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The Liberal World Order - in Crisis (500IR)

15 credits, Level 5

Spring teaching

On this module, you'll explore how the initial optimism around peace, prosperity, democracy, and human rights has evolved into the current crisis. You'll examine questions such as:

• what is the nature of the current crisis?
• since when has the liberal world order been in crisis, and for whom?
• can a liberal vision of a US-led ‘rules-based order’ re-emerge from the conflicts in places like Gaza?
• how do we reconcile liberal states acting benignly at home but seemingly illiberal abroad?

You’ll approach these issues through various perspectives, focusing on two key relationships:

• liberalism, capitalism, and democracy
• liberalism and war.

The module also addresses the paradox of liberal thinkers and political actors who promote individual freedom while supporting (settler) colonialism, chattel slavery, and patriarchy. You'll discuss whether the continuation of liberal capitalism today still involves violence, coercion, and constraint.

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 150 hours of work. This breaks down into about 22 hours of contact time and about 128 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2024/25. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum.

We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.