IR475      Half Unit
Gender/ed/ing International Politics

This information is for the 2021/22 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Katharine Millar CBG.8.13

Availability

This course is available on the MSc in International Relations, MSc in International Relations (LSE and Sciences Po) and MSc in International Relations (Research). This course is not available as an outside option.

All students are required to obtain permission from the Teacher Responsible by completing the online application form linked to course selection on LSE for You.

This course has a limited number of places (it is controlled access). In previous years we have been able to provide places for most students that apply, but that may not continue to be the case.

Course content

This course foregrounds gender - as noun, verb and structure - in understanding the practices/events studies as global politics and the discipline/study of international relations.  The course is grounded in feminist theory and provides students with an introduction to feminist epistemologies and methods.  It proceeds in two sections, moving from theoretical foundations to an examination of gender and the macro, transnational and historical processes of global politics.  Each 'macro' examination of the gendering of international politics is followed by a corresponding examination of several substantive areas of international politics, including security, development, NGOs and transnational social movements and international law/organisations.  These overarching topics are balanced with issue-specific case studies (eg sexual/sexualised violence in conflict; gendering of the informal economy), derived from current events, to b discussed in seminars.  Particular thematic attention will be paid to the on-going construction (and transmission) of global/transnational hierarchies that are gendered and gendering.

Teaching

This course is delivered through a combination of lectures and seminars totalling a minimum of 20 hours across Lent Term. This year, some or all of this teaching will be delivered through a combination of in-person classes/classes delivered online. Students on this course will have a reading week in Week 6, in line with departmental policy.

Formative coursework

Students must submit formative essay questions and outlines in LT in order to support success in the summative.

Indicative reading

B Ackerly, J True and M Stern (eds), Feminist Methodologies for International Relations (CUP: 2006)

C Enloe, Bananas, beaches and bases: making feminist sense of international relations, rev'd 2nd ed (University of California Press: 2014)

C Mohanty, Feminism without Borders: Decolonising Theory; Practicsing Solidarity (Duke Unversity Press: 2003)

L Sjobeg, Gender, War and Conflict (Polity: 2014)

C Weber, Queer International Relations: sovereignty, sexuality and the will to knowledge (OUP:2016)

Assessment

Coursework (25%) in the LT and essay (75%, 4000 words) in the ST.

The coursework is comprised of:

- One (500 word max) blog posts, to a Moodle forum on a week assigned by the instructor (marked with grade, 15%)
- Two (250 word max) response to colleagues’ blog posts (completion/participation grade, 10%)

Summative assessment:
A 4000-word essay delivered in ST (75%)
 

Course selection videos

Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.

Student performance results

(2017/18 - 2019/20 combined)

Classification % of students
Distinction 46.8
Merit 48.9
Pass 4.3
Fail 0

Important information in response to COVID-19

Please note that during 2021/22 academic year some variation to teaching and learning activities may be required to respond to changes in public health advice and/or to account for the differing needs of students in attendance on campus and those who might be studying online. For example, this may involve changes to the mode of teaching delivery and/or the format or weighting of assessments. Changes will only be made if required and students will be notified about any changes to teaching or assessment plans at the earliest opportunity.

Key facts

Department: International Relations

Total students 2020/21: 21

Average class size 2020/21: 10

Controlled access 2020/21: Yes

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Leadership
  • Self-management
  • Problem solving
  • Application of information skills
  • Communication