Unit information: Understanding Genocide in 2023/24

Unit name	Understanding Genocide
Unit code	POLI20005
Credit points	20
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Michel
Open unit status	Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)	none
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)	none
Units you may not take alongside this one	none
School/department	School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Unit Information

This unit critically analyses the different approaches to explaining, understanding and dealing with the phenomenon of genocide. The first part of the unit will engage with different explanatory accounts drawing on a variety of academic disciplines. It then moves on to empirical cases in order to assess the validity and rigour of these approaches before concluding with an assessment of the different methods the international community uses to proactively or reactively address genocide. It will thereby cover questions relating to political, moral and legal responsibility as well as concepts for reconciliation.

Aims:

The unit aims to:

• introduce students to the field of genocide studies from a conceptual as well as empirical perspective.
• introduce the main explanatory perspectives for understanding perpetrators behaviour
• enable students to critically assess the causes of a number of empirical cases from different regions
• enable to students to reflect upon the political, social and cultural dimensions relevant in cases of genocide
• introduce and evaluate legal and socio-political responses to genocide

Your learning on this unit

On successful completion of the unit, students will be able to:

• demonstrate a good knowledge of different approaches to understanding the causes of genocide.
• Show a clear understanding of political, social and cultural dimensions of the empirical case.
• Evaluate and critique the legal and social-political measures the international community has used to address issues of intervention, punishment and reconciliation in cases of genocide

How you will learn

The unit will be taught through blended learning methods, including a mix of synchronous and asynchronous teaching activities

How you will be assessed

1000 Word Political Editorial (25%)

2500 Word Essay (75%)

Both assessments test all learning outcomes listed above

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. POLI20005).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.