This course provides students with the opportunity to examine contemporary international political developments in Eurasia with special reference to Russian-Chinese relations. 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 two elements: a briefing report and an essay. 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. 3,500 words, 70%, submitted at the end of week 12) will allow students to analyse issues of Eurasian politics with the use of IR theoretical repertoire.

This course is designed to appeal to students interested in the politics and international relations of Eurasia, with particular attention paid to the Russian-Chinese bilateral 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 IR theories to explaining international politics in Eurasia, understanding strengths and limitations of particular approaches;

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

■ compare and contrast Russia and China's regional integration projects, and evaluate their state and prospects of 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.