Global Affairs, Politics and International Relations with Economics BSc (Hons)

The module runs in two interrelated Streams, and students will take both.

In Stream 1, this module is designed to introduce students to the concepts, theories, and practices of Globalisation Then and Now through an internationalized overview of world political, cultural, social, and economic history, and to refocus contemporary debates on globalisation to the edges of the world system. This provides a critical approach to understanding globalisation as an historical process, and not a relatively new phenomenon. The module will introduce students to critical analysis of key phases in the evolution of world history in how human development over time has contributed to broader societal change through the discovery of new improving technologies on the one hand but has been a highly uneven process characterised by the unequal distribution of power, violence, discrimination and oppression on the other. The module questions Western and universalized approaches to understanding globalization through an examination of Eastern and Southern-led processes and experiences. It provides an historical and contextually driven approach to contemporary questions surrounding issues of underdevelopment and global inequality, key features in understanding politics and international relations. Students will gain an understanding of global forces that are historically inscribed and approach globalisation through multiple lenses and perspectives. Content will include:

• Key theories of globalisation – World systems theory, dependency theory, and the use of multiple and layered international relations theories to understand globalisation
• Three key approaches to globalisation: Hyper-globalists, integrationists, transformationalists, regionalists
• World economic history: colonialism, colours and early capital
• Silk routes, fur trade, slave trade and early global transformation: Who paid for industrialisation?
• Industrialisation and deindustrialisation: the start of the ‘Great divide’
• South Pacific encounters with globalisation: the persistence of the gift in Polynesian globalisation
• Chinese globalisation: Confucian, communism, and copper
• Indigenous peoples in global perspective: On the margins of the world system
• South Asian forces of globalisation: sweatshops of the world or manufacturing centre of the world?
• Latin American perspectives on globalisation: coffee, Chavez and communism.

In Stream 2, students will explore What's in the News? 

Stream 2 is designed to empower students with the analytical and methodological tools required to comprehend how major global events are portrayed and re-presented in the media, news, documentary, film and academic texts. This module explores the intricate process of decoding, unpacking, and critically assessing the narratives and representations surrounding significant international occurrences, doing so methodologically, and placing these in context. The module emphasizes understanding dominant and alternative framings, enabling students to question how and why certain perspectives are privileged.

Each week, students will engage with the theme of “What’s in the news?” to interpret, decode, and analyze current global affairs. Through this focus, students will enhance their ability to apply research methods, assess sources, and build arguments using documentary evidence, policy analysis, political speeches, and academic sources. This approach fosters essential skills in communicating ideas, critical thinking, and the broader methodological scholarship necessary for Global Affairs and International Relations. Students will learn to understand how to evaluate and use sources and foundational methods for the discipline.

Students on the Economics Pathway will undertake half of their content in Stream 2 focusing on Economics methods and materials.

This module develops critical engagement with international affairs by drawing together the multiple theoretical lenses of international relations with the practice in global politics, enabling a deeper consideration of how the world might be understood, explained and possibly transformed. The core issues, concepts and theories of the discipline are approached through a series of questions. These questions are used to draw out many other challenging and complex questions and perspectives about global politics, to examine the historical context in which they are located, to consider the broader assumptions that underlie them and the theoretical approaches that structure the many possible responses. In so doing, students are encouraged to think about why the question is important, who is affected and how, and what is at stake in global politics and international relations.

Indicative content includes:

• Perspectives on the creation of the discipline of International Relations.
• Realism and Neo-Realism; Liberalism and Neo-Liberalism; the English school; Critical Theory; Marxism and Gramscianism; Constructuctivism; Feminism; Green Theory and Eco-centric approaches.
• Key questions include: How do we begin to think about the world? How might we conceptualise the world? How might we critique the world? Does the nation-state work? Is democracy a good idea? What happens if we don't take nature for granted? Can we save the planet? Why are some people better off than others? Who has rights, and what rights do they have? Why is people's movement restricted? Why does gender inequality exist? Is democracy a good idea? Should we embrace emerging technologies? What can we do to change the world?
• The state of the discipline of global politics and international relations.

