Students
GEOP3060 – Borderless Worlds
2020 – Session 2, Special circumstance
Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Lecturer
Andrew Burridge
Contact via Email
By appointment only
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
40cp at 2000 level or above
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
It is frequently stated that we are living in a borderless and highly globalised world, where humans and capital move freely between nation states. At the same time, there has been a proliferation of border walls erected across the globe, while various other controls of human mobility are seen not only at international boundary lines, but also within our day-to-day lives, including our places of work and education. How then can we make sense of the myriad forms of borders and bordering in a supposedly borderless world? This unit will provide a critical investigation of the role of international borders, their management and policing, disputes over territory, and their impact upon migration in a global context. The unit will draw connections between theoretical approaches and contemporary Australian and international examples. Students will trace the life of borders from their inception to their removal (and often their re-inception), the diverse forms they take, and how they are managed. Students will develop a deeper understanding of contemporary human mobility, the means in which it is controlled across differing scales, and the diverse impacts upon various communities. |
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:
- ULO1: Identify and discuss the significance of a geographical perspective on borders.
- ULO2: Describe and explain the geopolitical role of international borders and boundaries in a supposedly borderless and globalised world.
- ULO3: Critically examine how borders are formed, managed, monitored, policed, fortified, contested, breached, and dismantled.
- ULO4: Recognise the importance of territory to bordering and the ways in which nation states control both territory and mobility.
- ULO5: Apply geographical concepts to evaluate the impacts of borders and territorial disputes on diverse populations.
General Assessment Information
Late Assessment Penalty
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Literature review | 30% | No | Week 5 - Tuesday 25th August |
| Diary of border conflict | 30% | No | Ongoing |
| Research essay | 40% | No | Week 13 - Friday 6th November |
Literature review
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: Week 5 - Tuesday 25th August
Weighting: 30%
1000 word literature review assessing the role of borders in a borderless world.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Identify and discuss the significance of a geographical perspective on borders.
- Describe and explain the geopolitical role of international borders and boundaries in a supposedly borderless and globalised world.
- Recognise the importance of territory to bordering and the ways in which nation states control both territory and mobility.
Diary of border conflict
Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 30%
Throughout the semester, you will be required to keep a diary of a contemporary border conflict or dispute of your choice such as the Kashmir border region, or Australia’s use of maritime interdiction and offshore detention. Each week you should collate professional and media reports on your selected dispute and prepare brief reflective summaries.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Describe and explain the geopolitical role of international borders and boundaries in a supposedly borderless and globalised world.
- Critically examine how borders are formed, managed, monitored, policed, fortified, contested, breached, and dismantled.
- Recognise the importance of territory to bordering and the ways in which nation states control both territory and mobility.
Research essay
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: Week 13 - Friday 6th November
Weighting: 40%
3000 word research essay drawing upon academic and grey literature to critically assess the humanitarian implications of international borders and the methods in which they are controlled.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Identify and discuss the significance of a geographical perspective on borders.
- Describe and explain the geopolitical role of international borders and boundaries in a supposedly borderless and globalised world.
- Critically examine how borders are formed, managed, monitored, policed, fortified, contested, breached, and dismantled.
- Recognise the importance of territory to bordering and the ways in which nation states control both territory and mobility.
- Apply geographical concepts to evaluate the impacts of borders and territorial disputes on diverse populations.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
Lectures and Tutorials
Learning and teaching activities comprise a mix of recorded lectures, tutorials and discussion activities. Please see iLearn for further details.
Recommended Texts and/or Materials
There is no set textbook for this unit; however, independent reading and tutorial discussions are integral to GEOP3060 and a full reading list will be made available on iLearn, with readings accessible via Leganto. Students are expected to complete the required weekly set readings before each tutorial.
Unit webpage and Technology used and required
All enrolled students have access to the unit website at https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/login/MQ/ . Access to the website is essential to complete GEOP3060.
Unit Schedule
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Week |
Topic |
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Part 1: Introduction Border studies and/in geography |
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1 |
Geography and borders: Borders in a borderless world? |
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2 |
Colonial borders: Exploration, boundary making, the modern nation-state and territory |
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Part 2: Borders in the contemporary world |
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3 |
Defence borders: Securitisation, militarisation and terrorism |
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4 |
Liquid borders: Maritime boundaries, islands, and ice |
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5 |
Disease borders: Pandemics, COVID-19, and biosecurity |
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6 |
More-than-human borders: Climate change, loss of territory and more than human border encounters |
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7 |
Non-contiguous borders: Enclaves, exclaves and extra-territoriality |
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*Recess |
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8 |
Australian borders: Indigenous, state and national borders |
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9 |
Crossing borders: Migration and border deaths |
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10 |
Activist borders: No/open borders, humanitarianism and vigilantism |
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11 |
Carceral borders: The camp, the detention centre and the prison |
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12 |
Everyday borders: Borders in our daily lives |
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Part 3: Conclusion |
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13 |
Decolonising borders: Towards a critical border studies |
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy (Note: The Special Consideration Policy is effective from 4 December 2017 and replaces the Disruption to Studies Policy.)
Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
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
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Changes from Previous Offering
N/A - this is a new unit