Change&Continuity: world politics since 1945

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label Diverse autorenew 2025-09-29, 17:01 history_edu Diana Ignat
The last sixty years has been one of the most dynamic periods in world politics - one in which we continue to exist.With valuable insights into world-changing events and themes, this course is particularly useful for those working towards careers in government, journalism, business and academe.

You'll gain an intellectual understanding of the period's main features including: the invention and use of atomic weapons and their impact on military strategy; the origins, nature and end of the cold war; the impact of 9/11 on world politics; the emergence of 'new' security threats: trans-national terrorism; international crime; enforced migration; climate change; the nature of crisis management before and after 9/11.Working with a highly experienced tutor offering an in-depth interpretation of world politics past and present, you'll explore how far the world has changed over the last 60 years and examine fascinating literature across all these topics.Four key periods will be covered:

1. The Cold War (1947-1989): its origins; super-power competition and cooperation, crisis management, the impact of de-colonisation, the creation and evolution of the European Union.

2. The Post-Cold War Era (1989-9/11/01): collapse of the Soviet Union; the 'New World Order'; change in the nature of warfare.

3. The Post-9/11 World: 'new' security threats, e.g. trans-national terrorism, failing states, climate change.

4. Current Issues: UN reform, disarmament and arms control, rogue states, global governance issues.Visits are planned to relevant organisations such as the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Imperial War Museum, National Gallery and Chatham House.

Period
01-07-2013 - 19-07-2013 (3 weeks)



Target group
The course is designed to interest those who have studied international relations as undergraduates, as well as those from other disciplines.

Course aim
This course aims to ignite a passion for further study of international relations and to encourage you to deepen your interest and commitment to the subject.

Credits
7.5 ECTS credits

Many of our students get credit for the summer courses taken at Kings. You should approach your home university before applying to find out whether they accept our courses for credit. We would recommend a three-week course to be equivalent 4 US credits or 7.5 ECTS, for instance.

Course fee
GBP 1350: tuition fee only

Course leader
Professor Jack Spence was educated at Pretoria Boys' High School, South Africa; the University of Witwatersrand (BA 1952); LSE (BSc Econ) 1957. He has lectured at a variety of Universities in Britain, South Africa and the United States and was Profes

King's College London
Address: Strand, London
Postal code: WC2R 2LS
City: London
Country: United Kingdom
Website: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/summerschool
E-mail: summerschool@kcl.ac.uk
Phone: +44 20 7848 1533