The module explores the notion of citizenship within media landscapes, encouraging students to ponder their media habits and the power structures at play above and around them. It explores the accountability of media organizations and the governance surrounding them, probing into the question of who should oversee media content regulation.

Discussions unfold around the delicate balance between censorship and free expression, dissecting regulatory frameworks across different global contexts. Through comparative analysis, students gain insights into the varying approaches to media regulation, shedding light on the complexities of safeguarding both free speech and societal well-being.

Additionally, the course delves into contemporary concepts such as corporate responsibility and techno-feudalism, providing a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted nature of media governance and its implications in modern society.

This module is designed to introduce students to both the theory and practice of economic thought from a global perspective. In the first half of the module students will examine the history of economic thought through tracing the progress of economic ideas over time and learn about the work of some of the most influential economists that have shaped global affairs. In the second half of the module students will apply these economic ideas and thinkers to specific country case studies and compare the economic systems and approaches in different regions of the world. Indicative content will include:

• Mercantilism, Physiocracy, Classical Economics, Marxist Economics, Neoclassical Economics, Keynesian Economics, The Austrian School
• Adam Smith, Thomas Malthus, David Ricardo, John Stuart Mills, Jeremy Bentham, Karl Marx, John Maynard Keynes, Alfred Marshall, Joseph Schumpeter, Milton Freedman, Joseph Stiglitz
• Market Capitalism, Communism, Transitional Economies, Developing Economies, New Traditional Economies
• USA, Japan, France, Sweden, Germany, Russia, Poland, Hungry, Yugoslavia, Slovenia, China, India, Mexico, Iran

In this module you will examine political ideas such as freedom, equality, justice and democracy that have shaped today’s world. You will develop knowledge of the major concepts and ideas underlying political thought which primarily emerged out of and are associated with western political traditions. These ideas will be unpacked and explored through key thinkers and case studies in this module from classical to contemporary political thought. Indicative ideas may include power and freedom, democracy and rights, equality and justice, individual and state, security and militarism, gender, sexuality and queerness, race and nation, and class and capitalism. Students will learn to critically analyse and apply these ideas in both institutional and organisational analyses and through case study scenarios.

Indicative case studies rooted in the European context may include movements such as Just Stop Oil, Black Lives Matter, and the #MeToo Movement. Global Surrogacy; security approaches such as UK Immigration policy; UK National Security policy; Global tobacco control; environmental justice such as UK Climate Coalition; Just Stop Oil; or Fracking.

Indicative institutions within the European context include government and political institutions and European institutions, elections, political parties and interest groups, constitutionalism, bureaucracy and public service, policy-making, civil society and social movements.

This module enables students with A-Level German or equivalent to further develop their grammar, vocabulary and expression and apply these to real world situations.You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop your oral and written communication skills at Post-A level.

This module is designed for students that have completed A-Level or equivalent in French. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and expression and apply these to real world situations. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop your oral and written communication skills at Post-A level.

This module is designed for students that have completed a A-Level or equivalent in Spanish. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and expression and apply these to real world situations. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop oral and written communication skills at Post-A level.

This module is designed for students who have completed GCSE in Chinese or equivalent. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and learning conventions for spelling and pronunciation. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop oral and written communication skills at an intermediate level.

This module is designed for students who have completed GCSE or equivalent in French. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and learning conventions for spelling and pronunciation. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop oral and written communication skills at an intermediate level.

This module is designed for students that have completed GCSE or equivalent in Spanish. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and learning conventions for spelling and pronunciation. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop oral and written communication skills at an intermediate level.

This module provides the opportunity to study a new language from scratch and introduces you to basic grammar, vocabulary and cultural contexts. You will apply the language to practical situations using both oral and written skills. 

This module will introduce students to a range of theories, ideas and processes related to international trade from several perspectives: economic, historical, political and international. Students are shown how international trade and commercial relationships impact, alter and create political and social connections. Student learn how political, social and cultural institutions play a large role in facilitating these arrangements, and how relationships develop and change over time. The exercise of power in international relationships, ad its impact on trade and through the form of economic diplomacy is explored through the module.

