The Liberal World Order - in Crisis (500IR)
The Liberal World Order - in Crisis
Module 500IR
Module details for 2025/26.
15 credits
FHEQ Level 5
Module Outline
Focusing on the post-cold war era, how did we get from the initial optimistic promise of peace and prosperity, democracy and human rights to the current crisis? What is the nature of the crisis? Since when has the liberal world order been in crisis and for whom? Can a liberal vision of a US-led ‘rules-based order’ re-emerge from under the rubble of Gaza? How do we make sense of liberal states acting benign-liberal domestically, and seemingly illiberal in their foreign relations?
In this module, you will approach the current crisis historically and from a range of different perspectives. You will learn about the past and present relationship between (1) liberalism, capitalism and democracy, and (2) liberalism and war. This includes the seemingly paradoxical histories of core liberal thinkers and political actors promoting individual liberal freedom on the one hand, and (settler) colonialism, chattel slavery and patriarchy on the other hand. We will discuss the extent to which the reproduction and extension of liberal capitalism in the current era continues to involve relations of violence, coercion, and constraint.
Module learning outcomes
dentify and summarise core academic debates about the origins, core
actors and institutions of the liberal world order.
Critically assess and apply core concepts for the study of liberal
internationalist policies and of the liberal world order.
Evaluate a range of explanations for the crisis of the liberal world order,
and ultimately provide a reasoned and well-substantiated assessment of
the current crisis.
Apply and communicate for wider publics a theoretically and historically
grounded understanding of the crisis of the liberal world order.
| Type | Timing | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 80.00% | |
| Coursework components. Weighted as shown below. | ||
| Test | T2 Week 6 (1 hour) | 80.00% |
| Group Presentation | T2 Week 11 (10 minutes) | 20.00% |
| Group written submission (500 words) | Semester 2 Assessment Week 2 Mon 16:00 | 20.00% |
Timing
Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.
Weighting
Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.
| Term | Method | Duration | Week pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Semester | Lecture | 2 hours | 11111111111 |
How to read the week pattern
The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.
Dr Melanie Richter-Montpetit
Convenor
/profiles/349663
Dr Kamran Matin
Assess convenor
/profiles/138207
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