When the Cold War ended in 1989, some prominent commentators optimistically proclaimed that 'the end of history' had arrived and that international conflict was becoming obsolete. Yet the Cold War never really ended in the Asia-Pacific region. Its legacy is still very much apparent in the form of the U.S.-led bilateral network of security alliances and with the persistence of dangerous flashpoints around the Korean Peninsula and across the Taiwan Strait. Longstanding historical tensions persist between Japan and Korea, China and Japan and India and Pakistan, to name just a few.

In this course, students will learn about five security concepts and their relevance to security in the Asia-Pacific region. These concepts are order/hierarchy, alliances, polarity/balance of power, international reputation ("credibility"), and historical memory. We will explore these concepts through case studies such as the Korean War, the Taiwan Strait crises, the history (and future) of alliances in Asia, the Vietnam War, the Sino-U.S. rapprochement, the post-war order, and territorial disputes.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of a range of international security issues in the Asia-Pacific.
2. Employ different security concepts to analyse and explain key international security issues in the Asia-Pacific.
3. Reflect critically on the relative merits of different security concepts in understanding international security in the Asia-Pacific.
4. Conduct scholarly research, express ideas and construct evidence-based arguments in both written and oral form.

Research-Led Teaching

Lectures 1, 2, 3, 4, 10 and 11 draw on the Convenor's research into China-Japan relations, international order, the economics-security nexus, and history and memory in Asia. The lectures, tutorials and scaffolded assessment items provide students with the frameworks and skills to learn to conduct their own scholarly research.

Field Trips

NA

Additional Course Costs

NA

Examination Material or equipment

NA

Required Resources

NA

Recommended Resources

There are no compulsory textbooks for this course, though students may wish to read Saadia M. Pekkanen, John Ravenhill and Rosemary Foot (Eds). The Oxford Handbook of the International Relations of Asia. New York, Oxford University Press, 2014.  This book is available online through the ANU Library.

Staff Feedback

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

• Written comments
• Verbal comments
• Feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals, focus groups

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	Lecture 1. Introduction to the Course &Concepts: order and hierarchy	Please note: Tutorials will commence in Week 2, with the tutorial topic lagging the week behind that of the lecture (i.e. Tutorials in Week 2 will focus on: Concepts: order and hierarchy)
2	Lecture 2. Case studies: order and hierarchy in early modern, post-World War II, and post-Cold War Asia	Tutorials commence this week.
3	Lecture 3. Concepts: history and memory
4	Lecture 4. Case studies: China-Japan relations, Japan-South Korea relations, Taiwan
5	Lecture 5. Concept: alliances
6	Lecture 6. Case studies: U.S. bilateral alliances, SEATO, the Quad
7	Lecture 7. Concepts: reputation and credibility
8	ANZAC Day Public Holiday	There will be no lecture this week, but tutorials will still take place (except for tutorials that fall on a Thursday. These tutorials will be rescheduled where possible).
9	Lecture 8. Case studies: Vietnam War, First Taiwan Strait Crisis
10	Lecture 9. Concept: economics and security
11	Lecture 10. Case studies: Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia
12	Lecture 11: Concluding Lecture: Conceptualizing security in the Asia-Pacific

Tutorial Registration

Via My Timetable

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Tutorial participation	10 %	*	*	1, 2, 3, 4
Critical Review	15 %	12/03/2024	28/03/2024	3, 4
Annotated Bibliography	15 %	18/04/2024	09/05/2024	1, 3, 4
Research Plan & Reflection	20 %	18/04/2024	09/05/2024	1, 2, 3, 4
Research Essay	40 %	30/05/2024	27/05/2024	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.

Participation

Tutorial participation is assessed.

Examination(s)

There is no examination in this course.

Assessment Task 1

Tutorial participation

Students will be assessed on the quality of their contribution to discussion and debate within tutorials. To do well in this assessment, students should ensure that they complete the assigned readings before their tutorial, attend the tutorial in which they are enrolled, and participate in class discussion.

Assessment Task 2

Critical Review

In 1000 words, you are required to critically review one of five nominated texts.

Each text relates to one of the different concepts studied in this course. You may not write your Critical Review on the same security concept as your Research Essay.

You should:

• Identify the author’s argument.
• Explain how the author develops their argument (i.e. demonstrate the steps and form of the argument’s reasoning)
• Evaluate the author’s argument:
• Is the argument logical?
• What evidence is used to support the argument? Is the evidence sound, does it support the argument, and is any contradictory or alternative evidence missing?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the argument?
• Offer an overall judgement on the text: has the author convinced you? Why/why not?

Assessment Task 3

Annotated Bibliography

You are required to compile an Annotated Bibliography of five sources that will inform your final Research Essay. An Annotated Bibliography summarises and critically reviews the sources that you use when conducting research.

 

First, please choose a question for your Research Essay (note that you may not write your Research Essay on the same security concept as your Critical Review).

Next, compile an Annotated Bibliography that:

·     Briefly summarises the content of each source;

·     Outlines the author’s argument, methodology and conclusions;

·     Offers a critique of each source (e.g. appraises the persuasiveness of the author’s argument, the reliability of its evidence, the relationship of the source to other key texts in the field, etc);

·     Identifies how each source will be used in advancing the argument/s made in your final Research Essay.

 

Your list of sources should include:

·      at least one book

·      at least two academic journal articles

·      no more than two websites/internet sources.

 

For each source you should provide a 200-word annotation, for a total of 1000 words for this piece of assessment.

 

Other than the Annotated Bibliography, you are not required to provide references.

 

More information about writing Annotated Bibliographies can be found here: https://www.anu.edu.au/students/academic-skills/writing-assessment/other-assessments/annotated-bibliography

Note: The Annotated Bibliography is to be submitted at the same time as the Research Plan & Reflection.

Assessment Task 4

Research Plan & Reflection

To prepare for the final Research Essay, you are first required to submit a 1000-word Research Plan & Reflection. The Research Plan & Reflection is a piece of assessment designed to assist you in preparing your Research Essay and to enable you to reflect on the processes underpinning academic research.

 

The Research Plan & Reflection should discuss:

1.    How and why you propose to answer the research question you have chosen:

a)    What are the key elements of the security concept you have chosen, and how will these be used in developing your argument?

b)   What empirical case(s) will you use to help you develop your argument? Why did you choose this/these case(s)?

2.    Proposed outline of the essay (dotpoints are acceptable here)

a)    Please identify where the sources in your annotated bibliography will be used in the essay.

3.    How have you gone about finding evidence to develop your argument?

a)    What sources have you used?

b)   What search terms and/or prompts have you used? What are the strengths and limitations of these search terms/prompts?

4.    What dead-ends or challenges have you faced in your research process so far? What have you done in response to these dead-ends or challenges? These might include, but are not limited to:

a)    Time management

b)   Finding sources

c)    Changing research essay questions

d)   Building on feedback from the Critical Review

e)    Anything else?

 

Resources: more information on writing reflectively will be discussed in lectures and tutorials.

The Research Essay Plan & Reflection is to be submitted at the same time as the Annotated Bibliography.

Assessment Task 5

Research Essay

In a 3000-word essay, answer one of the five questions listed on the Wattle site. You may not write your Research Essay on the same security concept as your Critical Review.

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

The ANU uses 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. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

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 is 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 (whichever is earlier). 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

Under normal circumstances, assignments will be marked and return to students within three weeks of the due 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

"Recycling" is submitting work that is not original (i.e. that you have previously submitted) and is not permitted. See this website for more information.

Resubmission of assignments permitted only in exceptional circumstances and as approved by the Course Convenor.

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