What are the most pressing issues facing global politics today?  This course looks at the ideas, issues, and actions that shape our contemporary world.  It asks how we understand the world, how we might understand it differently and why certain issues dominate global politics while others are ignored.  It also examines the capacity for people, organisations, and nations to co-operate in search of solutions to today’s pressing problems. 

In doing so, this course is broken up into two key sections: Global Visions; and Conflict and Co-operation. The first section looks at different approaches to thinking about international relations and world politics and introduces students to the key actors, agents, institutions and ideas that dominate the world today.  The second section, ‘Crisis and Co-operation’ looks at the sources of international tensions, and the possibilities for global co-operation around major issues such as transnational conflict, international political economy, global environmental management, and human and social rights. In each theme this course examines the history of these major areas of contemporary international relations and the competing debates and agendas within them.  It then focuses upon causes and consequences of a contemporary crisis and examines the possibilities of global co-operation in its resolution.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. identify key issues in global politics and understand their historical contexts;
2. develop the capacity to research key issues in ways that enable them to analyse different approaches to understanding and addressing these issues;
3. debate and evaluate different approaches to major issues;
4. write and present a political argument in a clear, coherent, and engaging manner; and
   
5. demonstrate reading comprehension of relevant IR literature.

Examination Material or equipment

Students are not allowed to bring any materials to the formal course examination, except for basic stationery (pens, pencils, etc). Students must not bring any electronic devices to the exam room.

Students from language backgrounds other than English may request approval to bring a paper-based dictionary to the exam. See ANU Examinations for details. 

Required Resources

Grieco, Joseph; Ikenberry; G John and Mastanduno, Michael. Introduction to International Relations: Enduring Questions & Contemporary Perspectives, (2nd ed.) (London: Palgrave McMillan, 2019).

Recommended Resources

Wattle

This course is supported by Wattle. On Wattle you will find lecture slides, required and recommended readings and digital recordings of lectures). You will also find updated course information, course notices and other materials relevant to the course. You are encouraged to check it regularly.

International Relations journals

There are a large number of international relations journals. This is not an exhaustive list but some of the key journals include:

• Australian Journal of International Affairs
• Review of International Studies
• American Political Science Review
• International Studies Quarterly
• International Studies Review
• International Security
• International Organization
• Journal of Conflict Resolution
• European Journal of International Relations
• Journal of Peace Research
• Review of International Political Economy

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written
• verbal

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Other Information

The information provided is a preliminary Class Outline. A finalised version will be available on Wattle and will be accessible after enrolling in this course. All updates, changes and further information will be uploaded on the course Wattle site and will not be updated on Programs and Courses throughout the semester. Any questions or concerns should be directed to the Course Convenor.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Syllabus; Administration
2	Concepts and Theories I: States, Sovereignty and the International System
3	Concepts and Theories II: Realism
4	Concepts and Theories III: Liberalism and International Institutions
5	Concepts and Theories IV: Constructivism; Alternative Theories; Norms in the International System
6	History and the Changing World; Theory in the real world; Globalization
7	War and Security
8	Weapons of Mass Destruction: Nuclear Weapons
9	Unconventional War I: Terrorism
10	Unconventional War II: Nationalism, Ethnic Conflict; Peacekeeping
11	International Political Economy; Trade and Multinational Corporations
12	The Environment; Conclusion and Review

Tutorial Registration

July 10 2019

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT 15%	15 %	13/08/2019	01/01/9999	2, 4, 5
RESEARCH PAPER 1 (40%)	40 %	08/10/2019	01/01/9999	2, 3, 4, 5
TUTORIAL PARTICIPATION 10% (Ongoing Assessment)	10 %	01/01/9999	01/01/9999	1, 3
FINAL EXAM 35% (Scheduled during exam period)	35 %	01/01/9999	01/01/9999	1, 4, 5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website. Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

See details in assessment task 3 TUTORIALS, for participation expectations.

Assessment Task 1

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT 15%

Details: The writing assignment is specifically designed to prepare the student for future writing assignments in more advanced classes. It is not an argumentative essay but rather meant to familiarize the student with the key components and framework of an academic paper. For the written assignment, students shall be provided with readings on a topic selected by the instructor as well as a list of guiding questions. The student will be required to read the articles, answer the questions and provide a brief analysis of its content. This paper will be approximately 1000 words.  The paper is due Tuesday August 13th, 2019 by 11:59 PM. More details will be provided in class and an outline detailing the specifics of the assignment will be posted to Wattle during Week 2.

Assignment Outline: available on Wattle (posted Week 2)

Estimated Return Date: 15 business days

Submitted: Electronically via Turnitin

Assessment Task 2

RESEARCH PAPER 1 (40%)

Details: Each student will be responsible for a short research paper, approximately 2000 words in length. The paper is due Tuesday October 8th, 2019 by 11:59 PM. The instructor will provide three questions, and students will select one to answer. More details will be provided in class and an outline detailing the specifics of the assignment will be posted to Wattle during Week 4. 

