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.

Recommended Resources

Whether you are on campus or studying remotely, 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	Syllabus; Administration; Course Introduction	Introduction of all Assessments
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	Conventional War
8	Unconventional Warfare – Terrorism; Ethnic Conflict
9	Security – Weapons; WMD (Nuclear Weapons)
10	International Law; Human Rights; Humanitarian Intervention
11	International Political Economy; Global Trade; Development
12	The Environment; Conclusion

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	Learning Outcomes
Article Synopsis	20 %	30/03/2023	1, 4, 5
Research Paper	45 %	11/05/2023	1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Final Exam	35 %	*	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 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
• Special Assessment Consideration Guideline and General Information 
• 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.

Participation

TUTORIALS

 

PLEASE NOTE: Students will attend ONE tutorial every SECOND week for a total of FIVE tutorials over the course of the semester. To simplify, students will choose to be a part of the Alpha group or the Beta group.

 

Alpha Group attends tutorials in Weeks: 2, 4, 7, 9, and 11

Beta Group attends tutorials in Weeks: 3, 5, 8, 10, and 12

There are NO tutorials Weeks 1 and 6.

 

Students will register for a tutorial time as they normally do and are expected to attend the tutorial they choose for the entirety of the semester. They will however only attend every second week. For example:

 

Tutorial 01 Alpha – Wednesday 10:00 – 11:00AM - Weeks 2, 4, 7, 9, and 11

Tutorial 01 Beta – Wednesday 10:00 – 11:00AM - Weeks 3, 5, 8, 10, and 12

 

Additionally, the course convenor will schedule two weekly one hour zoom sessions. These zoom sessions are designed to provide students an opportunity to ask any questions they have related to course material or seek additional clarity on the material or course assessments. These zoom sessions are purely optional. A link will be posted to the course wattle site and the times for these sessions will be announced in Week 1.

 

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. Each of the five tutorials will focus on a broad topic designed to encourage discussion and debate. While there will not be any “new” material introduced during the tutorials, additional perspectives/examples may emerge to assist students further understand the concepts introduced in lecture. Students ARE responsible for any information covered in tutorials.

 

Assessment Task 1

Article Synopsis

Part of academia is developing an ability to read information, synthesize information and communicate information to an audience. It also involves learning how to tie specific ideas to broader themes and placing ideas which may be presented abstractly into the context of the real-world. This is not an argumentative essay but rather meant to familiarize the student with these key components and skills. The article synopsis is specifically designed to assist students in developing these abilities and provide them with the framework to prepare and complete future writing assignments in more advanced classes.

The article synopsis will be due WEEK 6, Tuesday March 30th, 2023 by 11:59 PM. Students will be required to read the articles, answer the guiding questions, tie it to broader themes form the course, and identify relevance in the real world. The word count for this synopsis is 1200 words. More details will be provided in class and an outline detailing the specifics of the assignment will be posted to Wattle during Week 1.

 

Assessment Task 2

Research Paper

Each student will be responsible for a short research paper, approximately 1500 words in length. The paper is due Week 10, Tuesday May 11th, 2023 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 1. 

Assessment Task 3

Final Exam

The final exam will be scheduled by the registrar and take place during the exam period. The exam is designed to test the students’ knowledge of the course material covered in the lectures (including case study/topic) and the assigned readings. It may consist of multiple choice, short and long answer (essay) questions.  

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 undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students