Course Details in 2026/27 Session

Module Title	LM Rising Powers
School	Government
Department	Political Sci & Intern'tl Stud
Module Code	08 26175
Module Lead	Dr Marco Vieira
Level	Masters Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 1
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Exclusions
Description	This module enables students to gain an understanding of the international behaviour of the so-called ‘rising powers’, and their impact upon the governance issues in contemporary international politics. The concept of ‘rising power’ is problematised and examines those states engaged in the BRICS, IBSA, the G20 and BASIC. The module is divided into two interrelated parts: the first bloc of 5 lectures examines the rising powers through particular themes, including climate change and global economic governance. The second bloc analyses the domestic, regional and global determinants of the rising powers of Brazil, India, Russia, China and South Africa, along with the growing power of non-state actors. The module can be taken with the ‘Power in Global Politics’ module in the first semester, or as a stand-alone module.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Define and critically reflect upon the role of the domestic, regional and international determinants of the foreign policies of key rising powers; Analyse critically how the rising power states impact upon key contemporary themes of climate change, UN reform, global security, global economic governance and normative change; Assess critically the impact of non-state actors on global politics; Situate theoretically and empirically the different ways of conceptualising ‘rising power’ in light of changes at local, national, regional and global levels.
Assessment	26175-01 : 2,000 word position paper : Coursework (40%) 26175-02 : 4,000 word essay : Coursework (60%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessments: Position paper 40% (2000 words), Essay 60% (4000 words) Reassessment: Essay 100% (6000 words)
Other
Reading List