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About the course
Study diplomacy and regional cooperation through advanced international-relations enquiry. You will analyse geopolitical interests, institutions and policy choices affecting Southern Africa and investigate a defined regional problem.
What you'll learn
- Critique geopolitical explanations of regional relations.
- Analyse interests and institutions affecting cooperation.
- Evaluate diplomatic options using legal and political evidence.
- Design a rigorous regional or international study.
- Defend research-informed recommendations with explicit limitations.
Requirements
- Entry requires a relevant degree with suitable advanced study or a postgraduate diploma, subject to BMIT assessment of research preparation and supervision. English Language is required.
- African Kalanga is a compulsory graduation subject in every year of this programme. BMIT confirms the approved entry route, any recognition of prior learning and access to required practical facilities before enrolment.
Course content
Sections: 3
•Activities: 1
•Resources: 16
Subjects in this programme
The complete subject sequence below moves from foundations to specialist application. Stages show learning progression. Practical work and the final project draw together the subjects studied.
12 subjects are listed below, with a short description of each. The Subject descriptions tab contains the learning outcomes, topics, practical tasks and assessments.
Stage 1: Foundations
- Geopolitics and International Political Economy. Examine the interaction of geography, power and economic relations. You will examine territory, resources, trade networks. Compare explanations of a regional policy issue.
- Diplomacy and International Relations. Analyse relations among states and international actors. You will examine international systems, foreign policy, diplomatic institutions. Prepare a diplomatic briefing and classroom negotiation.
- Regional Integration and SADC Governance. Evaluate regional cooperation through institutional evidence. You will examine regionalism, sadc institutions, trade integration. Prepare a regional cooperation brief.
- Public International Law. Examine law between states and international actors. You will examine sources, statehood, jurisdiction. Prepare a legal briefing on a supplied international dispute.
- African Politics and Governance. Examine African institutions through historical and contemporary evidence. You will examine state formation, colonial legacies, constitutional change. Prepare a comparative African governance study.
- International Trade Economics. Explain why economies trade and how trade policy affects producers and consumers. You will compare trade theories, analyse barriers and examine regional integration. Cases address commodity dependence, industrial development and the practical differences between an agreement's stated aims and observed trade outcomes.
Stage 2: Core subjects
- Peace, Conflict and Development. Analyse conflict and negotiated civilian responses. You will examine conflict analysis, structural causes, peace processes. Prepare a civilian peacebuilding proposal.
- Public Policy Analysis. Analyse policy problems through evidence and alternatives. You will examine problem framing, policy actors, options. Prepare a policy brief comparing practical alternatives.
- Advanced Research Design and Analysis. Develop a research design capable of addressing a complex organisational or social question. You will critically synthesise literature, justify methodological choices and assess evidence quality. The module develops the reasoning and analytical preparation required for an independently argued postgraduate research report.
- Dissertation or Substantial Research Report. Conduct an extended investigation into a focused programme-related problem. You will develop an argument through critical reading, appropriate evidence and sustained analysis. The completed report explains the contribution, limitations and practical or scholarly implications, supported by a transparent record of ethical research decisions.
African History and Pan Africanism
- African History and Pan Africanism 101 (Level 1, compulsory core module): Study African history through oral, written and archaeological evidence. Examine the diversity of African societies, knowledge and exchange, then trace the emergence of Pan African ideas about identity, solidarity and self-determination.
- African History and Pan Africanism 201 (Level 2, compulsory core module): Examine colonial change, resistance and liberation across Africa, with attention to Zimbabwe and South Africa. Compare Pan African movements, organisations and debates, including contributions from women, workers and diaspora communities.
Assessment and practical learning
- Critical geopolitical and diplomatic case analyses.
- A research proposal and regional-policy brief.
- A supervised dissertation and oral defence.
Practical application
Investigate a proposed SADC cooperation question using official documents and approved research evidence. Compare national and regional interests, distinguish policy ambition from implementation and identify feasible diplomatic options.
African History and Pan Africanism practical learning
- African History and Pan Africanism 101: Create an annotated timeline or digital learning poster on a selected African society or historical development. Compare at least two credible sources and explain one connection with your field of study.
