MA International Studies and Diplomacy

At the end of the module, students will have: a solid foundational knowledge of their chosen research topic and its application across a particular area of International law, politics, economics, public policy and contemporary diplomatic practice, particularly relating to Africa, Asia and the Middle East; developed the skills to pursue independent research from secondary and in some cases primary sources in this field; learned how to organise their data and articulate their arguments coherently and clearly.

This module teaches applied diplomatic skills through a series of group practical exercises and role-playing in carefully designed international scenarios which draw actively on SOAS' expertise on Asia and Africa. Training is jointly undertaken by serving and former diplomats, recognised experts and CISD faculty. These series of experienced guest speakers and practical exercises will give students direct experiences of the complexity involved in international diplomacy in this period. This module is designed to provide the analytical and presentational skills for students interested in careers in formal or informal diplomacy, policy analysis, strategic communications and crisis management. It will consist of skills lectures and workshops by specialists and practitioners and of interactive practical exercises in which skills are put to use. The sessions involving practitioners in the field of formal and non-governmental diplomacy aim to provide a professional context for both the academic and practical knowledge gained elsewhere within this module.

This module will explore the the instruments and strategies of diplomacy and asks what role power plays in diplomacy. It will consider the significance of multilaterialism in diplomacy and how this has changed since the end of the Cold War.

This module provides a grounding in theories of development broadly through the disciplines of sociology and politics and is a prerequisite to the module Policies and Practices of Development in the second semester.

In this module we explore theoretical ideas and debates on development through an historical perspective. These ideas and debates are better understood when located in the historical contexts and conditions that generate them. This shapes which issues and problems are identified, how they are identified, how solutions to them are sought and by whom.  This approach puts questions of agency at the centre of understanding development ideas and policies.

Building on the theoretical insights of the sister module Theories of Development, this module engages with the multifaceted nature of development and the diverse agencies involved in shaping it. A critical perspective, grounded in insights from both cutting edge and established research, encourages students to challenge established norms and think critically about the impact of development interventions. Overall, this module provides students with a comprehensive view of development policies and practices and to consider alternatives.

This course looks at the interaction between China's economic transformation and world development since the late 1970s until the present time. The emphasis is on critically analyzing and assessing this interaction from alternative historical and theoretical perspectives.

The MSc Global Energy and Climate Policy addresses precisely these issues, treating climate and energy policy as inextricably linked. Cases drawn from both the Global North and South will form the basis of your studies as you examine how policy is made, advocated and implemented – or sometimes prevented – around the world.

This course provides an advanced introduction to global advocacy. The aim of the module is to teach the theories and skills that allow an individual to be a more effective in achieving their advocacy objectives.

This module will give students an excellent foundational knowledge of public policy theory, including public choice and its criticisms, agenda setting and advocacy, policy change and stability, decision making, policy implementation, bureaucracies, and new public management.

This module offers an introduction to law on armed conflict, including collective security, the use of force, international humanitarian law and counter-terrorism. These are studied alongside legal reforms in response to contemporary understandings of the relationship between war and gender.

This subject will provide an overview of the discipline of international criminal law. First, the course will examine the origins of the fundamental principle of international criminal law – individual criminal responsibility – and its operations through a variety of international crimes. Second, the course will explain the core theoretical assumptions of the law - focusing in particular on the rationales for criminalisation and for the creation of international criminal tribunals – and take a critical look at these core theoretical assumptions. Third, the course will look at the operation of international criminal law through national jurisdictions and international tribunals.

International Political Communication

To what extent is the leader of a country free to make their own decisions, unconstrained by the material power at their disposal, the governmental bureaucracies they are trying to work through, the experts that surround them or their own socially constructed perceptions? How does a small state set its foreign policy agenda? What does it mean if a state proclaims a feminist foreign policy? What is the role of secrecy in foreign policy? These are a selection of questions we will cover in this module. There are contending approaches within Foreign Policy Analysis (FPA). FPA is a sub-field of International Relations, but also an object of analysis which is constituted and transformed by a variety of actors, practices and organisational structures. This raises the important question of how to study the multiple dimensions of foreign policy and who has the power to shape it. Each week's topic will attend to an important dimension of foreign policy, covering central actors, bureaucratic practices, issues and foreign policy tools. The module will also decentre the traditional focus on the US, which has dominated much of FPA scholarship.

