58吃瓜

IR5069 The Genealogy of Modern Counterinsurgency

Academic year

2026 to 2027 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

Thursday 1-3pm

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

Module coordinator

Dr M U M K von Bulow

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

Module Staff

Dr Mathilde von Bulow

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

Module description

The aim of this course is to trace the genealogy of contemporary counterinsurgency warfare. Taking a thematic and comparative approach through which both historical case studies and more recent examples will be examined side-by-side, the module aims to trace the evolution of counterinsurgency theory and practice. This approach allows us to identify continuities and changes to global security practices, conflict management, and understandings of strategy, as well as critically consider similarities and differences across time and space. The course will draw on literature from strategic studies, critical military and critical security studies as well as imperial and postcolonial studies to explore the colonial roots of modern-day counterinsurgency and challenge the existence of 鈥榥ational ways鈥�.

Assessment pattern

100% coursework

Re-assessment

100% exam

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 hour lecture and 1 hour seminar each week in weeks 1-2; 2 hour seminar each week in weeks 3-11.

Scheduled learning hours

22

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

260

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Have an advanced understanding of past and present counterinsurgency theory and practice
  • Be able to identify continuities and changes in counterinsurgency theory and practice across time and space
  • Be able to draw analytical comparisons between cases and across time
  • Be able to assess critically social science and historical research on this topic
  • Develop their written and oral skills through essays and presentations in the tutorial programme
  • Possess the capacity to critique current debates on counterinsurgency