Students
POIR2030 – Theories of World Politics
2022 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor/lectuer
Jonathan Symons
Contact via Email
Room 252, Level 2, 25B Wally's Walk
Thursday 10am-11am
Tutor
Karim Pourhamzavi
Contact via Email
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
40cp at 1000 level or above OR (10cp in POL or POIR or POIX units)
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit introduces students to the major theories of international relations, key debates that have shaped the discipline and interconnections between theory and the practice of international politics. The first chair of international politics was established after the First World War with the explicit goal of identifying the causes of war and peace. While war and great power conflict remain central concerns, the discipline has grappled with new challenges as de-colonisation and globalisation have created a densely interconnected global system of sovereign states. Students will engage with key themes including power, great power rivalry, nationalism, national interest, critical approaches, justice and cooperation under anarchy. |
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: Collect information from self-selected sources to complete a prescribed research task.
- ULO3: Identify and analyse interconnections between international relations theory and contemporary international politics.
- ULO2: Demonstrate a critical understanding of the specific theories used in the study of international relations.
- ULO4: Demonstrate capacity to apply the major analytic and theoretical frameworks in several subfields of international relations.
- ULO5: Discuss theories of world politics in depth with peers.
General Assessment Information
Special Consideration & Late Submission Penalty
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 seven days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests, etc.
https://students.mq.edu.au/study/assessment-exams/special-consideration
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research essay and presentation | 55% | No | 23:00 20/05/2022 (Friday) |
| Quizzes based on weekly readings | 20% | No | Sunday 23:00 prior to class: Weeks 2,3,4,5,6,7,9,11&12 |
| Participation activity | 25% | No | Ilearn submission 23:00 on day following allocated class. |
Research essay and presentation
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 23:00 20/05/2022 (Friday)
Weighting: 55%
Research essay requiring independent research. Essay questions and marking criteria will be provided on ilearn. Completion of task will require in-class or online presentation summarising essay's argument.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Collect information from self-selected sources to complete a prescribed research task.
- Identify and analyse interconnections between international relations theory and contemporary international politics.
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of the specific theories used in the study of international relations.
- Discuss theories of world politics in depth with peers.
Quizzes based on weekly readings
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Sunday 23:00 prior to class: Weeks 2,3,4,5,6,7,9,11&12
Weighting: 20%
Quizzes based on weekly readings – dates and details provided on ilearn.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Identify and analyse interconnections between international relations theory and contemporary international politics.
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of the specific theories used in the study of international relations.
- Demonstrate capacity to apply the major analytic and theoretical frameworks in several subfields of international relations.
Participation activity
Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Ilearn submission 23:00 on day following allocated class.
Weighting: 25%
Participation in class activities, and written submission in response to one week's class activity (details on ilearn).
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Identify and analyse interconnections between international relations theory and contemporary international politics.
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of the specific theories used in the study of international relations.
- Discuss theories of world politics in depth with peers.
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
Delivery
Lectures: the lecture is scheduled for Monday 12-2pm in 23 Wally's Walk T1 Theatre (classrooms may change, so check the timetable). The lecture will be recorded and available for viewing later via ilearn/echo360.
Internal students are expected to attend tutorials (on Monday or Wednesday) each week. However, if you are unwell please do not attend class. If you miss multiple classes and are not unwell (e.g you are isolating) and want your attendance to be counted please see the weekly "tutorial replacement activity" listed on ilearn (commencing week 2).
For classrooms please consult the MQ Timetable: http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au. This website will display up-to-date information on your classes and classroom locations. If any classes move to zoom, links will be available on ilearn.
Required resources:
There is one required text for this unit:
Lawson, Stephanie. (2015). Theories of International Relations: Contending Approaches to World Politics. Polity Press: Cambridge.
Access to this text will be necessary in order to complete the reading quizzes. Although the library will have a copy of this text (including online access), I recommend that you purchase a copy ahead of semester if possible. All other unit readings will all be available on ilearn or e-reserve.
Unit Schedule
Week 1 - Monday 21 Feb
Introduction: Can theory help us to understand world politics? Whose interests does theory serve? In what context and for what purpose was the discipline of International Relations established? What are the implications of these origins?
Tutorials commence Week 1.
Week 2 - Monday 28 Feb
Classical realism (and its critics). First week of weekly reading quizzes - available on iLearn and must be completed by 11pm Sunday evening (27th Feb) which is the night before the lecture. Note that the reading quiz only refers to the required readings and NOT the lecture content so you do not need to listen to the lecture prior to completing the quiz.
Week 3 - Monday 7 March
Liberal theories of world politics
- Weekly iLearn quiz due by 11pm Sunday prior to class (i.e. the week 3 quiz is due by Sunday 6 March).
- Graded tutorial activity #1 (Students leading class this week must submit notes to turnitin by 11pm Tuesday).
NB: You should also nominate which essay question you will address this week via the iLearn discussion forum. You are welcome to switch to another question if you change your mind.
Week 4 - Monday 14 March
Structural theory and its critics: Neo-Realism, Neo-Liberal Institutionalism and Neo-classical Realism
- Weekly reading quiz on iLearn due by 11pm Sunday evening before class.
Week 5 - Monday 21 March
Constructivism & the role of ideas in world politics.
- Weekly reading quiz on iLearn due by 11pm Sunday evening before class.
- Graded tutorial activity #2 (Students leading class this week must submit notes to turnitin by 11pm Tuesday).
Week 6 - Monday 28th March
Marxism and World Systems Theory - Guest lecture (Karim Pourhamzavi)
- Weekly reading quiz on iLearn due by 11pm Sunday evening before class.
- Graded tutorial activity #3 (Students leading class this week must submit notes to turnitin by 11pm Tuesday).
Week 7 - Monday 4 April
Feminist theories of world politics
- Weekly reading quiz on iLearn due by 11pm Sunday evening before class.
_______________________________
MID SEMESTER BREAK: 11 to 25 April 2022
Note no lecture or tutorials in Week 8 owing to the public holiday.
Week 9 - 2 May
Postcolonial and Decolonial Theories.
- Graded tutorial activity #4 (Students leading class this week must submit notes to turnitin by 11pm Tuesday).
Week 10 - Monday 9 May
Middle powers and foreign policy analysis.
- Weekly iLearn quiz due by 11pm Sunday prior to class.
- Graded tutorial activity #5 (Students leading class this week must submit notes to turnitin by 11pm Tuesday).
Week 11 - Monday 16 May
Green Theory. No reading quiz.
**Essay Due Friday 20 May**
Week 12 - Monday 23 May
Normative International Theory
- Weekly iLearn quiz due by 11pm evening before tutorial (Tuesday 11pm).
- Graded tutorial activity #6 (Students leading class this week must submit notes to turnitin by 11pm Tuesday).
Week 13 - Monday 30 May
Conclusion - IR's contribution to contemporary challenges.
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:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Complaints Resolution Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy
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.
- Workshops
- Chat with a WriteWISE peer writing leader
- Access StudyWISE
- Upload an assignment to Studiosity
- Complete the Academic Integrity Module
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:
- IT Support
- Accessibility and disability support with study
- Mental health support
- Safety support to respond to bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual assault
- Social support including information about finances, tenancy and legal issues
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.
Changes since First Published
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 14/02/2022 | typo corrected |
| 11/02/2022 | Dates corrected to approved faculty format. |
Unit information based on version 2022.02 of the Handbook