Discovering History: Armed Conflicts and the Politics of the 21st Century
At a Glance
- Taught live online
- Mondays 18:00 - 20:00
- 10 weeks | February - April
- Starts 3 February 2025
- Fees from £144
- Tutor: Dr Pedro Rubio Teres
Enrol-by Date
26 January 2025
The field of International Relations has long focused on the security of states and how best to preserve a peaceful balance of power among them. In the twentieth century, processes of decolonisation led to a dramatic increase in the number of nation states. However, when many of them achieved their independence they were left lacking the crucial infrastructures, diversified productive sectors and human capital necessary to grow and provide for their populations.
On this course we will investigate the problems faced by a number of countries in the post-Second World War period as they sought to achieve stability and find their place in the world. We will consider development projects which set out to raise living standards and the problems that arose from Cold War politics as the east and west and their development agencies sought to steer newly independent states into their orbit.
We will also explore geopolitical events in the post-9/11 world, asking ourselves whether everything really changed after 9/11, as some influential voices have claimed, and look at how certain groups emerged in this period to be seen as threats to the West in need of containment.
No previous knowledge of politics or history is necessary.
Class Recordings
These classes are not recorded
Attendance Certificate
Successful completion of this course leads to the award of an Imperial College attendance certificate
Terms and conditions apply to all enrolments to this course. Please read them before enrolment
Course Information
Course Programme
Course Programme (may be subject to some modification)
There is no compulsory reading required for this course and there is no set course text. Please ask the tutor if you would like suggestions for reading.
1. Historical and geopolitical contextualization 1: Introduction to Security Studies
2. Historical and geopolitical contextualization 2: The evolution of International Security from 1945
3. Conflict in focus 1: Palestine
4. Perspectives on Security Studies 1: The ‘neo-neo debate’
5. Perspectives on Security Studies 2: Neorealism
6. Perspectives on Security Studies 3: The evolution of warfare
7. Conflict in focus 2: Ukraine
8. The phenomenology of conflict 1: Terrorism and the prevalence of asymmetric conflicts
9. The phenomenology of conflict 2: Inland Empire or Freedom and Security in the ‘Homeland’
10. The phenomenology of conflict 3: Ethnic conflicts and genocide
Your Tutor
Dr Pedro Rubio Teres has an academic and professional background in Mathematical Sciences, although he has been engaged with Social Politics and International Relations for the past ten years. This combination has provided him with a deep understanding on the social impact of scientific discovery and the logic challenges of socio-political discourse.
Pedro teaches Political Science and related subjects at Imperial College and other universities in London and has conducted extensive fieldwork in armed conflicts, namely in former Soviet countries and the Middle East. He has participated in several initiatives with the European Parliament and the UNHRC among other inter-governmental institutions and works closely with civil society movements as a passionate political activist.
Course Fees and Rate Categories
| Weeks | Standard Rate | Internal Rate | Associate Rate | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Early Bird: £241 Full price: £268 |
Early Bird: £144 Full price: £160 |
Early Bird: £190 Full price: £211 |
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| All fee rates quoted are for the whole course. Early Bird rates are available until the end of 30 September only. Part-payments are not possible. | |||||
Rate Categories and Discounts
Standard Rate
- Available to all except those who fall under the Internal Rate or Associate Rate category.
Internal Rate
- Current Imperial College students and staff (incl. Imperial NHS Trust, Imperial Innovations, ancillary & service staff employed on long-term contracts at Imperial College by third-party contractors)
- People enrolling under our Friends & Family scheme
- Alumni of Imperial College and predecessor colleges and institutes, including City & Guilds College Association members
- Students, staff and alumni of the Royal College of Art, Royal College of Music and City, UAL and the City and Guilds of London Art School
- Students, staff and Governors of Woodhouse College and the IC Mathematics School
Associate Rate
- Austrian Cultural Forum staff
- Co-operative College members
- Francis Crick Institute staff, researchers and students
- Friends and Patrons of the English Chamber Orchestra
- Friends of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens
- Friends of Leighton House/ Sambourne House
- Friends of the Royal College of Music
- Harrods staff
- Historic Royal Palaces staff
- Lycee Charles de Gaulle staff
- Members of the Friends of Imperial College
- Members of the Kennel Club
- Members of the London Zoological Society
- Members of the South London Botanical Institute (SLBI)
- Members of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
- National Health Service (NHS) employees
- Natural History Museum staff
- Residents of postcodes SW3, SW5, SW7, SW10 and W8
- Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council staff
- Royal Geographical Society staff
- Science Museum staff
- Staff of Exhibition Road Cultural Group (Discover South Kensington) organisations
- Students (non-Imperial College)
- Teachers and other staff of UK schools
- The American Institute for Foreign Study
- Tutors and other staff of institution members of the Association of Colleges
- Tutors and other staff of other universities and higher education institutions
- Victoria and Albert Museum staff
Late enrolment
It is possible to enrol on many of our adult education courses after the course has already started. For non-language courses this is subject entirely to agreement by the tutor. For language courses it is subject to agreement by the language coordinator conducting level assessment. If you want to join a course late do bear in mind there might be work you will need to catch up on, particularly in language courses.
Friends and Family Scheme
This course is eligible for allowing Imperial College students and staff to share their discount with their friends and family.
Term Dates 2024-25
| Weeks | Autumn term | Spring term | Summer term | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | n/a | Week starting 3 February to week ending 12 April 2025* | n/a | ||
| *This is a 1-term course | |||||
Enrolment Process
Enrolment via the blue booking link is open. Early-bird discounts are available until the end of 30 September 2024
Enrolment and payment run through the Imperial College eStore. When enrolling:
- Do check on the drop down menu above called "Course Fees and Rate Categories" to see if you are eligible for a discounted rate and also do make sure you select that rate when enrolling on the eStore
- If you are a first-time eStore user you will need to create an account before enrolling. You can do this by entering an email address and password. This account can then be used for any future enrolments via the eStore.
When you have enrolled you will be sent the following email notifications:
| What is sent | When is it sent | What does it contain | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Payment confirmation | Is sent straight away following submission of your online application |
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| 2. Enrolment confirmation | Is usually sent within 10 working days. Please treat your payment confirmation as confirmation that your applicant details and payment have been received |
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| 3. Programme information | Is usually sent on Friday late afternoon the week before term starts |
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Any Questions?
Questions regarding the content and teaching of this course should be sent to the Course Tutor, Dr Pedro Rubio Teres, p.rubio-teres@imperial.ac.uk
If you have any questions about your enrolment or payment processes please contact the Programme Administrator, Christian Jacobi, eveningclass@imperial.ac.uk