Is war likely between global powers the United States and China? Could we see a nuclear conflict in the next decade? What is the role of race in international security? Should we see climate change as a security challenge? To answer these questions this course introduces its students to a wide variety of theoretical perspectives on international security and applies these to historical and contemporary cases to illustrate their relevance. By focusing on both traditional and non-traditional security issues, the course seeks to provide students with analytical frameworks and the empirical basis to understand the complexity of contemporary security issues.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Describe and summarise knowledge of the concept of security and the diverse range of traditional and non-traditional security challenges
2. Identify and explain the core analytical and empirical frameworks that are required for undertaking more in-depth analysis of international security challenges covered in later-year courses;
3. Conduct in-depth analyses of marginalized issues, such as Indigenous perspectives, race and decolonization, and contrast them with the mainstream theoretical perspectives on international security.
4. Employ written and oral communication skills to clearly and confidently articulate your ideas about international security
5. Reflect critically on the key security issues arising in the Asia-Pacific region

Recommended Resources

Optional but useful resources:

Joanne Wallis and Andrew Carr (eds.) Asia-Pacific Security: An Introduction, Georgetown: Georgetown University Press, 2016.

Alan Collins (ed.), Contemporary Security Studies, ed., 4th edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016.

John Baylis, et al. (eds.), Strategy in the Contemporary World, 6th edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2018.

John Baylis, et al. (eds.), The Globalization of World Politics, 7th edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016.

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	Introduction to international security studies
2	Realism
3	Liberalism
4	Constructivism
5	Gender and Security
6	Coercion
7	Mid-semester break
8	Mid-semester break
9	War
10	Civil War
11	Nuclear Weapons
12	Economic Relations and Security
13	Climate Change and Security

Tutorial Registration

Please register for tutorials via the course Wattle site

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Learning Outcomes
Short Essay	20 %	12/05/2025	1, 3, 4
Long Essay	40 %	12/06/2025	1, 2, 3, 4
Tutorial participation	10 %	03/07/2025	1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Final exam	30 %	07/07/2025	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:

• 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.

Examination(s)

There will be a final take-home exam. The time and date of that exam will be published by the Examinations Office closer to the exam period.

Assessment Task 1

Short Essay

There are (broadly) two lines of argument in the debate on the decline of war. Write your position on the debate. Your position may be 1) a critical response to a specific line of argument, or 2) an alternative argument that synthesizes or criticizes both lines of argument. You should support your argument with some evidence.

Assessment Task 2

Long Essay

You are required to write a 2,500 word research essay that addresses one of the following questions:

1. Apply one of the realist theories to evaluate the likelihood of the U.S.-China war.

2. How important are security institutions such as the United Nations and international law in explaining the decline in interstate war since the end of World War Two?

3. Select one of the main approaches to security (Realism, Liberalism, Constructivism) and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of that approach.

4. The current international institutional orders will collapse after the U.S. hegemony declines. Discuss.

5. The greater role women play in politics, the more peaceful the world will be. Discuss.

6. Economic interdependence is the source of peace. Discuss.

7. Do economic sanctions work? Discuss.

8. Security motivation is the most important driver of states’ pursuit of nuclear weapons. Discuss.

9. The logic of civil wars is fundamentally different from the logic of interstate wars. Discuss.

10. Select one of the theories of the causes of war and evaluate its strengths and weaknesses by applying it to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Assessment Task 3

Tutorial participation

Participation, engagement and level of contribution to tutorial discussions.

Assessment Task 4

Final exam

The test will consist of five short answer questions. You will need to write 250 word (approx.) answers to each question.

1. You will not need to reference your answers.
2. 2. The test will assess your knowledge of the material covered in the course.  

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 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 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.

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