Students

IRPG831 – International Security

2013 – S2 External

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Julian Droogan
julian.droogan@mq.edu.au
Contact via julian.droogan@mq.edu.au
PICT Offices, Level 2, Building Y3A
By appointment
Unit Convenor
Karina Guthrie
karina.guthrie@mq.edu.au
Contact via karina.guthrie@mq.edu.au
PICT Offices, Level 2, Building Y3A
By appointment
Credit points Credit points
4
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MIntRel or PGDipIntRel or PGCertIntRel or MIntCommMIntRel or MIntBusMIntRel or MIntRelMIntTrdeComLaw or MTransInterMIntRel or MDevCult or PGDipDevCult or PGCertResPrep(Arts)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit introduces students to traditional security studies as well as non-traditional approaches which have sought to deepen and broaden our understanding of what 'security' means. We consider threats to the state including attempts to control the spread of nuclear weapons, the adequacy of strategic concepts such as deterrence to the new security threats posed by international terrorism and rogue states, and the challenge of irregular warfare. We then consider broader conceptions of security, including the idea of societal security (ethno-national conflicts, UN peacekeeping and peace-building) and human security (resource scarcity, climate change, and pandemics such as HIV/AIDs).

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • A deep understanding of, and ability to critically evaluate both traditional and non-traditional theoretical approaches to international security.
  • The ability to independently analyse and express critical judgement about the concepts, assumptions and arguments that underlie contemporary security studies
  • The capacity to formulate and defend policy recommendations on important contemporary international security issues
  • Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to identify and organise relevant knowledge to formulate persuasive, coherent and critical arguments.
  • The ability to work collaboratively with ones peers on common projects.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due
Online Multiple Choice Test 30% Wednesday 13th November
Unit Participation 10% Ongoing
Research Essay 40% 12 October 2012
Policy Briefing 20% Weeks 4, 7, 10, 11

Online Multiple Choice Test

Due: Wednesday 13th November
Weighting: 30%

All internal and external students will complete an online, open book multiple choice test assessing students' knowledge of the content covered from weeks 2-13.

The test will be made available to students through the IRPG831 iLearn site for 24 hours on Wednesday, 13th November. Students may log in to complete the test at any time on 13th November and will have two hours to finish however the test must be completed in one sitting. Students will not be able to reopen the test once they have logged out.

Detailed information about this assessment item will be available on the iLearn site for this subject.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • A deep understanding of, and ability to critically evaluate both traditional and non-traditional theoretical approaches to international security.
  • The ability to independently analyse and express critical judgement about the concepts, assumptions and arguments that underlie contemporary security studies

Unit Participation

Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 10%

This unit requires a consistent level of student engagement with the subject matter throughout the course. Engagement will be demonstrated and assessed through weekly contributions to in-class discussions by internal students, and by online participation in discussion forums by external students.

Please make sure contributions are polite and respectful at all times.

Detailed assessment criteria is available to all enrolled students throught the IRPG831 iLearn site.

Internal Students Only

Students should prepare for class discussion by attending lectures and reading the required readings, which will be listed on the IRPG831 iLearn site. Marks will be awarded for the quality of your contributions rather than the quantity of these contributions. The quality of your contributions will be significantly enhanced by the amount of preparation you do for class. Remember that asking questions is also a form of participation.

Students are required to attend a minimum of 80% of tutorials. Absence for more than 80% of tutorials, without a medical certificate, will be subject to a mark penalty for this component of the course.

External Students Only

Students should prepare to participate on the weekly online discussion boards by listening to lecture recordings and reading the required readings.  These will be listed on the IRPG831 iLearn site. Discussion will focus on questions that will be uploaded to the iLearn site on a weekly basis. To encourage regular participation, contributions made to a particular discussion thread will not be assessed unless they are made within a two-week period after the relevant lecture. 

Students will be assessed on the quality of their contributions rather than the quantity of these contributions, however students are required post in a minimum of six times to avoid a mark penalty for this component of the course.

The quality of your contributions will be significantly enhanced by the amount of preparation you do each week. It is also important that your contributions acknowledge other students' points of view and provide constructive follow-on comments. 

Posts made after week 13 will not be assessed. 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • A deep understanding of, and ability to critically evaluate both traditional and non-traditional theoretical approaches to international security.
  • The ability to independently analyse and express critical judgement about the concepts, assumptions and arguments that underlie contemporary security studies
  • Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to identify and organise relevant knowledge to formulate persuasive, coherent and critical arguments.