The content will include topics such as:

• The origins of international trade
• The creation and role of the World Trade Organisation and other international organisations
• Barriers to trade (tariffs and quotas, political)
• International Trade Agreements and disagreements
• Regional integration areas
• The role of currencies and exchange rates
• Globalisation and finance
• Global crisis and their effects on trade
• Economic diplomacy and trade
• Economic destabilisation and trade
• Changing power in international trade: The rise of China, India, Brazil
• Effects of and constraints of international trade on development and environment

The aims of the module are to:

• Enable student appreciation of the role and relevance of international trade and international politics and their relationship to one another.
• Facilitate student understanding of the economic rationale behind the existence of international trade.
• Ensure student appreciation of the complexity of commercial relationships and their inter-relationship with political systems and with power in the international arena.
• Facilitate an appreciation of the changing nature of international trade over time and in terms of institutions, instruments, agreements and countries' roles.
• Enable application of theory to practice.

This module provides students with an in-depth understanding of contemporary geopolitics, critical political ideologies, and influential leaders from a global perspective. Designed to broaden students’ knowledge of international relations and political thought beyond Western-centric paradigms, it equips them with the analytical tools and critical thinking skills needed to engage with the complex dynamics of current global affairs.

Through this course, students will explore key geopolitical theories, foundational concepts, and historical legacies, including the impact of colonialism and the Cold War. They will examine power centres and regional dynamics across various regions—such as the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America—and gain insights into security, economic, environmental, technological, and humanitarian dimensions of geopolitics. Additionally, the module presents alternative perspectives on international relations by examining non-Western political leaders, ideologies, and movements that have shaped both regional and global politics.

The content will include:

• Introduction to Non-Western Political Thought: Overview of the module, defining key concepts, and the significance of studying non-Western political ideas.

• Alexander Dugin and Eurasianism and Multipolarity: Explore the political ideology of Alexander Dugin and its impact on Russian foreign policy; Eurasian geopolitics and Multipolarity.

• Hugo Chávez and Bolivarianism: Examine the political ideas of Hugo Chávez, the founder of Bolivarianism in Latin America, and their influence on regional politics.

• Seretse Khama and African Leadership: Study the life and leadership of Seretse Khama, the first President of Botswana, and his contributions to non-violent struggle, African independence and democracy.

• Xi Jinping and Chinese Political Thought: Analyse the political thought of Xi Jinping and its role in shaping China's domestic and international policies, multilateralism and the new global order.

• Regional Case Studies: Investigate additional non-Western political leaders and ideas from diverse regions, such as Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.

The Module aims are: 

- Foster a comprehensive understanding of Global Affairs and International Relations by exposing students to diverse political ideas, leaders, and ideologies from both Western and non-Western contexts, encouraging a nuanced perspective on global politics.

- Develop students' critical thinking and analytical skills as they examine the historical, cultural, and ideological contexts that shape contemporary geopolitics and international relations.

- Equip students with the theoretical knowledge and practical research skills necessary to assess the roles, strategies, and impacts of major state and non-state actors in global politics.

- Encourage students to engage in informed discussions, contrasting non-Western and Western political thought, to contribute thoughtfully to the discourse on global affairs and predict future geopolitical trends.

This module is designed to provide students with understanding of the key principles and concepts of micro and macroeconomics and their application. This is set within the contemporary social, cultural, political and policy context, in particular post the financial crisis, enabling students to appreciate the relevance of Economics within a wider context. It will also provide guidance on how to approach the study of Economics and how to start thinking like an economist as well as more generic skills such as economy related presentations.

Microeconomics content includes:

• Basic economic problems of scarcity and choice
• How consumers and producers make decisions
• Implications of different market structures
• Economic welfare
• How governments intervene when markets fail

Macroeconomics content includes:

• Wider economic environment, including the measurement and flows of national income
• Causes and effects of unemployment and inflation
• Uses and abuses of government fiscal and monetary policy

 Content relating to the application of the above includes:

• Impact of government macro and microeconomic policies on society
• Impact of fiscal, monetary issues and financial markets on society
• Public expenditure, employment, labour markets, labour relations and income distribution and implications
• Austerity and post-crisis welfare

This module provides essential data science skills and applications tailored for undergraduate economics students. It introduces foundational and advanced econometric techniques, building on students' statistical skills and proficiency with software applications. The module focuses primarily on supervised learning, including running regressions using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and maximum likelihood estimation. To address different economic questions, students will complete regression analyses using cross-sectional, time-series, and panel data. The module also covers the use of instrumental variables (IV) and quasi-experimental approaches, integrated within Stata and RStudio software. Additionally, students will be introduced to other key components of data science, such as unsupervised learning, with brief explorations in Python and Google Colab.

This module provides a structured, university-level work placement for 4, 5 or 7 weeks as one continuous block / period with a placement provider (i.e. a local employer from the private, public, or charitable sector). It is designed to enhance your professional skills in a real-world job setting.

The placement can either be organised by you or with support from university staff.

All work placements within this module must be university-level; this means:

• Undertaking high-skilled work commensurate with level 5 study (e.g. report writing, attending meetings, delivering presentations, producing spreadsheets, writing content on webpages, social media, marketing services/products etc)
• Physically placed (albeit part of it can be hybrid) within an employer setting in one continuous block / period for 4, 5 or 7 weeks for a minimum of 140-147 hours over the course of the entire work placement
• Where applicable, your existing part-time employer can be approached/used as the placement provider, if the high-skilled work criterion above is fulfilled for the full duration of the placement.
• All quality assurances/agreements provided by the University are adhered to, by you and the employer.

The work placement context may not necessarily, reflect your degree discipline per se, but rather, it will give you an enriched experience to enhance your professional skills in a real-world job setting.

This module is designed to equip students with the essential skills and knowledge required to excel in research, practice, and professional life. Emphasising a transdisciplinary approach, experiential learning and practitioner tools and approaches, the module aims to enhance critical thinking, research abilities, and practical skills essential for careers in Global Affairs, International Relations and related fields. Students will engage with theoretical concepts, practical and practitioner-based tools and applications, and professional development, with an emphasis on current global challenges and trends, enabling them to become informed, effective, and adaptable professionals. 

Indicative content includes:

• In-depth analysis of contemporary global challenges, such as climate change, conflict resolution, humanitarian crises, and global health issues.
• Examination of current geopolitical trends and their implications for international relations.
• Case studies on the role of international organisations (e.g., UN, IMF, World Bank) and regional organisations in addressing global issues.
• Analysis of real-world policy documents, international agreements, indicators and schematics.
• Use of qualitative and quantitative tools and information eco-systems for research, practice and professional work.
• Communication skills for effective writing, public speaking, and international negotiations.
• Intercultural awareness and competency to navigate diverse international environments.
• Ethical decision-making and the importance of professional ethics

The module will provide the opportunity to further develop your language skills, building on your previous learning at advanced level. The second half of the module includes a placement abroad or, alternatively, a project on a sustainability issue in a target language country. The first half of the module will prepare you for placements abroad where appropriate as well as a deeper understanding of sustainability in target language contexts. Students of more than one language may take one language in the first half of the module and spend their time abroad developing a different language. 

The module will provide the opportunity to further develop your language skills, building on your previous learning at intermediate level. The first half of the module includes intensive taught sessions in interactive workshop mode which will prepare you for placements abroad or self-directed language development. The second half of the module includes an placement abroad or, alternatively, a project on a business or tourism issue in a target language country. Students of more than one language may take one language in the first half of the module and spend their time abroad developing a different language. 

The module will provide the opportunity to further develop your language skills, building on your previous learning at beginner level. The first half of the module includes intensive taught sessions in interactive workshop mode which will prepare you for placements abroad or self-directed language development. The second half of the module includes a placement abroad or, alternatively, a project on a cultural issue in a target language country. Students of more than one language may take one language in the first half of the module and spend their time abroad developing a different language. 

