Interventions & State-building looks at the interplay between the different conceptual understandings of the state, with state weakness and fragility on the one hand and state formation and state-building on the other. The course discusses how international interventions can reinforce state fragility or positively contribute to strengthen state capacity and societal cohesion. Crosscutting themes include (good) governance, inclusion and exclusion of local actors, securitization logics and the progressive detachment of international actors from local contexts, as well as new technologies of interventions and their impact on the ground. The course looks at the relationship between state-building and peace-building in countries that have experienced conflict. It explores these issues in the context of different types of states, including both ‘resilient’ and ‘failed’ states, drawing on diverse case studies drawn from post-conflict and transition countries especially in the Asia-Pacific region. 

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of concepts and theories in the discourse of interventions and statebuilding.
2. Critique scholarly perspectives in the field of international interventions and statebuilding.
3. Analyse the major approaches to governance and statebuilding in developing and transition countries.
4. Apply the theories of statebuilding to understand the contemporary challenges and outcomes of international interventions.
5. Integrate cases in the analysis of international interventions and statebuilding.
6. Develop strong written and oral communication.

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	Introduction
2	The State	Seminar participation (5%)
3	State Fragility	Weekly reflection piece (5%)
4	Approaches to Statebuilding
5	International Statebuilding	Recorded video presentation (20%)
6	Military Interventions
7	Humanitarian Interventions
8	Liberal Peace Interventions
9	African Agency in Liberal Peace Interventions	Research essay (40%)
10	Unintended Consequences of Interventions
11	Local Resistance to International Interventions
12	Reflection and Conclusion	Take-home exam (30%)

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
Seminar participation	5 %	*	*	1, 2, 3, 6
Weekly reflection piece	5 %	*	*	1, 2, 3, 6
Recorded video presentation	20 %	19/03/2024	02/04/2024	4, 5, 6
Research essay	40 %	30/04/2024	14/05/2024	1, 3, 4, 5, 6
Take-home exam	30 %	04/06/2024	29/06/2024	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

* 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.

Assessment Task 1

Seminar participation

You are expected to actively participate in the seminar every week. Please note that it is your participation (not necessarily your attendance) that is assessed from Week 1 to 12. This means that if you attend a seminar but do not participate, you may not receive any marks for that seminar. 

Assessment Task 2

Weekly reflection piece

Students are expected to do the reading each week. To this end, from weeks 2 to 11, you will be required to post a 100-word reflection piece each week. The piece will summarise the key arguments of the mandatory reading and identify their weaknesses or strengths. Each student is expected to post ten (10) reflection pieces from weeks 2 to 11. The piece must be posted via the weekly discussion forums by 10:00 am on Mondays. Late submission is only allowed when you have a valid reason (such as a medical certificate).

Assessment Task 3

Recorded video presentation

This assessment requires you to submit a recorded video presentation of approximately 10 minutes (min 9:00 / max 10:15). You are expected to choose a case of international intervention for your presentation. The presentation will discuss the reasons for the intervention, the international actors involved, the approaches adopted and the outcomes of the intervention. You are strongly encouraged to use slides during your presentation. The presentation will account for 20% of your grade. The presentation evaluation will factor in content, visual materials, clarity, delivery and good timekeeping. The video presentation should be submitted on Tuesday, 19 March 2024, by 11:55 pm, and the estimated return date of the marked presentation to students is 2 April 2024.

Assessment Task 4

Research essay

This is a research essay of 2,500 words in length (+/- 10%), exclusive of the bibliography and footnotes. In this research essay, students should draw on a specific case to analyse the complex rationales for successful or unsuccessful international statebuilding. The research essay should be submitted on Tuesday, 30 April 2024, by 11:55 pm via Turnitin, and the estimated return date of marked essays to students is 14 May 2024.

Assessment Task 5

Take-home exam

This is a day take-home exam. It requires students to demonstrate in written form their overall understanding of and engagement with the key concepts, issues and themes covered in this course. Students will have to answer two (2) questions (750 words each). The assessment is 1,500 words in length (+/- 10%), and its value is 30% of the overall mark. The questions will be posted on Wattle on Monday, 3 June 2024, at 9:00 am, and your answers should be submitted on Tuesday, 4 June 2024, by 9:00 am via Turnitin. Late submission is not allowed. Please note that subject to the final examination timetable, the date for this take-home exam may change.

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