- African History and Pan Africanism 201: Develop a comparative case study of a liberation issue or Pan African debate relevant to Southern Africa. Use a historical document alongside a scholarly account and explain differences in purpose and interpretation.
Subject descriptions
Each subject below includes its purpose, learning outcomes, main topics, practical task and assessment approach.
Geopolitics and International Political Economy
Stage 1: Foundations
Examine the interaction of geography, power and economic relations. You will examine territory, resources, trade networks. Compare explanations of a regional policy issue.
Learning outcomes
- Explain territory in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between resources and trade networks.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing global institutions, strategic interests and regional choices.
Main topics
- Territory
- Resources
- Trade networks
- Global institutions
- Strategic interests
- Regional choices
Practical task
Compare explanations of a regional policy issue.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Diplomacy and International Relations
Stage 1: Foundations
Analyse relations among states and international actors. You will examine international systems, foreign policy, diplomatic institutions. Prepare a diplomatic briefing and classroom negotiation.
Learning outcomes
- Explain international systems in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between foreign policy and diplomatic institutions.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing negotiation, international organisations and cooperation.
Main topics
- International systems
- Foreign policy
- Diplomatic institutions
- Negotiation
- International organisations
- Cooperation
Practical task
Prepare a diplomatic briefing and classroom negotiation.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Regional Integration and SADC Governance
Stage 1: Foundations
Evaluate regional cooperation through institutional evidence. You will examine regionalism, sadc institutions, trade integration. Prepare a regional cooperation brief.
Learning outcomes
- Explain regionalism in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between sadc institutions and trade integration.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing mobility, shared resources and implementation.
Main topics
- Regionalism
- SADC institutions
- Trade integration
- Mobility
- Shared resources
- Implementation
Practical task
Prepare a regional cooperation brief.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Public International Law
Stage 1: Foundations
Examine law between states and international actors. You will examine sources, statehood, jurisdiction. Prepare a legal briefing on a supplied international dispute.
Learning outcomes
- Explain sources in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between statehood and jurisdiction.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing treaties, responsibility and dispute settlement.
Main topics
- Sources
- Statehood
- Jurisdiction
- Treaties
- Responsibility
- Dispute settlement
Practical task
Prepare a legal briefing on a supplied international dispute.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
African Politics and Governance
Stage 1: Foundations
Examine African institutions through historical and contemporary evidence. You will examine state formation, colonial legacies, constitutional change. Prepare a comparative African governance study.
Learning outcomes
- Explain state formation in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between colonial legacies and constitutional change.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing political parties, civil society and regional governance.
Main topics
- State formation
- Colonial legacies
- Constitutional change
- Political parties
- Civil society
- Regional governance
Practical task
Prepare a comparative African governance study.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
International Trade Economics
Stage 1: Foundations
Explain why economies trade and how trade policy affects producers and consumers. You will compare trade theories, analyse barriers and examine regional integration. Cases address commodity dependence, industrial development and the practical differences between an agreement's stated aims and observed trade outcomes.
Learning outcomes
- Analyse a trade barrier
- Compare trade policy arguments
- Evaluate an integration outcome
Main topics
- Trade theories
- Comparative advantage
- Tariffs and quotas
- Trade policy
- Regional integration
- Trade and development
Practical task
Prepare a trade policy analysis for a selected Southern African sector.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Peace, Conflict and Development
Stage 2: Core subjects
Analyse conflict and negotiated civilian responses. You will examine conflict analysis, structural causes, peace processes. Prepare a civilian peacebuilding proposal.
Learning outcomes
- Explain conflict analysis in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between structural causes and peace processes.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing mediation, reconstruction and development.
Main topics
- Conflict analysis
- Structural causes
- Peace processes
- Mediation
- Reconstruction
- Development
Practical task
Prepare a civilian peacebuilding proposal.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Public Policy Analysis
Stage 2: Core subjects
Analyse policy problems through evidence and alternatives. You will examine problem framing, policy actors, options. Prepare a policy brief comparing practical alternatives.