Since the age of European colonial rule in the Middle East came to an end around the Second World War, nominally independent nation-states in the region have tried to negotiate the opportunities and challenges of the Cold War, regional conflict and co-operation, underdevelopment, and more recently, globalisation. This module takes up the study of this rich politics through two different approaches, the first thematic, the second through the study of inter-state politics. After examining the methodological issues involved in the study of the Middle East and becoming familiar with the regions role during the Cold War and thereafter, we will examine important themes and debates in international politics of the Middle East, including war and militarism, ethnicity, development and globalisation, migration and ideological movements. In the latter part of the module, through a more conventional examination of inter-state politics of the Middle East, we will focus on conflict and cooperation between the Arab states in the region and their non-Arab neighbours, Israel, Iran and Turkey.

The Module presents a critical analysis of Artificial Intelligence with a particular emphasis on its implication for human security. It connects current research into the ethics of AI, to comparative philosophies including the socio-economic theories of the Frankfurt School and their emphasis on the perils of modern forms of production for human existence and the threat of “perfectionism” in capitalist societies. In addition, the course will consider the “techno-politics” of Paul Virilio and the critical approaches of Iranian philosophers such as Jamal Al-e Ahmad.

This course is designed to provide students with a theoretically informed and comparative introduction to key issues in the contemporary international politics of East Asia. East Asia is defined as the states of the Northeast Asia (in particular, China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan), and the two main external actors, the United States and Soviet Union/Russia who played a key role influencing the region’s international relations. East Asia presents fascinating case studies in the study of international relations by bringing together the world’s three largest economies (US, China, Japan), three of the UN Security Council’s permanent members (US, Russia, China) and two divided nations (China/Taiwan and the two Korea).

This module is designed to provide a general introduction to problems, approaches and debates in social science methodologies (broadly understood). The aim is to make MSc students familiar with prominent methodological angles and language(s), to provide both a solid grounding in the key issues and a critical understanding of them.

Democracy and Authoritarianism in Asia

This module delves into the complex regime landscape of Asia. From burgeoning democracies to firmly entrenched authoritarian regimes, the module explores the historical, cultural, and socio-political factors that shape the region's diverse governance structures. Through comparative study, students will analyze how different Asian states have navigated their paths between democratic ideals and authoritarian governance in order to situate Asian cases within broader theories.

The course  provides a nuanced understanding of political development across the varied experiences of India, Pakistan, China, Japan, South Korea, and various Southeast Asian states. Through the study of political theories, historical trajectories, external influences, and contemporary challenges, students will learn to contextualize the dynamic interaction between democracy and authoritarianism broadly defined. 

Drawing on a rich array of sources, including scholarly articles, historical documents, and multimedia content, the module encourages students to assess the strengths and weaknesses of different political systems and the theories that illuminate them. The coursework is designed to encourage a critical evaluation of the complex interplay between democratic aspirations and authoritarian tendencies in specific empirical contexts.

WEEK 1. INTRODUCTION TO DEMOCRACY AND AUTHORITARIANISM
- Overview of political theories and concepts related to democracy and authoritarianism.

WEEK 2. COLONIAL LEGACIES AND POLITICAL EVOLUTION: REGIME TYPES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
- The impact of colonialism on political structures and institutions with a focus on the full spectrum of postcolonial regime variation in Southeast Asia

WEEK 3. DEMOCRACY (AND DEMOCRATIC AUTHORITARIANISM) IN SOUTH ASIA
- Analyzing the development and challenges of democracy in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

WEEK 4. AUTHORITARIANISM (AND AUTHORITARIAN REFORM) IN CHINA
- Exploring China's political trajectory and its impact on governance and society.

WEEK 5. DEMOCRATIC CONSOLIDATION IN JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA
- Comparative study of democratic practices and challenges in Japan and South Korea.

WEEK 6. THE MILITARY IN ASIAN POLITICS
- Assessing the influence of military institutions in countries like Pakistan, Indonesia, and Myanmar.

