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PI4577: DIRTY WAR AND ITS AFTERMATH (2020-2021)

Last modified: 05 Aug 2021 13:04


Course Overview

The term 'dirty war' has gained currency within both popular and academic discourse, especially within the realm of conflict and terrorism. Popular and academic interest in the terms can be traced to the deployment of the tactics of 'dirty war' in a number of notorious cases by states seeking to quell internal conflict. This course will address the historical, social and political conditions in which 'dirty war' arose in specific contexts while analysing both its form and consequences.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 4
Session Second Sub Session Credit Points 30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Stuart Durkin

Qualification Prerequisites

  • Programme Level 4

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)
  • Either International Relations (IR) or Politics (PI)
  • Either Programme Level 4 or Programme Level 5

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

The course employs comparative theoretical, historical and political analysis to approach an examination of 'dirty wars' via a series of empirical case studies. In historical terms, the concept will be traced from first usage in the French colonies of Indochina and Algeria. The theoretical framework to the course will be generated via the contrast between 'dirty war' and its antonym 'clean war'.  Historical and theoretical expositions thus serve as the foundation for applied analysis via a series of case studies which represent the diverse conditions and forms of 'dirty war' evident in the extant literature. The case of Argentina serves as the backdrop for an examination of 'dirty war under the conditions of dictatorship'. 'Post-dictatorship and dirty war' is explored via a consideration of the case of Spain. 'Dirty war and democracy' is analysed via the case of Northern Ireland. Taking a historical and theoretically rigorous approach to empirical cases, the course aims to equip students with an analytical framework with which to approach the concept of 'dirty war' in both past and contemporary contexts.


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 31 August 2023 for 1st half-session courses and 22 December 2023 for 2nd half-session courses.

Summative Assessments

Open Book Exam (30%)

Group Research Report (40%)

Literature Review (30%)

 

Resit (for students who took the course in Academic Year 2020/21):   

Open Book Exam (30%)

Individual Report (40%)

Literature Review (30%)

 

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
FactualRememberILO’s for this course are available in the course guide.

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