For millions of people across the world, violent conflict remains a persistent and tragic reality. In this course, we interrogate how issues of peace and conflict both imprint themselves on and are interpreted through Australian political life. We will look at the “scripts” that shape how Australians understand war, consider the conditioning role that “perspective” plays in those scripts, and extend the concepts we cover to address contemporary “confrontations” in global politics. The course will draw on a range of different texts and materials, from academic journal articles to novels and museum exhibitions. It will also tackle a series of historical and contemporary issues, from the colonisation of this land, to the role played by the AIF in World War One, to AUKUS. We will, along the way, be challenged to confront, on the one hand, the relationship between the Australian state and war, and, on the other, the part we as citizens play in reproducing and/or contesting that relationship. The overarching question, then, that this class encourages us to address is: How does Peace & Conflict Studies help us to think about violent conflict today, and what does it look like when viewed from Canberra?

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Develop and apply critical thinking skills so as to engage the academic literature on peace and conflict;
2. Extend that literature to address contemporary issues in international relations;
3. Trace and problematise the role that Australia plays in armed conflict around the globe; and
4. Map the relation between the Australian state and war as it manifests in how people encounter Canberra.
5. Demonstrate the ability to lead critical discussions on issues relating to peace and conflict.

Research-Led Teaching

The purpose of this class is to challenge students to consider Peace & Conflict, not as something that happens in far-away places, but as something that is embedded in their daily lives. To this end, the class will encourage students to consider how objects and places that they encounter on an everyday basis are implicated in political structures and practices that fuel international conflicts. Members of this class will be invited to map the various ways that their routine lives in Canberra intersect with conflict dynamics. Along the way, students will be introduced to a wide range of theoretical and conceptual approaches to peace and conflict and will be treated to a series of skills-based mini-workshops.

Field Trips

This module includes three mandatory fieldtrips. These field trips will occur in the scheduled lecture slot for the weeks in question. The costs of these trips will be covered by the School.

Additional Course Costs

Additional costs will be covered by the School Student Experience Fund.

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

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.

Other Information

All use of AI technologies is strictly prohibited except for typographical purposes (e.g., for copy-editing purposes). Any such use of AI technologies must be declared in the submitted assessment.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction: Peace and Conflict Through the Looking Glass
2	Museums & Statues	Photo Essay 1
3	Fieldtrip I: War Memorial	Photo Essay 2
4	Airports	Photo Essay 3
5	Home	Photo Essay 4
6	Maps	Photo Essay 5
7	Fieldtrip II: Indigenous ANU	Photo Essay 6
8	Nature	Photo Essay 7
9	Architecture	Photo Essay 8
10	Fieldtrip III: Parliament	Photo Essay 9
11	Clothes	Photo Essay 10
12	Food	Photo Essay 11

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
Photo Essays (10 x 5% = 50%)	50 %	*	*	1,2
Essay	40 %	28/10/2026	14/11/2026	3,4
Concept Log	10 %	*	09/12/2026	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 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 ‘Canvas’ 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

Students are expected to attend a lecture and seminar every week and to do the preparatory readings for these sessions. As part of the lectures, students will be required to write short concept logs each week. Students must complete five of these logs over the course of the semester. As part of the seminars, students will be required to share the photo essay they have completed that week. Students must complete ten of these photo essays over the course of the semester.

Assessment Task 1

Photo Essays (10 x 5% = 50%)

Students must submit ten one-page photo essays over the course of the semester. Each one will include one photo and 150 words of accompanying discussion and will be worth 5 marks. Photo essays must be printed out and shared in seminars. Failure to print the photo essay out or share it in the seminar will result in zero marks for that essay. I will circulate a key for what is expected from these assessments. (50%)

Feedback on photo essays 1-4 will be provided in Week 5, prior to Census.

Assessment Task 2

Essay

Select your favourite photo-essay and develop the argument it intimates. Wordcount: 2000 words. Due Week 12. Total marks available: 40%.

Assessment Task 3

Concept Log

Over the course of the module, students are expected to produce five short (200 words) in-class logs where they reflect on how one of the key concepts listed below illuminates the politics of the topic of that day’s lecture. Students will be given 30 minutes to produce this log. Conferral with classmates is permitted but internet access is not. The final log must be the student’s own work. Students will receive up to two marks for each log submitted. Logs should be handwritten. Total marks available: 10%.   

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 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.

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