58勛圖

IR5857 The History of Terrorism

Academic year

2026 to 2027 Semester 1

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.

Module Staff

To be decided

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

Module description

This module provides an overview of different forms of terrorism over the past 150 years, with a particular focus on the period following the Second World War. It equips students with the knowledge necessary to understand the breadth and depth of the phenomenon and to become familiar with key episodes of terrorism across different continents and contexts. The module examines the causes, methods, outcomes, and responses to terrorism, emphasising the complex dynamics that lead to political violence. To achieve this, it explores various types of non-state terrorism, including ethnic and nationalist terrorism, social revolutionary movements, religiously inspired terrorism, state-sponsored violence, and international responses.

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

There are no fixed weekly contact hours. Students will take part in asynchronous discussions and activities.

Scheduled learning hours

18

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

Guided independent study hours

132

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

Intended learning outcomes

  • Understand the historical development of the concept of terrorism and its changing characteristics over time and articulate their understanding in written form through research papers, and simulations
  • Critically examine the efforts that states and international organisations have developed to cope with terrorism
  • Understand the evolution, ideological underpinnings, targeting rationales, and decline of different types of terrorist movements
  • Familiarise themselves with present forms of terrorism and possible measures to cope with them as well as develop their skills to concisely present key information on a specific contemporary terrorist problem and draft policy-relevant measures to counter it
  • Develop their academic research skills, including the identification of relevant scholarship and of useful texts and information through the internet, as well as published archival documents.