Part A:      

Preparation for Experiential Overseas Learning will take place at the University of Chester during level 5 and will include:  

• The multiple facets of Global citizenship
• Ethical engagement and practice
• Cross-cultural issues and sensitivity
• Intercultural communication

Theories, models and strategies of learning

• Theories and models Intercultural competence
• Theories and models of Integration and Multiculturalism
• Critical thinking skills and models of Reflection

• Experiential learning models
• Self-directed experiential learning

Personal and placement-related skills

• Enhanced independence
• Improved command of multicultural behaviour
• Increased knowledge and confidence in their individual facets of personal identity
• Effective time management and organisational skills
• Project management – working away from University and independent study
• Self-management and personal development
• Team building and team work

Part B:            Overseas

Students will engage in experiential learning activities overseas for at least 150 hours 

• The multiple facets of global citizenship
• Ethical engagement and practice
• The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
• Cross-cultural issues and sensitivity
• Intercultural communication
• Culture shock
• Cultural adjustment
• Self- assessment of needs: identification of the range of transferable skills, competencies and attitudes employees need and employers expect graduates to possess-with a strong focus on understanding the intercultural competencies (ICC) needed to live and work abroad.
• Critical analysis/evaluation of individual requirements in relation to culture/cultural adjustment/culture shock/visas/medical.
• Critical analysis/evaluation of skills already acquired in relation to key skills related to ICC.
• Devising strategies to improve one’s own prospects of working abroad in the future.
• Devising an action plan to address gaps in transferable skills based on organisational analysis and sector opportunities.

Preparation for the year abroad will take place in Chester during level 5 and will include:

• Cross-cultural issues and sensitivity
• Host-country orientation, study methods– economic, political and social reality of the country
• Orientation specific to exchange – health, education, gender issues
• The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
• Practical matters relating to living and studying in the wider world

Theories, models and strategies of learning

• Critical thinking skills, experiential learning and models of reflection

Personal and placement-related transversal skills

• Effective self-motivation and independent resourcefulness
• Effective time management and organisational skills
• Project management – working away from University and independent study
• Self-management and personal development

Whilst abroad:

You will undertake study at one of the University of Chester's partner universities or undertake and approved work placement or virtual placement. If you are a student,  it is expected that you will choose a series of modules at the university abroad which must be agreed by the host institution and the Module Leader. you must supply details of you modules on a learning agreement within 4 weeks of arrival at the host university.

This module on International Political Economy is concerned with the (re)production of power and wealth within the contemporary world order. The module explores complex questions and global challenges that are rooted in an understanding of power, international relations and economy. Students are asked to think critically about how the politics of the international economy is governed and through an evaluation of power and inequality. Such questions include: Why and how does the politics and economics of the world take its current form? In what ways do the structural features of the world economy shape power and visa versa, and with what consequences? In what ways does the international political economy create uneven consequences and shape interactions in the international community?  Case studies will be drawn from across the world and, in particular, from Latin America. Indicative content includes:

• Theoretical Approaches of IPE: Orthodox, Critical and Radical theories.
• The Subject of International Political Economy and its Methods
• The Evolution of the IPE: Empires and mercantilism; economic liberalism; the liberal economic order; Pax Britannica, industrial capitalism and imperialism; Power, Contemporary capitalism and global governance – who does the governing?; contemporary imperialism.
• Bretton Woods Institutions; the Washington Consensus, Post-Washington Consensus and Critique; Dismantling Embedded Liberalism; States, Markets and Institutions.
• Key issues, global challenges and responses in the IPE: Globalization and its discontents; North-South Relationships; International Trade, Finance and Development; Transnational Production; Global Division of Labour; Sustainable Development; International Security, Conflict and Migration; Culture, Indigeneity and IPE; Resistance to the Global norms; Climate change and energy security; the IPE of ideas and knowledge production

The aims of this module are four-fold:

• To provide an in-depth understanding of the historical development of the IPE.
• To provide a critical analysis of the main institutional and structural contours of the global political economy and the effects of these.
• To offer perspectives and insights that engage with, stand in contrast to and challenge dominant paradigms about power dynamics within the global political economy.
• To provide a sophisticated understanding of global issues and challenges through mainstream, critical and radical theories of IPE.

