This course focuses on three different current international security issues to give students depth in global security problems.  The topics will change but will always include at least one traditional and non-traditional security issue, such as terrorism, cybersecurity, weapons of mass destruction, poverty, climate change, or maritime competition.  For each topic, the course addresses key controversies and issues, explores theoretical explanations, and evaluates possible policy solutions.

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. apply general concepts and theories in international security to specific topics;
2. analyse the main controversies and debates within key issues in international security;
3. evaluate debates about the use of international institutions to solve serious issues in global security; and
   
4. make informed arguments about the best ways to use policy to reduce insecurity and improve security in the international arena.

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. 

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 for your reference. 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

Websites

There are a large number of international relations websites that students of international relations usually visit to broaden the knowledge in this field:

·   The Diplomat: https://thediplomat.com/

·   The National Interest: https://nationalinterest.org/

·   E-International Relations: https://www.e-ir.info/

·   East Asia Forum: https://www.eastasiaforum.org/

·   Foreign Affairs: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/

·   Foreign Policy: https://foreignpolicy.com/

Staff Feedback

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

1.  Verbal feedback during tutorials on how you have engaged with the readings.

2.  Verbal or written feedback on your presentations.

3.  Written feedback on your policy memo and research essay. Students should not expect that their tutors will read and comment on drafts.

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.

Assessment Extension

Please note the following rules when considering extensions:

1.  Applications for an extension of the due date for an assessment task must be submitted in writing to the Course Convener.

2.  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.

3.  Appropriate documentation must be provided with the request for an extension to allow the claims to be verified.

4.  Extensions will be considered for students not able to complete an assessment task by the due date due to exceptional circumstances beyond a student’s control. Exceptional circumstances may include, but are not limited to:

a.  medical reasons (student injury, illness or medical condition) of such significance that completion of the assessment task was not possible;

b.  family/personal reasons (family injury or illness, bereavement) of such significance that completion of the assessment task was not possible;

c.  employment related reasons where a student's employment status or employment arrangements change unexpectedly due to circumstances beyond their control of such significance that completion of the assessment task was not possible.

Workload from this and other courses is not a valid reason for an extension.

5.  If an Assessment Extension is granted an appropriate new deadline will be given.

6.  The due date of an assessment task will not be extended beyond ten working days from the original date of submission.

7.  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 limited to the number of working days the student is suffering from the medical condition as indicated on the medical certificate.

8.  The student will be notified of the outcome of their application for an extension within three working days. This advice will be made in writing via the student’s ANU email address.

For additional information regarding assessment extension, please visit:

https://policies.anu.edu.au/ppl/document/ANUP_004604

Referencing Requirements

It is a requirement of this course that your research essay conform to academic writing standards and referencing. The Harvard referencing style is required. You may contact the ANU Academic Skills and Writing Centre for further advice.

For additional information regarding the Harvard citation style, please visit:

https://guides.lib.monash.edu/citing-referencing/harvard

Words Limits Penalties

Writing more words rarely, if ever, results in a better mark. Where an assignment exceeds the prescribed word length by more than 10%, there will be a 5-point penalty off the final mark of the assessment.

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

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction & History of Warfare
2	The Systemic Level
3	War as Bargaining
4	Arms Races
5	Nuclear Weapons
6	International Institutions
7	The Democratic Peace
8	The Capitalist Peace
9	Identity, Culture, and History
10	Reputation and Resolve
11	Bringing Geography Back In
12	New Directions in Warfare and Course Review

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Policy Memo (25%)	25 %	01/09/2019	22/09/2019	1, 2, 3, 4
Research Essay (40%)	40 %	27/10/2019	17/11/2019	1, 2, 3, 4
Presentation (25%)	25 %	01/01/9999	01/01/9999	1, 2, 3, 4
Participation (10%)	10 %	01/01/9999	01/01/9999	1, 2, 3, 4

* 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.