WEEK 7. POLITICAL PARTIES AND SOCIAL MOVEMENTS IN ASIA
- Tracking the interaction between political parties and social movements in Taiwan.

WEEK 8. RELIGION, ETHNICITY, AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN ASIA
- Exploring the role of religious and ethnic identities in shaping human rights debates across Asia.

WEEK 9: POLITICS, MEDIA, AND THE (DIS)INFORMATION AGE IN ASIA
- Understanding the ways in which media drives both democratic and authoritarian trends in Asia.

WEEK 10: THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY AND AUTHORITARIANISM IN ASIA
- Speculating on future trajectories and challenges for governance in the region.

This module will analyse the processes and dynamics of Soviet, post-Soviet and ongoing political, economic, social and cultural transformations in Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan) and South Caucasus (Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia). This module is designed to enable students to gain an in-depth understanding of the differential nature of Soviet modernization, imperial-colonial legacies, challenges of post-Soviet transition, complexities of nation and state building, the diverse understandings of Islam and its engagement with politics, the relationship between formal and informal institutions, and the durability of authoritarian regimes in the face of societal protests and resistance.

This module introduces students to the key concepts of geopolitics and their application to the region of Central Asia and Caucasus. It analyses the multiple and shifting understandings of the notion of 'Eurasia' and 'Eurasianism' across the region, the nature of Sino-Russian partnership which shapes the regional organisations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Eurasian Economic Union, the effects of China's BRI on the entire region, and the efforts by the states in the region to develop multivectoral foreign policies. It will focus on themes such as empire and (de)coloniality, regional security and securitization policies, energy and transport infrastructure, authoritarian regionalism, labour migration and the anti-extremism measures enacted for regime survival. It is designed to enable students to develop a broad and in-depth understanding of the role and influence of two regional hegemons Russia and China, the major external actors Turkey, Iran, India as well as efforts by the Central Asian states to balance between these actors and the Western states.

The aim of this course is to provide students with a deep framework for the understanding of the trajectories of Southeast Asian politics from colonial times to the present. This framework is comparative and rooted in political sociology. It is interdisciplinary in terms of its readings, drawing on historical, anthropological, economic and other materials in addition to works in political science. The course is expected to help students develop a capacity for comparative analysis and for evaluating arguments about the roles of factors as class, race, state-building, culture, economics, international impacts and religion on the political trajectories of the region as a whole as well as that of individual countries. Through the lectures, seminar discussions, coursework and the essays, students will learn to think more rigorously and comparatively about Southeast Asia in particular and critically about central political dynamic within the region in general. In addition, students will learn more about accessing library-based and electronic resources on Southeast Asian politics.

This course is designed to equip students with a comprehensive framework for understanding the political trajectories of Southeast Asia from colonial times to the present. This framework is comparative and grounded in political sociology, incorporating interdisciplinary readings from history, anthropology, economics, and other fields, alongside political science literature. The course aims to develop students' abilities in comparative analysis and in assessing arguments about the influences of factors such as class, race, state-building, culture, economics, international impacts, and religion on the political evolution of the region and its individual countries. Through lectures, seminar discussions, coursework, and essays, students will learn to think more rigorously and comparatively about Southeast Asia and critically about the key political dynamics within the region. Additionally, students will enhance their skills in accessing both library-based and electronic resources on Southeast Asian politics.

This module is the second part of a two-semester 'South Asia: Politics and International Relations' sequence combining issues of political thought, comparative politics, and international relations. The module introduces students to the broad spectrum of social, economic, and strategic debates and practices that animate politics in the subcontinent. From the ideas and ideologies that undergird political mobilisation to constitutional contracts that tenuously hold together large, diverse, and stratified countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan, the module explores the evolution of modern South Asia. It then tackles questions around identity, state, and society by unpacking the ebb and flow of religious and civic nationalisms (Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, liberal, and secular) coupled with the politics of gender, caste, citizenship, and migration. Sensitive to the economic asymmetries that inform political mobilisation, the module considers the development planning, climate action, and poverty alleviation schemes adopted by South Asian states as well as their domestic and regional implications. It also examines the vast informal underbelly of the region--critical to understanding the drivers of uneven growth. Finally, the module connects these aspects with South Asia’s international and geostrategic landscape, considering the impact of China’s economic and military rise, India and Pakistan’s multi-dimensional rivalry, and continuing separatist violence in South Asia, all with an eye to the drivers that will shape the subcontinent’s future.