Learning outcomes
- Explain problem framing in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between policy actors and options.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing policy instruments, implementation and evaluation.
Main topics
- Problem framing
- Policy actors
- Options
- Policy instruments
- Implementation
- Evaluation
Practical task
Prepare a policy brief comparing practical alternatives.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Advanced Research Design and Analysis
Stage 2: Core subjects
Develop a research design capable of addressing a complex organisational or social question. You will critically synthesise literature, justify methodological choices and assess evidence quality. The module develops the reasoning and analytical preparation required for an independently argued postgraduate research report.
Learning outcomes
- Critique a research design
- Justify an analytical approach
- Develop a defensible research proposal
Main topics
- Critical literature synthesis
- Research philosophy
- Design justification
- Advanced sampling
- Analytical methods
- Research integrity
Practical task
Submit a postgraduate proposal with a critical literature review and pilot analysis.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Dissertation or Substantial Research Report
Stage 2: Core subjects
Conduct an extended investigation into a focused programme-related problem. You will develop an argument through critical reading, appropriate evidence and sustained analysis. The completed report explains the contribution, limitations and practical or scholarly implications, supported by a transparent record of ethical research decisions.
Learning outcomes
- Conduct an approved investigation
- Develop an evidence-based argument
- Defend and revise research conclusions
Main topics
- Proposal refinement
- Ethical approval
- Evidence collection
- Sustained analysis
- Argument development
- Defence and revision
Practical task
Complete an independently assessed dissertation or substantial research report and oral defence.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
African History and Pan Africanism 101
Compulsory core module · Level 1
Study African history through oral, written and archaeological evidence. Examine the diversity of African societies, knowledge and exchange, then trace the emergence of Pan African ideas about identity, solidarity and self-determination.
Learning outcomes
- Place selected African societies and events within a supported historical timeline.
- Compare historical sources and identify perspective, evidence and uncertainty.
- Explain the foundations of Pan Africanism and the contributions of Africans and the diaspora.
Main topics
- Historical inquiry, chronology, oral traditions and source evaluation
- African civilisations, states, trade, livelihoods and knowledge systems
- Southern African history, including Mapungubgwe and Great Zimbabwe
- Slavery, the African diaspora and changing ideas about identity
- Origins of Pan Africanism, solidarity, self-determination and cultural expression
Practical task
Create an annotated timeline or digital learning poster on a selected African society or historical development. Compare at least two credible sources and explain one connection with your field of study.
Assessment
Submit the timeline or poster, an annotated source list and a short explanation of the evidence. Assessment considers chronology, historical accuracy, source judgement and the clarity of your interpretation.
Learning resources
African History and Pan Africanism 201
Compulsory core module · Level 2
Examine colonial change, resistance and liberation across Africa, with attention to Zimbabwe and South Africa. Compare Pan African movements, organisations and debates, including contributions from women, workers and diaspora communities.
Learning outcomes
- Analyse the effects of colonial rule on land, labour, institutions and social relations.
- Compare liberation movements and Pan African arguments using contextual evidence.
- Explain how different groups shaped independence, solidarity and debates about freedom.
Main topics
- Colonial rule, land, labour, education and forms of resistance
- Nationalism, liberation and the end of colonial rule and apartheid
- Pan African congresses, organisations and contrasting interpretations
- Women, labour movements and diaspora participation
- The Organisation of African Unity and debates about unity, sovereignty and development
Practical task
Develop a comparative case study of a liberation issue or Pan African debate relevant to Southern Africa. Use a historical document alongside a scholarly account and explain differences in purpose and interpretation.
Assessment
Submit the case study, a source comparison and a reflection on your conclusions. Assessment considers context, evidence, recognition of different perspectives and the quality of your argument.
Learning resources
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Master of Arts in Geopolitics & SADC Diplomacy
Course modified date: 13 October 2026
Study diplomacy and regional cooperation through advanced international-relations enquiry. You will analyse geopolitical interests, institutions and policy choices affecting Southern Africa and investigate a defined regional problem.
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