PO2WPE: "War, Peace and International Ethics"

Module code: PO2WPE

Module provider: Politics; School of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Credits: 20

Level: 5

When you’ll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Rob Jubb , email: r.s.d.jubb@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2025/6

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 11 April 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

War and the threat of war continue to be central to political experience.  This module examines the ethical questions involved in war, using both real-world case studies and philosophical thought-experiments.  We ask if it is ever morally permissible to wage war, and if so, for what reasons, and with what limitations.  Issues discussed include just causes for war, the proper role of proportionality in decisions to go to war, the basis of the distinction between combatants and non-combatants, and collateral damage. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Outline the standard positions on a number of topics in just war theory
2. Draw on just war theory to evaluate real-world justifications for going to war, for tactics in war and processes by which wars are brought to an end
3. Develop and articulate clear logical arguments in favour of their ethical views
4. Develop group work and presentation skills through non-assessed work in seminars; written skills through your assessments; and IT and communication skills through engagement with the module’s Blackboard page. 

Module content

The module covers ten substantive topics – the wrong of aggression, just causes for war, fighting proportionately, discrimination and the moral equality of combatants, discrimination and non-combatant immunity, sparing civilians, irregular combatants, terrorism, remote warfare and jus post bellum. This content is indicative and subject to change.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will involve eleven lectures, followed by eleven seminars. Students will prepare for seminars by doing set readings and reflecting on a number of seminar questions. Each week, one or more students will initiate discussion with a short presentation.  

Study hours

At least 22 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Level 3 (i.e. foundation modules for Part 0) and Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Each week, a student will initiate the seminar discussion with a presentation on that week’s topic. 

Students will be required to submit formative essay introductions so as to receive some feedback on their ideas prior to submission. 

Reassessment

Additional costs