMPORARY INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY - 2026/7
Module code: POL2050
Module Overview
The 'long' 20th Century was full of contradiction: devastating world wars, intra-state conflict, revolution and economic disaster were met with recognition of the right of peoples to determine their own future, of an international human rights agenda, of unprecedented systemic institution-building in order to promote and perpetuate peace and economic growth that extended far beyond the ¿first world¿.
This module will review key events and processes shaping the evolution of contemporary international society in order to identify and understand the circumstances under which such major change came about. Students will be required to acquire a detailed knowledge and understanding of international history and actors in the twentieth century, developing, applying, and historically contextualising their knowledge of International Relations theory.
The module engages the global and cultural structures of power within which the discipline of International Relations is embedded; the evolution of capitalism and the sustainability of contemporary international political economy; and the resourcefulness and resilience required for processes of revolutionary change.
Module provider
Politics & International Relations
Module Leader
KITCHEN Nicholas (Politics IR)
Number of Credits: 15
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Framework: FHEQ Level 5
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Overall student workload
Independent Learning Hours: 97
Lecture Hours: 11
Seminar Hours: 11
Guided Learning: 20
Captured Content: 11
Module Availability
Semester 2
Prerequisites / Co-requisites
None
Module content
Indicative content includes the following:
International society approaches to IR, History and historiography; historical sociology of IR; black swan events; liberal order, war; empire; revolution; globalisation of capitalism; religion.
Assessment pattern
| Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Individual or Group-based Podcast/Video Segment (8 mins) | 70 |
| Coursework | Individual Self-Evaluative Response to Feedback (1000) | 30 |
Alternative Assessment
None
Assessment Strategy
The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate:
- Detailed historical knowledge
- Critical engagement concepts and theory
- The ability to structure, develop, and present a clear analysis
- The ability to engage feedback to develop their thinking
Therefore, the summative assessment comprises:
1) Individual or group-based* podcast or video output (maximum 8 minutes), submitted together with supporting materials evidencing the production process (70%).
2) Individual self-evaluative response (1000 words) to the substantive feedback received on assessment 1 (30%)
* students will be allowed to self-organise into groups of 2-5 students, or submit individually, according to their own choice.
Module aims
- To introduce students to the methodological use of history in social science and International Relations.
- To shape students' critical understanding of the major political, economic, social, and cultural processes and events which have shaped the evolution of contemporary international society.
- To enhance students' digital capabilities and employability by introducing them to the requirements of explanation in audio-visual media.
- To enhance students' ability to receive and use feedback by encouraging self-reflection on their working processes.
Learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | ||
| 001 | Understand the place of the study of history in International Relations, both within the discipline and for political actors. | CK |
| 002 | Describe and analyse a range of contemporary historical phenomena including different interpretations of causes, effects and significations offered by historians and/or political actors. | CKPT |
| 003 | Demonstrate the ability to apply theory in such a way as to help develop a critical analysis of key historical events and processes. | CK |
| 004 | Demonstrate the ability to write and produce a short media segment to effectively explain complex concepts and phenomena. | CPT |
| 005 | Develop a deeper understanding and understand the contribution of international society approaches to International Relations. | CK |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Methods of Teaching / Learning
The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:
- Encourage work both independent and group work
- Facilitate critical thinking
- Enhance analytical skills
The learning and teaching methods include:
Lectures, seminars, prescribed reading, group work.
Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.
Reading list
https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: POL2050
Other information
None
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2026/7 academic year.