 

Assignment Outline: available on Wattle (posted Week 5)

Estimated Return Date: 15 business days

Submitted: Electronically via Turnitin

*Caution: Computer failure is not sufficient grounds for an extension. PLEASE back-up your works accordingly

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Paper Extensions

See: https://policies.anu.edu.au/ppl/document/ANUP_004604 which includes:

Applications for an extension of the due date for an assessment task are submitted in writing to the Senior tutor. An application for an extension of the due date for an assessment task is to be submitted on or before the assessment due date. The only exception is where the student could not reasonably be expected to have applied by the appropriate date due to illness or other medical conditions. Appropriate documentation is provided with a request for an extension to allow the claims to be verified. The request must be considered within five working days. The consideration is of whether the reason a student was not able to complete an assessment task by the due date was due to exceptional circumstances beyond a student’s control. Exceptional circumstances may warrant approval of an Assessment Extension. Normally, this will require documentation. 

If an Assessment Extension is granted an appropriate new deadline is specified. Workload from this and other courses is not a reason for the approval of an extension.

The due date of an assessment task is not extended beyond ten working days of the date for submission of the essay. 

Where an extension is granted on medical grounds and is on the basis of a non-chronic condition, an extension of the due date for an assessment task is normally limited to the number of days (calculated to the nearest business day) the student is suffering from the medical condition as indicated on the medical certificate. 

The student will be of the outcome of their application for an extension within three working days of the decision. This advice is in writing via the ANU student email address. 

Extensions should only be requested as a last resort in situations where you genuinely cannot complete the work on time because of an unforeseen emergency. Your request must also be supported by written documentation. 

Late and Word Limit Penalties

Where an assignment is submitted after the due date, students are penalised by five per cent of the possible marks available for the assessment task per working day or part thereof

Where an assignment exceeds the prescribed word length, no penalty will be applied for the initial 10% excess words. Thereafter a 10% penalty will apply.

The prescribed word length may be increased by 10% to accommodate the use of the Harvard, or other in-text, referencing system in which references are placed in the body of the main text.

Bibliographies and footnotes will not be included in the word count, though notes will be assessed to ensure conformity with footnoting and disciplinary conventions. Generally, avoid explanatory footnotes, anything worth including in your essay should be in the body. 

Assessment Task 3

TUTORIAL PARTICIPATION 10% (Ongoing Assessment)

*Tutorial sign-up on Wattle*

 

PLEASE NOTE: There are NO tutorials in Week 1 and Week 12

 

This class has a tutorial participation requirement. Students are expected to attend their weekly tutorial having read any assigned course material and actively engage with the tutor and their fellow students. The mark for tutorial participation is determined by the tutor. Tutorial participation marks will be determined as followed: .5% for attending and .5% for participation (times 10 tutorials). Participation is based upon evidence of having done the required readings, evidence of having thought about the issues and meaningful contribution and participation and consideration and respect for other class members. It should be noted that simply attending and making one statement per tutorial will not result in a perfect tutorial grade

 

Tutorials provide a forum for students, under the guidance of tutors, to discuss relevant literature and develop their own ideas. From participation in tutorials, students should improve their abilities to comprehend and respect others’ points of view, offer constructive reflection and criticism, and articulate their ideas clearly and concisely.

 

There are 10 tutorials throughout the semester (no tutorials in Week 1 or week 12). Please note that once you have selected your tutorial, you are expected to remain in it throughout the semester. Tutorial registration will commence on July 10th, 2019.

 

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING POINTS ON TUTORIALS:

 

First, due to the large number of students participating in POLS 1006, the convenor and tutors are unable to accommodate requests for specific tutorial days and times. It is the student’s responsibility to check for openings over the course of the registration period.  Due to the number of students changing timetables during week 1, tutorial openings and availability will also change.

 

Second, once a student has selected their tutorial, they are expected to continuously attend that tutorial for the duration of the semester (Should extenuating circumstances arise, students may contact the course convenor, who can grant permission for a tutorial change).  Should you be unable to attend your tutorial due to illness, you must provide a medical certificate to your tutor. Again, due to the logistical challenges posed by the number of students in the course, we are unable to allow students who miss their tutorial to attend a “make-up” tutorial of their choosing (extenuating circumstances can be raised with the course convenor). Tutorial is an extension of the course learning and students should select a tutorial they are able to attend.

 

Third, the tutorials are approximately 50 minutes long. Students are expected to arrive to their tutorials on time. Students who are more than 15 minutes late will not be allowed to join tutorial (extenuating circumstances can be raised with the course convenor on a case-by-case basis).

 

If you have any additional concerns, please contact us to discuss them. If you feel you will have difficulties participating in tutorials, please contact ANU access and inclusion.

 

Students will receive their tutorial participation marks via Wattle during the study break before the examination.

Assessment Task 4

FINAL EXAM 35% (Scheduled during exam period)

The final exam will test the students’ knowledge of the course material covered in the lectures, assigned readings and tutorials. It may consist of multiple choice, definitions, short and long answer (essay) questions. The final exam will be scheduled during the final exam period. No aids are permitted during the final exam.

 

Duration: 2 hours (writing)

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) as submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

Work will be returned to students via Wattle.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Online Submission: Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) a submission must be through Turnitin. Assignments are submitted using Turnitin in the course Wattle site. You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records.

Hard Copy Submission: For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Please state how the students submit such assignments to you via, for example, the physical assignment box. The cover sheet must use the assignment cover sheet template. If your course does not require hard copy submission, delete this sub-section. Assignments must include the cover sheet available here. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records. 

There is no resubmission of assignments. 

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students