This Course provides students with a systematic introduction to the United Nations as a family of organisations facilitating complex patterns of diplomatic engagement in the 21st Century. It opens with a discussion of the emergence of the United Nations then moves on to explore the structure and function of key United Nations organisation and finally examines the involvement of the United Nations in a range of complex endeavours such as humanitarian assistance, intervention, conflict management, and peacebuilding in disrupted states. It concludes with a discussion of the prospects for reform of the United Nations system.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of how the United Nations system is organised and functions, including its history and evolution.
- Display effective analytical skills to work competently either in the United Nations offices or in diplomatic missions attached to the United Nations and its agencies.
- Use high-level research and writing skills to undertake self-directed study in the diplomacy and politics of the United Nations and effectively communicate findings to both an academic and policy audience.
- Demonstrate a sound understanding of the complex role played by the United Nations in contemporary global politics.
- Aquire an appreciation for the promise and limitations of the United Nations, including prospects for reform.
Recommended Resources
Whether you are on campus or studying online, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.
ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.
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). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.
Class Schedule
| Week/Session | Summary of Activities | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction & overview | |
| 2 | Origins and structure of the UN | |
| 3 | Security Council and General Assembly | |
| 4 | Secretary-General and secretariat | |
| 5 | Collective Security | |
| 6 | Peacekeeping and peacemaking | |
| 7 | Human rights, R2P, and humanitarian action | |
| 8 | Frontline diplomacy: UN envoys and sanctions committees | |
| 9 | The UN and armed groups | |
| 10 | Reforming the UN | |
| 11 | The UN in global governance |
Tutorial Registration
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.Assessment Summary
| Assessment task | Value | Due Date | Return of assessment | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Policy Essay | 40 % | 21/08/2023 | 30/08/2023 | 1,2,3,4,5 |
| Research Essay | 50 % | 30/10/2023 | * | 1,2,3,4,5 |
| Participation | 10 % | * | * |
* 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 Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:
- Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
- Extenuating Circumstances Application
- Student Surveys and Evaluations
- Deferred Examinations
- Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
- Code of practice for teaching and learning
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 Skills website. 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.
Assessment Task 1
Learning Outcomes: 1,2,3,4,5
Policy Essay
Your policy essay will consist of a brief summarising the context and implications of a UN resolution. You may choose one of the following:
1. United Nations General Assembly Resolution ES-11/1, resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 2 March 2022 concerning aggression against Ukraine (A/RES/ES-11/1); OR
2. United Nations Security Council Resolution 2669, resolution adopted by the Security Council on 21 December 2022 concerning the situation in Myanmar (SC/RES/2669 2022).
Further details will be provided in an assessment guideline, to follow. And there will be opportunities to discuss the assignment in class.
Your policy essay should be submitted on by 11.55pm on Monday, 21 August 2023 via Turnitin. The essay will be worth 40% of the final mark and should be 2,000 words. The essay must be typed in double spacing, with a left-hand margin of at least 4 centimetres. Appropriate footnoting must be supplied.
Assessment Task 2
Learning Outcomes: 1,2,3,4,5
Research Essay
Your research essay should answer the following topic:
The UN is our best chance to address today’s most critical global challenges. Discuss.
Your essay should respond to this statement using the course literature. In answering this question, you will need to draw on readings and themes related to each of the three modules of this course, specifically: (1) the origins and purpose of the UN; (2) the UN’s role in preventing and managing conflict; and (3) challenges and opportunities facing the UN.
You may like to discuss the question generally or you may focus on one or several recent crises. Similarly, you may like to discuss the UN’s role broadly, or you may like to address the research question by focusing on a thematic area (e.g. humanitarian action or promoting human rights).
Hint: I am less interested in your answer to the question than I am in your consideration of how the key issues discussed throughout this course influence your thinking!
Your research essay should be submitted by 11.55pm on Monday, 30 October 2023 via Turnitin. The essay will be worth 50% of the final mark and should be 3,000 words. The essay must be typed in double spacing, with a left-hand margin of at least 4 centimetres. Appropriate footnoting must be supplied.
Assessment Task 3
Learning Outcomes:
Participation
Ten per cent of your final mark will be determined by the level of your participation in class throughout the semester. You should actively engage with (at least some of) the readings and resources prior to each seminar to ensure you come ready to contribute and ask questions. And you will benefit from keeping abreast of current affairs. Students that achieve the highest marks for their participation will have contributed constructively and collegiately during seminars and during group work exercises.
Hint: you don’t need to be the most vocal or the best-read, but you do need to join seminars ready to contribute and discuss issues constructively with your colleagues.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.
The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.
The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.
The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.
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
Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:
- Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
- Late submission permitted. 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
The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material.
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).
- ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
- ANU Access 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 all ANU students