Research Essay

Due: 12 October 2012
Weighting: 40%

This 3000 word research essay is intended to develop students' core disciplinary knowledge, enhance independent resarch skills, written (academic) communication skills and demonstrate students' ability to develop original, critical thinking. In the essay students will provide evidence of active engagement with, and critical analyis of, the relevant academic literature, comply with academic essay writing conventions and reference thoroughly.

Essay questions will be posted in Week 2.

The essay will be submitted electronically via the IRPG831 iLearn site no later than Friday 12th October, 2013 (Week 9). Marks will be returned electronically via the iLearn site also.

Please read the University's guidelines on Academic Honesty. All assessment submissions through iLearn will be automatically processed through Turnitin.

For further information, including a detailed breakdown of the assessment criteria, see the iLearn site for this subject.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • A deep understanding of, and ability to critically evaluate both traditional and non-traditional theoretical approaches to international security.
  • The ability to independently analyse and express critical judgement about the concepts, assumptions and arguments that underlie contemporary security studies
  • Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to identify and organise relevant knowledge to formulate persuasive, coherent and critical arguments.

Policy Briefing

Due: Weeks 4, 7, 10, 11
Weighting: 20%

In the first tutorial in week 2 students will be allocated roles in a case study for which they will need to do additional preparation for class. Students will be required to construct a policy position from the point of view of the 'actor' they represent in a particular case study and to negotiate this policy with the other 'actors' in their allocated week. Each student will be allocated approximately 3 minutes to put forward their position, after which general discussion/negotiations will take place. 

Students will be required to submit a 1500 word policy brief one week after their in-class policy debate detailing the following: 

1. A statement of their initial policy

2. Policy options that were considered during their in-class negotiation

3. Relative merits of these options

4. Reasons for initiating changes

5. Statement of final policy agreement

This may be in dot-point format. 

Further details of the role play scenerios will be provided in the first tutorial. Detailed information about this assessment item can be found on the IRPG831 iLearn site.

External students only

Please read the information above before considering the information outlined below.

For external students, the role play will take place online in the week the topic is discussed in lectures. It is therefore essential that students contribute to the discussion board in their allocated week. Each student will post a one page statement of their position (in place of the 3 minute presentation) and then negotiations will be opened to the group as whole in the online discussion forum. Students will be required to submit their 1500 word policy brief one week after their online policy negotiation.

Please see the IRPG831 iLearn site for information on this assessment item, including detailed marking criteria. All policy briefs will be submitted electronically via the iLearn site, and grades will be returned in the same way.

 

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • The ability to independently analyse and express critical judgement about the concepts, assumptions and arguments that underlie contemporary security studies
  • The capacity to formulate and defend policy recommendations on important contemporary international security issues
  • Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to identify and organise relevant knowledge to formulate persuasive, coherent and critical arguments.
  • The ability to work collaboratively with ones peers on common projects.

Delivery and Resources

UNIT REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS

  • You should spend an average of at least 12 hours per week on this unit. This includes attendance at lectures and tutorials and reading weekly required readings detailed in iLearn.
  • Internal students are expected to attend all tutorials and external students are expected to contribute to on-line discussions.
  • Students are required to complete all assessment tasks to pass the unit.

REQUIRED READINGS

  • The citations for all the required readings for this unit are available to enrolled students students through the unit iLearn site, the CD reading list and at Macquarie University's Library EReserve site.  

RECOMMENDED READINGS

  • The required prescribed textbook for this unit is Collins, A. (ed) Contemporary Security Studies, Oxford Univeristy Press.
  • Recommended readings will be posted to the unit iLearn site as Session 2 progresses.

TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED

  • Personal PC and internet access are essential for this unit. Basic computer skills and skills in word processing are also a requirement.
  • The unit can only be accessed by enrolled students online throughhttp://ilearn.mq.edu.au

SUBMITTING ASSESSMENT TASKS

  • All assessment tasks are to be submitted, marked and returned electronically.  This will only happen through the unit iLearn site. 
  • Assessment tasks must be submitted either as a PDF or MS word document by the due date.
  • All assessment tasks will be subject to a 'TurnitIn' review as an automatic part of the submission process.
  • Assessment tasks must be submitted with as assessment coversheet incorporating a plagiarism declaration.  A copy of the coversheet can be downloaded at: www.arts.mq.edu.au/current_students/postgraduate_coursework.
  • The granting of extensions of up to one week are at the discretion of the unit convenor.  Any requests for extensions must be made in writing before the due date for the submission of the assessment task.  Extensions beyond one week are subject to special consideration.  The policy for this is detailed under Policy and Procedures.

