| CODE | IRL3013 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Nuclear Politics | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | International Relations | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | International security has been dominated by nuclear political and security concerns since the end of the Second World War. Nuclear weapons states have relied on such capabilities in order to cement their status and their bilateral and multilateral relations have been determined by politics of deterrence or extended deterrence. Yet nuclear politics has also been determined by efforts at bilateral and multilateral disarmament and nonproliferation, and the increasing concerns surrounding the humanitarian impact of nuclear testing and use. This study-unit will introduce students to the history of the development of atomic and nuclear capabilities, the political and strategic postures of states that have developed such capabilities, as well as the bilateral and multilateral agreements and frameworks that have been developed in order to contain their proliferation and pursue disarmament. In this regard, focus will be placed on both the efforts by nuclear weapons states and the role of non-nuclear weapons states to shape the disarmament and nonproliferation agenda. Study-Unit Aims: - To familiarize students with the history of the development of nuclear weapons; - To inform students of the nuclear policies of nuclear weapons states; - To discuss the development of disarmament and nonproliferation agreements, frameworks and institutions; - To evaluate the policies of nonnuclear weapons states and their efforts to shape the international nuclear agenda. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Discuss the motivations behind acquiring nuclear weapons and capabilities; - Evaluate the role of the role and effectiveness of deterrence; - Assess the disarmament tools that have been pursued and utilised by states. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Convey the major arguments in favour of and against the maintenance of nuclear capabilities; - Identify and carry out research on the security and nuclear policies of states; - Present clear and cogent arguments in both written and oral formats. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Lawrence Freedman & Jeffrey Michaels (2019) “The Evolution of Nuclear Strategy” 4th Edition, Palgrave Macmillan. - Michael Krepon (2024) “Winning and Losing the Nuclear Peace: The Rise, Demise and Revival of Arms Control” Stanford University Press. - Thomas Schelling & Morton H. Halperin (2014) “Strategy and Arms Control” Martino Fine Books. - Andrew Futter (2021) “The Politics of Nuclear Weapons” 2nd Edition, Palgrave Macmillan. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Valentina Cassar |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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