Assessment Task 1

Policy Memo (25%)

Imagine that you are a policy adviser of a specific leader in the chosen war or crisis, write a policy memo of 800 words to recommend the best course of action to your leader. Choose from one of the following wars or crises to write a policy memo:

1.  It is December 2017, on the eve of announcing the National Security Strategy of the US which officially regards China as a strategic competitor that should be contained on all fronts. As a policy adviser to either Donald Trump or Xi Jinping, what policy would you recommend to your leader to address this potential US-China confrontation?

2.    It is a day before the outbreak of the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis of 1958. You are a policy adviser to either Chiang Kai-Shek, Mao Zedong, or Dwight Eisenhower. What policy would you recommend to your leader to address this coming crisis?

3.  It is a day before the outbreak of the First North Korean Nuclear Crisis of 1994. You are a policy adviser to either Kim Il-Sung, Jiang Zemin, or Bill Clinton. What policy would you recommend to your leader to address the potential military conflict between North Korea and the US?

4.  It is 2012 and you are a policy adviser to either Barack Obama, Xi Jinping, or Benigno Aquino III. What policy would you recommend to your leader to address the situation in which China took over the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea?

Assessment Task 2

Research Essay (40%)

Write an essay of 1500 words on one of the following questions:

1.  The Kantian trinity is defined as democracy, trade, and international institutions. Do any of these factors, or all of these factors together, work to seriously reduce the prospect of war?

2.  Material things or non-material things? Which one is more important for international security and why?

3.  Is it important for states to maintain a reputation for resolve in international politics? Why or why not?

4.  Is inter-state conflict a thing of the past? Why, or why not?

Assessment Task 3

Presentation (25%)

Group Presentation (10%):

Groups of 5 students will sign up for a time to make a group presentation during this course. Your group should identify a case study of an international war or crisis, explain the case in detail, and argue whether the theoretical framework covered the week prior is applicable or not to the case (i.e. a group presentation in Week 3 should use the Week 2 framework and etc). Each group should give a 15-minute presentation with slides in class and send a 1000 word summary of the presentation to the course convener before the presentation begins.

Individual Presentation (15%):

Sign up with your tutor to present on one of the assigned readings from your assigned week. Your presentation will occur during the tutorial that week and should be 10 minutes long without slides. In the presentation you need to summarize, critique, and evaluate the author’s argument. Then, based on your presentation you should pose two questions to the class for discussion.

Assessment Task 4

Participation (10%)

11 tutorials will be run (no tutorials in Week 1) for this course. Tutorial participation marks will be based upon evidence of having done the assigned readings, evidence of having thought about the issues, contribution and participation in class, and consideration and respect for other class members. Simply attending does not meet the participation requirements. Please come prepared to share your own questions and thoughts about each week’s course materials, especially the readings, and to proactively participate in an exchange of ideas with your tutor and fellow students. If you do not attend, it is not possible to gain participation marks. At the end of the semester, 1 point will be deducted from your participation mark for each missed tutorial after the second. Accordingly, if you miss five tutorials, you will have three points deducted from your participation mark.

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

Where an assignment is submitted after the due date without out an extension, the assignment will be penalized by 5 points off the final mark for the assessment per working day. Unless an exception has been granted, late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted beyond 10 working days after the due date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment.

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

Students who submit their essays punctually can expect to receive feedback via Wattle 3 weeks after the submission date. 

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

Assignment submission

Students will submit assignments for this course by uploading documents to the Turnitin Assignment submission boxes on the Wattle course site. Please do not put your name or student number in the text of uploaded assignments. There is no coversheet for Turnitin Assignments. Instead, you will be asked to tick a box on Wattle indicating that you agree to the Submission Statement (Turnitin User Agreement) when uploading each assignment. Please do not leave your submission to the last minute. Students often experience internet problems or upload interruptions; these are not considered valid reasons for late submission.

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