LATE SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENT TASKS

There is a penalty for the the late submission of assessment tasks.  If an assignment is submitted late it will initially be marked as if it had been submitted on time.  However, 5%of the weighting allocated for the assignment will then be deducted from the mark the student initially achieves in the assessment task for each day it is late. For example if the assessment task's weighting is 20, 1.00 mark per day will be deducted from the initial mark given per day it is late ie a task initially given 15/20 but which is submitted four days late will lose 4 x 1.00 marks.  That means 15/20-4marks=11/20.  It is this second mark which will be recorded in gradebook.   

The same principle applies if a student seeks and is granted an extension and the assessment task is submitted later than the amended submission date.

Unit Schedule

WEEK 1 (31st July) :Introduction: the widening and deeping of security studies

WEEK 2 (7th August):Traditional approaches to security: realism and liberalism

WEEK 3 (14th August):Non-traditional approaches to security: constructivism and critical theory

WEEK 4 (21st August):Terrorism

WEEK 5 (28th August):Counter-insurgency

WEEK 6 (4th September):Securitization theory

WEEK 7 (11th September):Failed states, regionalism and globalisation

WEEK 8 (2nd October):Revision - no classes

WEEK 9 (10th October):Human security

WEEK 10 (16th October):Society, identity and security

WEEK 11 (23rd October):Environmental security

WEEK 12 (30th October):Gender and security

WEEK 13 (6th November):Health security

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy  http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grading Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html

Special Consideration Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/special_consideration/policy.html

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of Academic Student Support Services. Details of these services can be accessed at: http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

UniWISE provides:

  • Online learning resources and academic skills workshops http://www.students.mq.edu.au/support/learning_skills/
  • Personal assistance with your learning & study related questions.
  • The Learning Help Desk is located in the Library foyer (level 2).
  • Online and on-campus orientation events run by Mentors@Macquarie.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

Details of these services can be accessed at http://www.student.mq.edu.au/ses/.

IT Help

If you wish to receive IT help, we would be glad to assist you at http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/. 

When using the university's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students and it outlines what can be done.

Graduate Capabilities

PG - Discipline Knowledge and Skills

Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • A deep understanding of, and ability to critically evaluate both traditional and non-traditional theoretical approaches to international security.
  • Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to identify and organise relevant knowledge to formulate persuasive, coherent and critical arguments.

Assessment tasks

  • Online Multiple Choice Test
  • Unit Participation
  • Research Essay
  • Policy Briefing

PG - Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • A deep understanding of, and ability to critically evaluate both traditional and non-traditional theoretical approaches to international security.
  • The ability to independently analyse and express critical judgement about the concepts, assumptions and arguments that underlie contemporary security studies
  • The capacity to formulate and defend policy recommendations on important contemporary international security issues
  • Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to identify and organise relevant knowledge to formulate persuasive, coherent and critical arguments.

Assessment tasks

  • Online Multiple Choice Test
  • Unit Participation
  • Research Essay
  • Policy Briefing

PG - Research and Problem Solving Capability

Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • A deep understanding of, and ability to critically evaluate both traditional and non-traditional theoretical approaches to international security.
  • The ability to independently analyse and express critical judgement about the concepts, assumptions and arguments that underlie contemporary security studies
  • The capacity to formulate and defend policy recommendations on important contemporary international security issues

Assessment tasks

  • Online Multiple Choice Test
  • Unit Participation
  • Research Essay
  • Policy Briefing

PG - Effective Communication

Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • The capacity to formulate and defend policy recommendations on important contemporary international security issues
  • Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to identify and organise relevant knowledge to formulate persuasive, coherent and critical arguments.

Assessment tasks

  • Unit Participation
  • Research Essay
  • Policy Briefing

PG - Engaged and Responsible, Active and Ethical Citizens

Our postgraduates will be ethically aware and capable of confident transformative action in relation to their professional responsibilities and the wider community. They will have a sense of connectedness with others and country and have a sense of mutual obligation. They will be able to appreciate the impact of their professional roles for social justice and inclusion related to national and global issues

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • The capacity to formulate and defend policy recommendations on important contemporary international security issues
  • The ability to work collaboratively with ones peers on common projects.

Assessment task

  • Policy Briefing

PG - Capable of Professional and Personal Judgment and Initiative

Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • The ability to independently analyse and express critical judgement about the concepts, assumptions and arguments that underlie contemporary security studies

Assessment tasks

  • Online Multiple Choice Test
  • Unit Participation
  • Research Essay
  • Policy Briefing