Course Catalogue

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This course provides students with the opportunity to analyse contemporary international political developments in Eurasia with special reference to relations between Russia and China. The course will analyse the process of Russian-Chinese rapprochement after the end of the Cold War, review the dynamics of cooperation and competition in Central Asia, and explore regional cooperation projects in Eurasia.

10 weeks

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The assessment comprises three elements: oral assessment and presentation, a briefing report and an essay. Participation in seminars accounts for 10% of the overall assessment. A briefing report (c. 1,500 words, 30%, submitted at the end of week 6) will focus on a single specific thematic issue of Eurasian politics, security or economics. An essay (c. 3,000 words, 60%, submitted at the end of week 16) will allow students to analyse issues of Eurasian politics with the use of IR theoretical repertoire.

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

This course is designed to appeal to students interested in the politics and international relations of Eurasia, with particular emphasis on the Sino-Russian relationship. Students will utilise a range of theoretical approaches to explore the reasons underpinning Russia-China rapprochement, the dynamics of cooperation and competition in Central Asia, the implementation of regional cooperation projects, and the emergence of regional order and governance in Eurasia. The course aims to:

■ enable students to examine relations between states of Eurasia and their impact on regional international order;

■ encourage the use of diversified theoretical approaches to explain the dynamics of Eurasian politics, security and economics;

■ encourage students to debate and challenge dominant narratives on Eurasian politics and its importance for global international order.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ assess and critically evaluate political, security and economic developments in Eurasia;

■ critically apply theoretical approaches to explaining international politics in Eurasia, understanding their strengths and limitations;

■ identify drivers of and limitations to Sino-Russian cooperation;

■ compare and contrast Russia and China's regional integration projects, and evaluate the degree of their implementation;

■ criticise dominant discourses on Eurasian international politics;

■ produce and present concise policy reports on Eurasian politics, security and economics.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.