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POIR8410 – Understanding World Politics: Theoretical Approaches

2022 – Session 1, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Govand Azeez
govand.azeez@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MIntRel or MPPP or MPASR or GradCertPPP or PGDipIntRel or GradDipIntRel or MIntPubDip
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit provides students with a grounding in the principle theoretical approaches to the study of international relations and world order. Beginning with a focus on the historical emergence of traditional approaches such as realism, liberalism and Marxism and their competing perspectives on the causes of war and the conditions for peace, the unit goes on to consider more recent approaches, including gender approaches, critical theory, constructivism, postcolonialism, postmodernism and green theory.

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: Analyse and critically assess complex International Relations theories and place them within the broader context of the study of of International Relations.
  • ULO2: Analyse and critically assess scholarly texts in International Relations theories and identify particular solutions to the problems raised in traditional and contemporary International Relations theories
  • ULO3: Analyse, generate and transmit solutions to a variety of current problems in International Relations using International Relations theories
  • ULO4: Transmit the knowledge and ideas generated by International Relations theories to others

General Assessment Information

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – 10 marks out of 100 credit 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.

Note also that the convenor does not grant extension to any assessment based on special considerations (for example, illness). All requests for extension need to go through the Special Consideration procedure (see Special Consideration Policy under Policies and Procedures).

More information about each assessment task is available on the iLearn. 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
In class presentation or online posting 15% No Each Week
Article review 15% No 23/03/2022
Research essay 40% No 10/05/2022
In class short test or online quiz 30% No 25/05/2022

In class presentation or online posting

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Each Week
Weighting: 15%

Internal (on-campus) students: a short oral presentation in class on a chosen weekly topic. Online students will post short essay answers to set questions each week.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse and critically assess scholarly texts in International Relations theories and identify particular solutions to the problems raised in traditional and contemporary International Relations theories
  • Analyse, generate and transmit solutions to a variety of current problems in International Relations using International Relations theories
  • Transmit the knowledge and ideas generated by International Relations theories to others

Article review

Assessment Type 1: Literature review
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: 23/03/2022
Weighting: 15%

A short paper reviewing one or more items from required readings
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse and critically assess complex International Relations theories and place them within the broader context of the study of of International Relations.
  • Analyse and critically assess scholarly texts in International Relations theories and identify particular solutions to the problems raised in traditional and contemporary International Relations theories
  • Transmit the knowledge and ideas generated by International Relations theories to others

Research essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 50 hours
Due: 10/05/2022
Weighting: 40%

An essay based on original research of scholarly articles and scholarly monographs which are not part of the required readings for the unit.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse and critically assess complex International Relations theories and place them within the broader context of the study of of International Relations.
  • Analyse and critically assess scholarly texts in International Relations theories and identify particular solutions to the problems raised in traditional and contemporary International Relations theories
  • Analyse, generate and transmit solutions to a variety of current problems in International Relations using International Relations theories
  • Transmit the knowledge and ideas generated by International Relations theories to others

In class short test or online quiz

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 25/05/2022
Weighting: 30%

A short in-class closed book test requiring short essay answers to set questions. An online quiz, available for a short time , constructed as an online closed book quiz, requiring short essay answers to set questions.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse and critically assess complex International Relations theories and place them within the broader context of the study of of International Relations.
  • Analyse and critically assess scholarly texts in International Relations theories and identify particular solutions to the problems raised in traditional and contemporary International Relations theories

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

Teaching Methods/Mode of Delivery

There will be two hour lecture and one hour tutorial every week. Students will present in the tutorial hour.

Prerequisites and Preparation

Students taking this unit inevitably come from a wide range of academic backgrounds. Some students will already have been introduced to the study of IR, and IR theory, at the undergraduate level. For others, this unit will be their first experience of the subject, or of the more general field of political studies, of which IR is a part. For those with little or no previous background in the study of politics and IR, it is essential that you do some extra reading and preparation for the unit. Even if you have done some politics and IR before, you will benefit from some revision.

Textbooks and Sources:  The core text for IRPG841 is: International Relations Theories: Discipline and Diversity, edited by Tim Dunne, Milja Kurki, Steve Smith, Oxford University Press. Each chapter is written by a leading theorist who is working on the theory which she or he is writing about. The texts are thus coming from the actual theorists-practitioners.

Unit Schedule

POIR8410/S1/F2F-DAY/Lecture_1/01

Wednesday

2:00pm

4:00pm

2:00

 9‑15,18‑23 01CC 109 Semi-Tiered Groupwork

Understanding World Politics: Theoretical Approaches - Lecture

 Govand Azeez
POIR8410/S1/F2F-DAY/Tutorial_1/01

Wednesday

5:00pm

6:00pm

1:00

 9‑15,18‑23 14 Sir Christopher Ondaatje Ave - 264 Tutorial Rm

Understanding World Politics: Theoretical Approaches - Tutorial

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/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

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

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.

Unit information based on version 2022.02 of the Handbook