Module manager: Dr Sahla Aroussi
Email: s.aroussi@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
PIED3342
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module provides a critical approach to security, violence and war from a feminist, decolonised and intersectional perspective. In this module, students will develop a solid theoretical and practical understanding of the key concepts, theories and debates around gender, sex, race in international security. Violence and particularly gender based violence is a core theme is this module that we explore throughout. The module will explore how the intersection between gender, sex and race shapes our understandings, approaches and responses to violence and war. We look at violence as a continuum from the local to the global and across peace and conflict settings. The module content travels from focusing on gender security in the so called peace to the context of war and conflicts and concluding with terrorism and violent extremism. The themes covered by this module are varied aimed at providing students with a broad overview of key contemporary issues and debates. These include gender, race, and war and particularly how femininities, masculinities and racial hierarchies are constructed in a way that enable violence and militarism; the women's rights architecture at the United Nations and the UN agenda on "Women, Peace and Security" here the module will explore the key question of the successes and critiques of governance feminism. The module will explore key themes such as gender and peace-making, sexual violence in armed conflicts, gender and transitional justice, and violent extremism and the war on terror.
This module aims to provide you with a critical understanding of security, violence, and war through feminist, decolonial, and intersectional perspectives. It seeks to challenge dominant narratives in international security by examining how gender, race, and power intersect to shape global politics and responses to conflict.
Learning activities—including lectures, seminars, case study analysis, and guided readings and critical reflections—are designed to:
Introduce key theories and concepts in feminist international relations.
Explore gendered experiences of violence and peace processes.
Develop analytical skills for applying intersectional and decolonial frameworks to real-world cases.
Foster critical engagement with policy debates, including the UN Women, Peace and Security agenda.
Enable you to communicate complex ideas effectively through written and/or oral assessments.
Encourage ongoing reflective practice through weekly journals that link the module to their wider degree and lived experience
On successful completion of the module you will be able to:
Explain and critically evaluate feminist theories and concepts in international relations, including distinctions between sex and gender, masculinity, and femininity.
Analyse gendered, raced, and sexed hierarchies in international politics and security.
Assess key debates on gendered experiences of armed conflict, violence, and peace-making.
Demonstrate knowledge of the UN gender architecture and critically appraise the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
Evaluate responses to violence against women in conflict and post-conflict settings.
Apply feminist, intersectional, and decolonial frameworks to analyse global security issues and case studies.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
1.Identify and retrieve relevant academic and policy sources using digital databases and online platforms
2.Evaluate and synthesize evidence from diverse sources to support clear, concise arguments.
3.Engage in ongoing reflective practice by critically examining personal learning, perspectives, and the implications for future analysis.
This module offers a critical approach to security, violence, and war through feminist, decolonial, and intersectional perspectives. Students will develop a strong theoretical and practical understanding of key concepts, debates, and frameworks related to gender, sex, and race in international security.
A core theme is violence, in particular gender-based violence, which we examine as a continuum from local to global contexts and across peace and conflict settings. The module explores how intersections of gender, sex, and race shape understandings, responses, and practices surrounding war and security. The module content travels from focusing on gender security in the so-called peace to the context of war and conflicts and concluding with terrorism and violent extremism.
The themes covered by this module are varied aimed at providing students with a broad overview of key contemporary issues and debates. These include gender, race, and war and particularly how femininities, masculinities and racial hierarchies are constructed in a way that enable violence and militarism; the women's rights architecture at the United Nations and the UN agenda on "Women, Peace and Security" here the module will explore the key question of the successes and critiques of governance feminism.
The module will explore key themes such as gender and peace-making, sexual violence in armed conflicts, gender and transitional justice, and violent extremism and the war on terror. By engaging with diverse case studies and critical scholarship, students gain a broad overview of contemporary issues and debates in gendered security.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 10 | 1.5 | 15 |
| Seminar | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Independent online learning hours | 175 | ||
| Private study hours | 0 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 25 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
The module will require private and independent study. The module outline will include an extensive list of recommended literature, some of which will be required reading in advance of the seminars and for assessed written assignments. Some of the seminars may require student presentations – either individual or group – and these will also require independent research and group preparation.
A formal formative assessment opportunity will be provided for the summative assessment task, which is specifically pedagogically aligned to that task. As part of this, each student will receive feedback designed to support the development of knowledge and skills that will be later assessed in the summative task.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | - | 70 |
| Coursework | - | 30 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
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Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 08/05/2026
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