This unique module provides an introduction to Taiwan’s international and domestic politics. Taiwan’s political democratization, its identity politics and its contested international status have all contributed to making its politics one of the most researched topics in the fields of East Asian and Chinese politics. The module seeks to examine the political processes that have shaped Taiwan since 1949, with particular emphasis on the last three decades. It also explores the evolution of Cross-Strait relations, their enduring rivalry, ongoing conflicts, and Taiwan's contested statehood. We focus on two core themes (1) an analysis of Taiwan’s domestic politics and (2) analysis of Cross-Strait and international relations. Units on Taiwan’s domestic politics will address a variety of issues, including the island’s democratic transition, Taiwan’s party and electoral politics and the quality of its democracy. The sessions on Taiwan’s external relations will examine Taiwan's international status and sovereignty, international relations, as well as the evolution of cross-Strait relations under the early administrations.

This module builds on Taiwan and International Politics Part 1 by delving more deeply into Taiwan’s international and domestic politics. Students will be encouraged to apply a range of theoretical approaches including comparative politics, sociology, and international relations to analyse the politics of modern Taiwan. The domestic politics part of the module will look at three interrelated themes of Taiwan’s electoral and party politics, politics of gender and its social movements. This will involve an examination of a range of topical election, social movement and party case studies. In the final five weeks of the module, the focus will return to Taiwan’s external relations. Topics will include Taiwan's strategies for navigating its increasingly isolated international space and mounting military threats from China, as well as Cross-strait soft power competition. Additionally, we will examine China's evolving policy aimed at bringing Taiwan into its orbit and the dynamics of the US-China-Taiwan triangle.

The module provides students with an understanding of the UN system. It examines the context provided by situating the UN within other International Organisations (IOs). Understanding the heritage, operation, and goals of the UN and its constituent parts will add breadth and depth to the student experience. The course is deliberately designed to take advantage of cutting-edge research by academics at SOAS and elsewhere; it is research-driven teaching, drawing extensively on new research in the field.

This module is designed to provide a critical introduction to international relations theory and contemporary world politics for students with no prior background in international relations. Students will acquire a solid grounding in international relations theory and how to apply it to understand and analyse key developments in world politics from 1945 to the present, including the Cold War, decolonization, globalization, development, and the War on Terror, amongst others.

The Risk and Policy Analysis course teaches a core set of skills required of public, private and non-profit sector policy professionals, including: analysing, assessing and managing risks, understanding cost-benefit analysis, analysing stakeholders, scenario mapping, writing policy analysis, assessing policy impacts, and strategically communicating (policy) positions. Cases analysed are drawn from a wide range of policy fields and the skills profile taught is transferable across sectors in policy, diplomatic and corporate settings. The training is conducted through lectures and tutorials run in cooperation with external practitioners representing government, NGOs, think tank, risk advisory and business backgrounds.

This course provides an advanced introduction to global advocacy. The aim of the module is to teach the theories and skills that allow an individual to be a more effective in achieving their advocacy objectives.

This course aims to provide a critical introduction to the building blocks of public international law – its nature and sources, international personality, statehood and recognition, jurisdiction and immunities, the law of responsibility, international organisations, and enforcement. Throughout the course, you will be introduced to different theoretical perspectives– including feminist and 'third world approaches to international law' (TWAIL)– and encouraged to think critically about the rule and role of law in the international order.

This course will investigate the evolving nature of security governance and risks in the 21st century, with particular attention to emerging threats in the realms of nuclear weapons, non-state terrorism, climate change, energy, and food security, as well as emerging forms of security governance in the domains of surveillance and policing.

This module is designed to provide a general introduction to problems, approaches and debates in social science methodologies (broadly understood). The aim is to make MSc students familiar with prominent methodological angles and language(s), to provide both a solid grounding in the key issues and a critical understanding of them.