• Class Number 4473
  • Term Code 3130
  • Class Info
  • Unit Value 6 units
  • Mode of Delivery In Person
  • COURSE CONVENER
    • Prof Brendan Taylor
  • LECTURER
    • Prof Brendan Taylor
  • Class Dates
  • Class Start Date 22/02/2021
  • Class End Date 28/05/2021
  • Census Date 31/03/2021
  • Last Date to Enrol 01/03/2021
SELT Survey Results

This course is designed to help students to deepen their understanding of key concepts in security studies and then apply them to real world situations. Students will be provided with a series of case studies from the post 1945 era and contemporary conflicts to develop their knowledge of concepts and theories introduced in STST1001 Introduction to International Security Studies. These case studies will help students to develop an understanding of different perspectives in international security crisis and to devise solutions from the perspective of key players. The course will develop skills in understanding the dynamics of policy development and advice to government in addition to using conflict simulations to test knowledge and skills.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of a range of historical and contemporary international security case studies 
2. Apply core analytical and empirical concepts and frameworks in international security studies in real-world scenarios and simulations
3. Critically reflect on the principal factors that determine the security policies of different states 
4. Demonstrate capacity to utilise academic theories and to express scholarly arguments in the context of security policy-making
5. Conduct scholarly research, express ideas and construct evidence-based arguments in both written and oral form

Field Trips

N/A

Additional Course Costs

There are no additional costs associated with this course.

Required Resources

All required readings are available from the course Wattle site.

A list of recommended readings for each topic is available from the course Wattle site

Staff Feedback

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

  • written comments
  • verbal comments
  • feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

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.

Class Schedule

Week/Session Summary of Activities Assessment
1 Introduction - Crises and International Security
2 Thucydides' Trap: the Causes of the Peloponnesian War
3 Sleepwalkers: the July crisis of 1914
4 Crisis Slides: the Origins of the Second World War
5 Thirteen Days: the Cuban missile crisis of 1962
6 Korean flashpoint: a Cuban Missile Crisis in Slow Motion?
7 Fear, Honour and Interest: East China Sea flashpoint
8 Maritime Balkans? South China Sea flashpoint
9 Munich Revisited? Taiwan flashpoint
10 Crises and Australian Security
11 The COVID-19 crisis and international security
12 Coping with Crisis: reflections and future directions

Tutorial Registration

TBA

Assessment Summary

Assessment task Value Due Date Return of assessment Learning Outcomes
Tutorial participation 10 % 28/05/2021 01/07/2021 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Outline and Annotated Bibliography 20 % 29/03/2021 19/04/2021 1, 4, 5
Crisis Case Study 40 % 17/05/2021 07/06/2021 1, 3, 4, 5
Take home exam 30 % 03/06/2021 01/07/2021 1, 2, 3, 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:

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 Academic Integrity . In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

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.

Examination(s)

The course includes a take home examination, held during the end of semester examination period.

Assessment Task 1

Value: 10 %
Due Date: 28/05/2021
Return of Assessment: 01/07/2021
Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Tutorial participation

A weekly tutorial is conducted, at which constructive contribution in a minimum of 10 (out of 12) tutorials will be noted progressively by your tutor, and given a final assessment at the completion of all tutorials.

Assessment Task 2

Value: 20 %
Due Date: 29/03/2021
Return of Assessment: 19/04/2021
Learning Outcomes: 1, 4, 5

Outline and Annotated Bibliography

1500 words. Detailed assignment instructions are provided on the course Wattle site. A detailed academic skills session for this assignment will also be provided in tutorials.

Assessment Task 3

Value: 40 %
Due Date: 17/05/2021
Return of Assessment: 07/06/2021
Learning Outcomes: 1, 3, 4, 5

Crisis Case Study

2500 words. Detailed assignment instructions are provided on the course Wattle site. A detailed academic skills session for this assignment will also be provided in tutorials.

Assessment Task 4

Value: 30 %
Due Date: 03/06/2021
Return of Assessment: 01/07/2021
Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Take home exam

Detailed instructions will be provided on the course Wattle site. A detailed examination skills session for this assignment will also be provided.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically, committing to honest and responsible scholarly practice and upholding these values with respect and fairness.


The ANU commits to assisting all members of our community to 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 be familiar with the academic integrity principle and Academic Misconduct Rule, 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 Academic Misconduct Rule is in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Very minor breaches of the academic integrity principle may result in a reduction of marks of up to 10% of the total marks available for the assessment. The ANU offers a number of online and in person services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. Visit the Academic Skills website for more information about academic integrity, your responsibilities and for assistance with your assignments, writing skills and study.

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) 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.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted 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.

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).

Prof Brendan Taylor
02 6125 3207
brendan.taylor@anu.edu.au

Research Interests


Dr. Brendan Taylor is Professor of Strategic Studies at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University. He was Head of SDSC from 2011-2016. He is a specialist on great power strategic relations in the Asia-Pacific, East Asian ‘flashpoints’, and Asian security architecture. His writings on these subjects have appeared in such leading journals as Survival, The Washington Quarterly, The Pacific Review, International Affairs and Review of International Studies. He is the author or editor of 12 books, including most recently The Four Flashpoints: How Asia Goes to War (Black Inc., 2018) and Dangerous Decade: Taiwan's Security and Crisis Management (IISS, 2019). He is also a regular op-ed contributor to such publications as The Australian, The Australian Financial Review, The Interpreter, East Asia Forum and The Strategist.

Prof Brendan Taylor

By Appointment
Prof Brendan Taylor
02 6125 3207
brendan.taylor@anu.edu.au

Research Interests


Prof Brendan Taylor

By Appointment

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