International Year One in International Relations

The Academic English Skills course teaches students the specific academic language skills they need to develop for success at Cardiff University. The course focuses on the receptive (listening and reading) and productive (speaking and writing) skills through practice in semi and authentic task-based activities which build a strong foundation in preparation for each student's future studies. This critical module places particular emphasis on developing academic reading and research skills; research-based writing along with presentation and seminar speaking skills.

International relations is an interesting and practical subject, which aims to explain how countries interact with each other. This module introduces students to the main concepts and perspectives in the study of international relations, as well how these theories can explain current global problems. The module covers students to the history of how modern countries came to be and how the discipline is shaping as interactions between states develop. The module also introduces students to core theories in political science, examples of which may include feminism and behaviouralism.

Governance is an essential component to our conceptions of modern society, and government is increasingly seen as an important entity in solving problems that affect the interconnected world. This module introduces students to the key perspectives on the nature, purpose(s) and vital institutions of the state and the practices of contemporary democratic governments. The module considers the role of political parties, the role and nature of democracy in the governance of a nation and the features of political leadership.

This module firstly introduces students to the often-contentious concept of “globalisation”, including the interdisciplinary aspects of this topic as globalisation has economic, political, social and cultural consequences. These consequences will be the subject of analysis and evaluation, as students consider different perspectives on the opportunities and costs of globalisation in the modern world. Students will consider the development of globalisation and consider questions about whether, on balance, globalisation has been a positive or negative force. The second core component of the course introduces students to the historical development of European integration since 1945; key concepts used to explain the process of integration; and the contemporary challenges facing the European Union, such as the financial crisis of 2008, Brexit, and the role of the EU as a global actor. European integration can be a contentious topic, and this module will help students explore and navigate the competing perspectives on this topic.

Politics is primarily about navigating social existence and tackling the issues that arise from this context. This module will introduce students to some of the key perspectives on the nature of the state, the powers and role of the government and other important issues. Students will study a range of theories including competing perspectives on the social contract, the debate between capitalism and socialism, the role of social justice theories (such as Marxism and feminism) in political practice, and theories about key topics such as rights and political power. As much as possible, there will be an emphasis on grounding these theories in practice.