The Arms Trade and Global (In)securities (L7095S)

30 credits, Level 6

Spring teaching

On this module, you’ll explore the social and international relations of the arms trade.

You’ll examine various key debates about the arms trade through case studies. These include claims about corruption, human rights violations and war profiteering. They also include justifications about national security, international alliances and jobs.

You’ll explore:

  • the main patterns in global arms production and transfers
  • how these patterns have changed over time
  • how arms transfers shape international relations
  • how military production is part of economic, political and social life of societies and states
  • efforts to regulate, control or end the arms trade, and how effective they are.

Sample case studies include:

  • the production, transfer and use of drones in the war on terror
  • Chinese arms transfers to African states and new global hierarchies
  • arms transfers to the Middle East and tension with human rights
  • the institutionalisation of a world military order through the UN Arms Trade Treaty.

Teaching

100%: Seminar

Assessment

30%: Coursework (Presentation)
70%: Written assessment (Essay)

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 300 hours of work. This breaks down into about 33 hours of contact time and about 267 hours of independent study. The 5X社区视频 may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We鈥檙e planning to run these modules in the academic year 2026/27. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum.

We鈥檒l make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

Courses

This module is offered on the following courses: