IR5039 Political Economy of Conflict

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 11

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

Tuesday 2-4pm

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr W B Vlcek

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module provides a political economy perspective on conflict in a developing economy, introducing concepts and theoretical approaches of political economy and their application to situations involving conflict and violence. Economic arguments for a 'resource curse' and the explanatory binary of 'greed versus grievance' are interrogated and challenged for the absence of political, hence political economic, contextualisation and analysis. The complex network of commodities and goods traded between developed and developing economies are explored through a series of case studies and the increased securitisation of development in the twenty-first century is examined.

Assessment pattern

3-hour Written Examination = 50%, Coursework = 50%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

2-hour seminar.

Intended learning outcomes

  • develop students' appreciation for the variety of actors (sub-state, state, non-governmental and international) involved in the political economy of a conflict zone;
  • provide students with an informed understanding for the complex economic interaction among sub-state, state, non-governmental and international actors when dealing with a conflict;
  • provide students with a recognition for the political economic challenges confronting development and human security;
  • provide students with the skills to analyse the security and economic issues present in in a conflict zone and to formulate a reasoned policy response for them.