School of Global Studies

(MA) Conflict, Security and Development

Entry for 2009

FHEQ level

This programme is set at Level 7 (Masters) in the national Framework for Higher Education Qualifications.

Programme Aims

The aim of this MA programme is to analyse the complex relationships that lie at the heart of this development-security nexus in the global south, especially Africa, South Asia and the Middle East. Students will achieve a deeper understanding of three aspects:

It focuses on three key areas:

First, the MA examines the extent to which destructive cycles of insecurity and violence affect the possibility of development for large sections of the world's population.

Second, it analyzes the difficulties that aid agencies, non-governmental organisations, governments, and international organizations encounter when trying to negotiate these spirals of violence and insecurity - be it through armed intervention, the provision of aid, the sponsoring of peace-building processes, or assisting states in post-conflict reconstruction.

Finally, the MA also investigates whether underdevelopment can be said to constitute a security threat. Some Western governments, for example, claim that underdevelopment in the global South could threaten their national security by facilitating the international spread of terrorist and criminal networks.

Programme Learning Outcomes

At the end of the programme, the successful student will be able to:

1. Describe, explain and evaluate contending theoretical understandings of the relations between security and development
2. Have a basic knowledge of a number of case studies in conflict and development
3. Advance academically formulated ideas on how to respond to security-development crises
4. Understand and evaluate some of the practical problems faced by development organisations within contexts of political violence and insecurity
5. Utilise a range of practical skills including ICT and traditional resources and techniques for presentations of critical analysis, both written and oral
6. Undertake a substantial research project

Please note that the University will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver programmes and courses in accordance with the descriptions set out here. However, the University keeps its programmes and courses under review with the aim of enhancing quality. Some changes may therefore be made to the form or content of programmes or courses shown as part of the normal process of curriculum management.

The University reserves the right to make changes to the contents or methods of delivery of, or to discontinue, merge or combine courses, if such action is reasonably considered necessary by the University. If there are not sufficient student numbers to make a course viable, the University reserves the right to cancel such a course. If the University withdraws or discontinues a course, it will use its reasonable endeavours to provide a suitable alternative course.