Students
MHIS2000 – A History of Terrorism
2024 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Mark Hearn
Andrew Kapos
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
40cp at 1000 level or above OR (10cp in HIST or MHIS or MHIX units)
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
Few issues demand as much attention, in the military, political, and media spheres, as terrorist attacks. Each new attack unleashes a torrent of questions: how can attacks be prevented, who is responsible? Since the French Revolution terrorism has shadowed the unfolding of the modern world. Developing political and economic systems have generated violent reactions; regimes have resorted to terror as instruments of suppression and control. Terrorists have struck in the name of nationalism, religion and anarchy. In this course, we will examine terrorism historically as a form of insurgency that allowed violent extremists a low-cost route to political influence. We will address the historic evolution of terrorism since the nineteenth century, and governments' efforts to counteract it. The modern world cannot be understood without exploring the nature of terrorism, and the unit will examine manifestations of terrorism in western and non-western contexts, from the Jacobins to Islamic State. |
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 the nature of terrorism in the modern period of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
- ULO2: Apply key scholarly and historiographical concepts related to an understanding of modern terrorism in assessment tasks.
- ULO3: Interpret relevant primary sources and secondary materials relevant to the history of terrorism.
- ULO4: Construct evidence based arguments about the history of terrorism in written and oral, visual or digital forms.
General Assessment Information
Late Assessment Submission Penalty: Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue.
This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic.
IMPORTANT NOTE ON MARKS: Grading decisions for each assessment task will be moderated against the set criteria and standards before task results are released.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical Analysis Assignment | 25% | No | 15 March 2024 |
| Presentation | 15% | No | During semester |
| Research Essay | 40% | No | 3 May 2024 |
| Participation | 20% | No | During semester |
Critical Analysis Assignment
Assessment Type 1: Literature review
Indicative Time on Task 2: 26 hours
Due: 15 March 2024
Weighting: 25%
Students are required to write a critical appraisal of historian’s perspectives on terrorism, based on an analysis of key themes and issues covered in two book chapters or scholarly journal articles.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Analyse the nature of terrorism in the modern period of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
- Apply key scholarly and historiographical concepts related to an understanding of modern terrorism in assessment tasks.
- Interpret relevant primary sources and secondary materials relevant to the history of terrorism.
Presentation
Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 6 hours
Due: During semester
Weighting: 15%
The presentation task is designed to assess oral communication skills and grasp of the issues under discussion. Presentations are in-class.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Analyse the nature of terrorism in the modern period of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
- Apply key scholarly and historiographical concepts related to an understanding of modern terrorism in assessment tasks.
- Construct evidence based arguments about the history of terrorism in written and oral, visual or digital forms.
Research Essay
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 3 May 2024
Weighting: 40%
The research essay forms the major assessment task of the course and requires a high degree of thought, effort and preparation. The research essay questions related to each of the weekly course topics. Students are required to analyse and discuss at least eight scholarly books or journal articles relevant to the essay question. Web sites may be cited in addition to the minimum eight scholarly texts.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Analyse the nature of terrorism in the modern period of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
- Apply key scholarly and historiographical concepts related to an understanding of modern terrorism in assessment tasks.
- Interpret relevant primary sources and secondary materials relevant to the history of terrorism.
Participation
Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 0 hours
Due: During semester
Weighting: 20%
Students will be assessed on their participation in weekly discussion forums analysing primary and secondary source issues and developing their oral communication skills.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Analyse the nature of terrorism in the modern period of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
- Interpret relevant primary sources and secondary materials relevant to the history of terrorism.
- Construct evidence based arguments about the history of terrorism in written and oral, visual or digital forms.
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
Writing your history essay
The Department of Modern History has an essay writing and
referencing guide available on iLearn. Please read it before you embark on your assessment
tasks!
Participation
Active participation in in-class or online seminars is an essential component of the
course and three or more absences from the seminars without prior notification and adequate
explanation may mean you fail this unit.
Examination
There is no examination for MHIS2000 but all assignments need to be
submitted if you wish to pass the unit.
Assignment submission
Please submit all assignments via Turnitin on iLearn. Assignments
must include a heading that identifies the question chosen and a bibliography.
Special Consideration
Please note that requests for special consideration are not granted
automatically, and are reserved for unforeseen and serious circumstances such as prolonged
illness, hospitalisation or bereavement in your immediate family.
Unit Schedule
Week 1 (19 February): Introduction – Defining Terrorism and Overview
Week 2 (26 February): Virtue and Terror: Terrorism from 1789 to 1871
Week 3 (4 March): Fin de Siècle Terror, 1880-1914
Week 4 (11 March): Regime Terror, 1922-1945
Week 5 (18 March): Anti-Colonial Terrorism, 1945-1962
Week 6 (25 March): Terror in the Cultural Sixties
Week 7 (1 April): Revolutionary and Nationalist Terror in the 1970s
Week 8 (8 April): Post Cold War Terror
Mid Semester Break: 15 April - 28 April
Week 9 (29 April): Research Essay non-teaching week
Week 10 (6 May): Islamist Terrorism
Week 11 (13 May): Australia and the War on Terror
Week 12 (20 May): Radical Right Violence in the USA
Week 13 (27 May): China: Terror and Sovereignty
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 connect.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 Advocacy provides independent advice on MQ policies, procedures, and processes
Student Enquiries
Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, 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 2024.04 of the Handbook