Diplomacy and Religion MA

Program Overview

This interdisciplinary program examines the interplay between diplomacy, foreign policy, and religion, offering analytical skills in religious studies and international relations. It prepares students for careers in diplomacy, NGOs, and international politics, through a combination of core and optional modules, a dissertation, and hands-on engagement with professionals in the field. The program fosters cross-disciplinary research and provides connections to alumni in relevant fields.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This program focuses on the interplay between diplomacy, foreign policy, and religion. It encourages students to analyze the practical processes, ideological dynamics, and theoretical dimensions involved in this interface. The MA program aims to develop analytical skills in religious studies and international relations, promoting cross-disciplinary research, particularly in the dissertation. The program is particularly suitable for those working or considering careers in diplomacy, international NGOs, and international policy and politics.

Outline:

Core Modules:

• Dissertation (Standard): A 20,000-word research project developed and supervised by the student and a faculty member.
The dissertation allows students to solidify existing knowledge and skills while acquiring new ones through the project-based nature of the work.
• Issues and Practice in Diplomacy and Foreign Policy: Explores contemporary diplomatic and negotiation issues, including:
• Nuclear weapons and foreign policy
• Arms control and diplomacy
• International climate negotiations
• South-North relations and development
• Mock negotiation exercises
• Assessment: 5,000-word essay
• Studying Religion: Introduces research methods and approaches from various disciplines, including:
• Anthropological, sociological, and philosophical perspectives
• Cross-cultural and cross-religious examination of topics
• Dissertation workshop: finding a topic, supervisor, planning, and case studies
• Assessment: 5,000-word essay
• Theory and Concepts in Diplomacy and Foreign Policy: Examines concepts of diplomacy and foreign policy in the 21st century, including:
• The role of diplomacy in the international system
• Forms and features of diplomacy and foreign policy
• The evolution of diplomacy throughout history
• Global governance
• Assessment: 5,000-word essay
• Theory and Methods in Postgraduate Studies: Consolidates postgraduate research and learning support by:
• Examining principles of research and disciplinary traditions of knowledge production
• Structuring research projects
• Developing and applying theory
• Examining methods like interviews, surveys, and case studies
• Addressing ethics in postgraduate research
• Writing and presenting research
• Assessment: 5,000-word research proposal

Optional Modules:

• Body in Text: Politics of Gender in Islam: Explores the representation of gender in the Qur'an, hadith, and early Muslim interpretations.
Examines feminist approaches to the Islamic tradition and contemporary movements like the Musawah (Equality) movement.
• Conflict Management and Contemporary Conflicts: Analyzes approaches to conflict management in contemporary conflicts, including:
• Third-party and party-in-conflict interventions
• Peace processes
• Conflict prevention, management, and peace-building in international, internal, ethnic, community, and environmental conflicts
• Conflict, Security and War: Examines security concerns in Asia, including:
• Case studies of Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and China
• Politics of intervention
• Nationalism and sub-nationalism
• Conflict resolution and reconstruction
• Independent Study Module: Allows students to pursue a focused and self-directed study on a chosen topic in philosophy under the guidance of a tutor.
• International Relations and Politics of South Asia: Examines the history, political systems, ethnicity, and nationalism in South Asia, including:
• The construction of nation-states
• Internal sovereignty
• Multiculturalism
• Regional security and cooperation
• Major Approaches to the Study of International Relations: Explores the development of international relations theory, examining:
• The unequal power relations and Western dominance in the study of IR
• The historical contexts of theoretical developments
• Political implications of IR theories
• Debates in international relations, security, and foreign policy
• Human and environmental sustainability
• Politics & Policymaking of Immigration: Analyzes the politicization of immigration, including:
• The dynamics of immigration policymaking
• The role of political parties in shaping debates
• European immigration policies
• Politics and International Relations of the Middle East: Examines major issues in the politics and international relations of the Middle East, including:
• The Arab Spring
• Political Islam and the concept of the state
• The “war on terror”
• The role of religion, ethnicity, gender, and class
• Regional integration
• The Arab-Israeli conflict
• Democracy in the Middle East
• Religion and Conflict (distance learning): Explores how and why religious groups contribute to conflicts, including:
• Global, national, ethnic, and ethical conflicts
• Intra-religious and inter-religious conflict
• Jihad and martyrdom
• Case studies from the UK, Europe, the US, the Indian sub-continent, and sub-Saharan Africa
• Religion and Psychoanalytic Thought: Examines the influence of psychoanalysis on modern life, including:
• The unconscious mind
• Criticism of religion as a projection of personal and social problems
• Works by Freud, Jung, Nietzsche, Bataille, Lacan, Kristeva, de Certeau, and Foucault
• Sources of Indian Religion and Philosophy: Examines foundational religious and philosophical texts of the Hindu and Buddhist traditions, including:
• The Rig Veda, Upanishads, Mahabharata, Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Sutra (Hindu)
• Nikayas, Vinaya, Jatakas, Lotus Sutra, Bodhicaryavatara (Buddhist)
• Methods of interpretation: text-historical criticism, hermeneutics, phenomenology, orientalism, and post-colonial theory
• The European Union: Focuses on the politics and international relations of the European Union, including:
• Public policy areas
• European institutions
• The European Social Model
• The EU's role as a global model for international relations and government
• Theorising Security and War: Examines the changing character of war and security in a time of technological and geopolitical/ecological change, including:
• Contemporary policy documents
• Concepts like ambiguous war, the gray zone, unrestricted warfare, the third offset strategy, and the three block war
• Case studies of cybersecurity, urban war, drones, and climate change

Assessment:

Assessment methods vary across modules. Common assessments include:

• Essays: 5,000-word essays are a frequent requirement in many modules.
• Dissertation: A 20,000-word research project is required for the program.
• Research proposal: A 5,000-word research proposal is required in the "Theory and Methods in Postgraduate Studies" module.
• Presentations: Some modules may incorporate presentations as a part of the assessment.
• In-class activities: Mock negotiation exercises are included in the "Issues and Practice in Diplomacy and Foreign Policy" module.

Teaching:

Teaching methods include:

• Lectures: These provide foundational knowledge and theoretical frameworks.
• Seminars: Interactive sessions where students engage in discussion and critical analysis.
• Guest lectures: Practitioners in the field contribute to the program's practical relevance.
• Tutorials: One-on-one sessions with tutors for independent study modules.
• Workshops: Designed to develop specific skills, such as dissertation planning or research methods.
• Distance learning: The "Religion and Conflict" module is offered through distance learning.

Careers:

The program prepares students for careers in:

• Diplomacy: Working in embassies, consulates, and international organizations.
• International NGOs: Contributing to the work of non-profit organizations focused on international development, humanitarian aid, and advocacy.
• International Policy and Politics: Working in government agencies, think tanks, and research institutions related to foreign policy, international relations, and security.

Other:

• Program Trips: The program may offer optional trips related to the topics covered.
Students are generally responsible for their own travel expenses.
• Alumni: The program provides connections to alumni who have pursued careers in diplomacy, international relations, and related fields.

Note:

The program offers a variety of modules, but not all are available every year. The specific modules offered will vary depending on faculty availability, student interest, and other factors.