Religions, Cultures & Civilisations (957M1)
Religions, Cultures and Civilisations in International Relations
Module 957M1
Module details for 2024/25.
30 credits
FHEQ Level 7 (Masters)
Pre-Requisite
Today鈥檚 international society is experiencing an epoch-making process of transformation beyond its
liberal and Western-centric matrix. These on-going changes are affecting the material structure of
the international system (the economic shift towards the East and the BRICS countries); but they need
to be understood within the context of an ideological transformation, which is first of all visible in the
global resurgence of religion as well as in the quest for cultural authenticity of the non-Western
worlds. This module will explore the implications of the 鈥榬eturn鈥 of religions, cultures and civilisations
for world politics and for thinking about international relations. Many sociologists and philosophers
have interpreted this return as 鈥榯he end of modernity鈥 or the 鈥榙e-secularisation of the world鈥. For our
purpose, the module will primarily focus on the renewed centrality of cultural, religious and
civilisational identities as strategic frames of reference for politics in the post-Cold War world
Module Outline
Today鈥檚 international society is experiencing an epoch-making process of transformation beyond its
liberal and Western-centric matrix. These on-going changes are affecting the material structure of
the international system (the economic shift towards the East and the BRICS countries); but they need
to be understood within the context of an ideological transformation, which is first of all visible in the
global resurgence of religion as well as in the quest for cultural authenticity of the non-Western
worlds. This module will explore the implications of the 鈥榬eturn鈥 of religions, cultures and civilisations
for world politics and for thinking about international relations. Many sociologists and philosophers
have interpreted this return as 鈥榯he end of modernity鈥 or the 鈥榙e-secularisation of the world鈥. For our
purpose, the module will primarily focus on the renewed centrality of cultural, religious and
civilisational identities as strategic frames of reference for politics in the post-Cold War world
Module learning outcomes
Identify the predominant reading of religion in IR as the ultimate threat
to international order and stability
Evaluate Huntington鈥檚 thesis of the 鈥渃lash of civilisations鈥 and examine
the role of civilisations and the potential of civilizational analysis in
international relations.
Demonstrate an understanding of the implications of this 鈥榬eturn鈥 for the
future of the normative structure and world order of contemporary
international society.
Explain how policy-makers are responding to this new awareness of the
growing role of religion in global politics.
| Type | Timing | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Essay (5000 words) | Semester 2 Assessment Week 2 Thu 16:00 | 100.00% |
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 | Seminar | 3 hours | 11111111111 |
How to read the week pattern
The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.
Mx Emilia Moscardini-Powers
Assess convenor
/profiles/214700
Prof Fabio Petito
Convenor, Assess convenor
/profiles/216113
Mrs Daniella Kiernan
Assess convenor
/profiles/203772
Dr Melanie Richter-Montpetit
Assess convenor
/profiles/349663
Dr Anne Roemer-Mahler
Assess convenor
/profiles/285395
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