Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL3233: Military Revolutions and Political Change

This module descriptor refers to the 2018/9 academic year.

Overview

NQF Level	6
Credits	15	ECTS Value	7.5
Term(s) and duration	This module ran during term 1 (11 weeks)
Academic staff	Dr Brieg Powel (Convenor)
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
Available via distance learning	No

This module explores the relationship between war, state, and society throughout human history. Drawing on works from many disciplines, the module approaches its subject matter from a global perspective, encouraging non-Eurocentric analysis and an awareness of a broad span of human time. It asks a number of conceptual questions that require you to deepen your empirical-historical awareness. Such questions include: what is the difference between a ‘military revolution’ and a ‘revolution in military affairs’?; what are the impacts of such ‘revolutions’ on the relationship between war, state, and society?; how ‘global’ have these ‘revolutions’ been?; and how do changes in politics and society affect warfare?. It explores topics including: the role of war in state formation; the importance of the so-called ‘military revolution’ in Europe and beyond; the evolution of military administration and logistics; the interplay between war, finance, and the broader economy; the role of nationalism in both war and the state; the technologies of war and rule; the importance of territory and population; war commemoration; the socio-political effects of war; and the figure of the soldier as combatant, citizen, and subject.

In terms of teaching method, the module will involve 2-hour workshops which merge lectures and seminars into a single, more interactive learning experience. The workshops will involve multimedia delivery in the form of audio-visual resources and experiential learning through simulations. These will be supported by links to further optional online material.

Module created	30/08/2018	Last revised	30/08/2018