58吃瓜

IR5838 Coercion Short of Force: An Introduction to Sanctions in International Security

Academic year

2026 to 2027 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

15

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.

Availability restrictions

Available only to students enrolled on online PGT programmes in the School of IR

Planned timetable

Not Applicable

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

Module coordinator

Dr R A Brubaker

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

Module Staff

Dr Rebecca Brubaker

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

Module description

Sanctions are one of the tools available to States within the international security repertoire. They have been described as sitting 鈥渂etween war and words鈥� and lauded as a sensible alternative to the use of force. Yet the use of sanctions presents a number of factors for consideration. First, there is much academic debate around their effectiveness and their legitimacy. Second, there are the challenges of coordination and effective implementation. Third, there are also numerous questions about the due process rights of those placed under sanctions and if and how they can seek relief. Finally, there is considerable research and policy work on the unintended consequences and trade-offs involved in the application of the measures. The following course will explore each of these issues drawing from the instructor鈥檚 deep experience working with the United Nations Security Council and other key actors in the sanctions ecosystem.

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

No fixed weekly contact hours. Module comprises 5 units, each of which includes at least 1 hour of pre-recorded content and c.1 hour of associated asynchronous discussions and activities.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Evaluate the effectiveness and analyze the impact of a key policy tool
  • Critically engage with debates around the conditions under which this tool can and should be used.
  • Identify and assess key challenges in the application of this policy tool.
  • Create assessments of trade-offs involved in decisions of whether or not to deploy such a tool
  • Build fluency in debates around the impact and appropriateness of this tool as it is deployed in current cases.