The overarching aim of this module is to develop in students an in-depth understanding of  how  media stories, whether factual or fictional, are generated globally: by whom, why and in whose political interests are a multiplicity of stories circulated and competing? What is at stake when some stories are amplified, whilst others are invisibilised? What methods of journalism whether transnationally-disseminated  or citizen -led, serve to obscure or enlighten? How are stories  received or resisted  in distinct parts of the globe?  In what ways do popular culture narratives serve as a form of  cultural imperialism? Students will  critically analyse and evaluate the role of communication in the political sphere.

The module will cover the following areas: political and media organisations and their relationships with one another; propaganda and disinformation; globalisation, popular culture and power; theories and practice of political marketing; political campaigning; new campaigning methods; the role of spin doctors, media managers, polling companies. The role of lobbyists and public affairs agencies; political representation; theories of media analysis,  and visual decoding. Implications of new and social networking media in a range of global contexts will be considered.

·      

The Major Independent Project in Global Affairs is designed to provide an opportunity for sustained and independent study in the final year of the Global Affairs, Politics and International Relations Programme. It intends to develop knowledge of, and critical insight into, a topic of the student's choice within the subject area under study. Students are enabled to undertake first-hand enquiry and encouraged to develop an analytical and reflective approach to the subject identified for study. The module aims to encourage the articulation of a critically informed perspective on the subject being studied. It also intends to enable the production of a coherent document of rigorous academic standards.

There are three routes within this module, each producing a major piece of written work through different methodologies and formats.

Route 1: Major Independent Project in Global Affairs: Dissertation

Route 2: Major Independent Project in Global Affairs: Policy Document

Route 3: Major Independent Project in Global Affairs: Field/Archival Immersion and Publishable Research Article

Each of these routes combine scheduled teaching and learning, individual supervision, and independent research. The number of hours for each, depend upon the route taken. In addition, those on the Field/Archival Immersion route will spend dedicated hours on this. The total number of hours for the module add up to 400.

The module concludes with a Professional Conference for students to showcase their work.

This module explores the key factors influencing the relationship between human society and the environment. The content will be divided into blocks according to specific topics:

• The theory of environmental policy (property rights, market instruments, pollution control...) and case study for contemporary environmental issues (acid rain, deforestation...)
• Natural resource economics (differences between renewable and non-renewable resources, fisheries, forests, energy resources)
• Environmental valuation techniques (Contingent valuation, Hedonic pricing, Valuation of human life, travel cost method)
• The consequences of trade over the environment through their theoretical underpinnings (Pollution havens, Porter Hypothesis, carbon leakage) and case studies
• Global environmental issues (climate change)

This module addresses key areas of the Economics subject benchmark, helping students understand how economic principles can be applied to design, guide, and interpret policies that address economic, social, and environmental issues. Building on foundational concepts introduced in other modules in Levels 4 and 5, such as externalities and market failures, this module further develops students' analytical skills for assessing and shaping policy.

The purpose of this module is to provide an introduction to the problems of economic development and the related issues of economic growth, and to relate this to theories of macroeconomics. Topics to be covered include:

• Definitions and theories of development
• Human capital and development: education and health
• Income distribution and nutrition; measurement issues
• Models of economic growth; inequality, poverty and growth
• Rural-urban migration and rural development
• Trade as a driver of development,
• Migration and growth
• Debt, Financial crisis, foreign finance and aid
• Markets, states and civil society
• Governance
• Conflict

Why do some nations thrive while others struggle? How can economies grow sustainably while reducing poverty and inequality? This module provides a compelling introduction to the challenges of economic development, exploring the complex interplay between growth, policy, and human well-being. You’ll examine key theories of development and macroeconomics, investigating why some countries prosper while others remain trapped in cycles of stagnation. The course covers critical topics such as the role of human capital—how education and health shape economic progress—and the paradoxes of income distribution, nutrition, and measurement. You’ll analyse models of economic growth, questioning how inequality and poverty influence development trajectories. The module also investigates real-world dynamics, from rural-urban migration and trade’s impact on development to the risks of debt, financial crises, and foreign aid. Beyond economics, you’ll explore the broader forces shaping development, including the roles of markets, governments, and civil society, as well as the impact of governance and conflict on prosperity. By blending theory with global case studies, this module equips you with the tools to critically assess development policies and engage with one of the most pressing questions of our time: How can we build a more equitable and sustainable global economy?