Worldwide, we can witness passionate fights for justice, freedom and equality. People take to the streets to rage against violence, abuse and discrimination, activists stage disruptions of everyday life to challenge ignorance and complacency, leaders appeal to courage and empathy, communities form to process trauma and foster resilience.

This course examines how emotions inform and shape the ideas, images, arguments, and interactions that incite conflicts and contribute to their resolutions. It draws on the interdisciplinary work of scholars that integrate theories of political science and international relations with analytical concepts developed in psychology, the social sciences and humanities to demonstrate the often subtle, yet fundamental power of emotions in peace and conflict.

These scholars are committed to the idea that emotions are neither personal nor antithetical to rational decision-making. Instead, individual and collective emotions emerge from lived experiences, they are embedded in societies and take shape within their histories and cultures. Departing from the same premise, we will revisit and discuss crucial decisions, defining moments, and pivotal events in world politics to assess and analyse how emotions underpin the statements, strategies, and movements that contribute to aggravate or appease structural inequalities and violence.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the different disciplines and schools of thought that political science research draws on to conceptualize emotions as an analytical category
2. Summarize, digest and present the contents of analytical readings on the role of emotions in international relations and global movements
3. Apply these new analytical frameworks to historical and contemporary cases in international politics
4. Analyse the impact of emotions on political thought, behaviour, and outcomes
5. Critique dominant theories on peace and conflict in political science and international relations

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	What is an emotion? Introducing a theoretical concept	Seminar: 23 July 2025
2	Beyond the thinking/feeling divide: Emotions in international politics	Seminar: 30 July 2025
3	How do we study emotions in international politics? Frameworks of analysis	Seminar: 6 August 2025
4	Emotions and Social Movements: Gender Equality	Seminar: 13 August 2025
5	Emotions and Social Movements: Racial Justice	Seminar: 20 August 2025 Assessment Item 1 Pop Culture Essay, due 21 August 2025
6	Emotions and Social Movements: Democracy and Social Justice	Seminar: 27 August 2025
7	Teaching Break
8	Teaching Break
9	Emotions and Social Movements: Climate Change	Seminar: 17 September 2025
10	Emotions in Peace and Conflict: Terrorism	Seminar: 24 September 2025Final Essay outline due (online students)
11	Emotions in Peace and Conflict: Diplomacy	Seminar: 1 October 2025 Assessment Item 2Essay Roundtable online students Final Essay outline due (on-campus students)
12	Emotions in Peace and Conflict: Ethnic Conflict	Seminar: 8 October 2025 Assessment Item 2Essay Roundtable on-campus students Oral Exam article nominations (total of four). Due via email to the course convenor, 9 October 2025.
13	Emotions in Peace and Conflict: International Interventions	Seminar: 15 October 2025 Assessment Item 3Oral Exams 13 - 17 October 2025
14	Passionate Politics: Alternative Visions for Peace	Seminar: 22 October 2025

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
Pop Culture Essay (20 %)	20 %	21/08/2025	29/08/2025	1, 2
Essay Roundtable (10%)	10 %	*	*	1, 2, 3
Oral Exam (15%)	15 %	*	*	1, 2, 5
Final Essay (55%)	55 %	03/11/2025	*	1, 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 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

Pop Culture Essay (20 %)

The pop culture essay is designed to give students the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of emotional theories by engaging with them in a creative manner. Students can choose a novel, memoir, movie, or artwork that engages with the topics of peace and conflict. Drawing on the theories and principles of emotions discussed in class, the essay should evaluate how trauma, justice, memory, community or another other central seminar topic is negotiated in the pop cultural work of your choice.

1500 words

Students must use the Chicago Manual (notes and bibliography style) for referencing. Footnotes are included in the wordcount, the bibliography is excluded.

Essays written in an alternative referencing style will not be accepted. See Resubmission of Assignments for further details.

Assessment Task 2

Essay Roundtable (10%)

The essay roundtable is designed to present the ideas for your final essay and receive feedback from the course convenor and your peers. Each student must prepare a 10-minute input presentation and one-page essay outline. The outline (including a preliminary research question, rationale for the relevance of the project, and short bibliography) must be emailed to the course convenor one week before the in-class presentation. Students are expected to participate in the discussion of the projects and provide constructive feedback. Students are expected to familiarise themselves with the requirements for the final essay before submitting the outline to the convenor.

Students are graded on the quality and clarity of their input presentation (including their research question and stated relevance of their project) and their ability to respond to questions and comments by the course convenor and their peers, as per the ANU Assessment Guidelines.

The course convenor will discuss the rationale for the essay roundtable grade in a private meeting with each student.

The roundtable will take place on the following dates:

• 1 October 2025 for online students
• 8 October 2025 for on-campus students

Late submission not permitted.

Assessment Task 3

Oral Exam (15%)

The oral exam is designed to allow students to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of emotion theories and their applicability in peace and conflict studies. Students will nominate four readings for their exam from the syllabus and submit these nominations to the course convenor via email by the deadline indicated in the course overview. The exams will be held online only and focus on a minimum of two of the nominated four readings. The exam will not take longer than 30 minutes per student.

Late submission not permitted.

Assessment Task 4

Final Essay (55%)

The final essay will give students the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to identify, design, and implement a relevant research project in peace and conflict studies. Students will apply the theoretical and analytical principles acquired in class to the independent analysis of a contemporary or historical case of war, conflict, civil unrest, protest and resistance, or the case of a peace process. The essay must be demonstrably motivated by at least one of our seminar topics and must have received prior approval by the course convenor (see assessment item 2).

You must relate your essay to the theories and concepts you have learnt in class.

If you wish to use an alternative approach to the analysis of emotion or a topic that is not covered in the course syllabus you must discuss this with me prior to the Essay Roundtable.

You cannot use any data that requires (or would have required) ethics approval in Australia.

4000 words

 

Students must use the Chicago Manual (notes and bibliography style) for referencing. Footnotes are included in the wordcount, the bibliography is excluded.

Essays written in an alternative referencing style will not be accepted. See Resubmission of Assignments for further details.

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. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

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.

Resubmission of Assignments

Students must use the Chicago Manual (notes and bibliography style) for referencing in all written assessment items. Footnotes are included in the wordcount, the bibliography is excluded.

Students who use an alternative referencing style are excepted to revise their essay and resubmit it via Turnitin. They will be notified by their course convenor and must resubmit the revised essay in the correct style via Turnitin. If the student is notified after the deadline for the assignment has already passed, they have one business day to revise and return the essay via Turnitin. Thereafter, the regular late penalties apply.

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 Accessibility 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 supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students