Students
PICX113 – Tactical Counter Terrorism Operations
2016 – SP2 OUA
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Michael Cohen
Conor Keane
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|---|---|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
Tactical operations are a fundamental component of security threats and a cornerstone of planning effective responses to security crises. Many kinds of contingency plans, including counter terrorism, state emergencies and continuity of government, involve planning for tactical threats and counter terrorism operations.
This unit examines the tools and tactics used against the state and the range of tactical response options available to government when managing to security crises. It begins with the kinds of security incidents which threaten modern societies, including types of threat actors, their preferred tools and their desired effects.
The unit then examines protective security measures, such as hardening targets, and tactical planning processes. Finally, the unit uses case studies to explore a range of security crises and tactical responses, including ambushes, hostage-taking and raids from around the world.
All enrolment queries should be directed to Open Universities Australia (OUA): see www.open.edu.au
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Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.open.edu.au/student-admin-and-support/key-dates/
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- Identify the main types of tactical security incidence which threaten modern society (in both Western and Non Western contexts)
- Identify the principal actors who pose a tactical security threat to states (those posing greatest risk of political violence)
- Describe the primary weapons tools and tactics employed by non state actors against individuals, public places and state infrastructure
- Explain the range of tactical (and strategic) response options available to Governments
- Evaluate key security counter-measures, tactical response capabilities and preparedness levels needed to manage security incidents
- Critically assess high profile incidents of terrorism and tactical counter-terrorism operations
General Assessment Information
SUBMITTING ASSESSMENT TASKS
* All text-based 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 MS word document or as otherwise directly entered and by the due date.
* Most assessment tasks will be subject to a 'TurnitIn' review as an automatic part of the submission process.
* The granting of extensions of up to one week are at the discretion of the unit convener. 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 the university’s Disruptions Policy (http://www.students.mq.edu.au/student_admin/manage_your_study_program/disruption_to_studies/).
LATE SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENT TASKS
* If an assignment is submitted late, 5% of the available mark will be deducted for each day (including weekends) the paper is late.
* For example, if a paper is worth 20 marks, 1 mark will be deducted from the grade given for each day that it is late (i.e. a student given 15/20 who submitted 4 days late will lose 4 marks = 11/20).
* The same principle applies if an extension is granted and the assignment is submitted later than the amended date.
WORD LIMITS FOR ASSESSMENT TASKS
* Stated word limits include footnotes and footnoted references, but not bibliography, or title page.
* Word limits can generally deviate by 10% either over or under the stated figure.
* If the number of words exceeds the limit by more than 10%, then penalties will apply. These penalties are 5% of the awarded mark for every 100 words over the word limit. If a paper is 300 words over, for instance, it will lose 3 x 5% = 15% of the total mark awarded for the assignment. This percentage is taken off the total mark, i.e. if a paper was graded at a credit (65%) and was 300 words over, it would be reduced by 15 marks to a pass (50%).
* The application of this penalty is at the discretion of the course convener.
REASSESSMENT OF ASSIGNMENTS DURING THE SEMESTER
* Macquarie University operates a Grade Appeal Policy in cases where students feel their work was graded inappropriately (http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html). This process involves all assignments submitted for that unit being reassessed.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Due |
|---|---|---|
| Perspectives of Terrorism | 10% | Week 3, Sunday at 23:00 |
| Weekly 'Blog' and Final Exam | 30% | Weekly, Sunday at 23:00 |
| Terrorist Capability & Impact | 30% | Week 8, Sunday at 23:00 |
| The State Countering Terrorism | 30% | Week 13, Sunday at 23:00 |
Perspectives of Terrorism
Due: Week 3, Sunday at 23:00
Weighting: 10%
This assessment requires you to write a brief approximately 400 to 700 words long that demonstrates understanding of 'what is terrorism? and/or 'who are terrorists' You will need to submit this brief as a Vodcast that is between four (4) to five (5) minutes in length.
Please note: Markers will not listen to a recording past the five (5) minute point.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Identify the principal actors who pose a tactical security threat to states (those posing greatest risk of political violence)
Weekly 'Blog' and Final Exam
Due: Weekly, Sunday at 23:00
Weighting: 30%
Assessment 2 is made of two parts;
Part A - Online Weekly 'Blog' - 10% - Contribution mark DUE: Weekly from week 4 - week 13 by each Sunday 23:00
Each week you will need to make an entry in an online forum that answers a small set of 'blog-questions' and use between 15 -150 words per question for your response.
Part B - Online Exam - 20% DUE: Week 13
Week 13. The exam will consist of 10 questions drawn from the online weekly 'blog-questions'.
Total grade: 30%
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Identify the main types of tactical security incidence which threaten modern society (in both Western and Non Western contexts)
- Identify the principal actors who pose a tactical security threat to states (those posing greatest risk of political violence)
- Describe the primary weapons tools and tactics employed by non state actors against individuals, public places and state infrastructure
- Explain the range of tactical (and strategic) response options available to Governments
- Evaluate key security counter-measures, tactical response capabilities and preparedness levels needed to manage security incidents
- Critically assess high profile incidents of terrorism and tactical counter-terrorism operations
Terrorist Capability & Impact
Due: Week 8, Sunday at 23:00
Weighting: 30%
This assessment requires you to write a 1500 word report that analyses 'terrorist' group capability and/or a terrorist attack (e.g. Lashkar-e-Taiba) The structure of the report will be provided but will cover political objectives, strategy, actual effects and counterfactual analysis.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Identify the main types of tactical security incidence which threaten modern society (in both Western and Non Western contexts)
- Describe the primary weapons tools and tactics employed by non state actors against individuals, public places and state infrastructure
The State Countering Terrorism
Due: Week 13, Sunday at 23:00
Weighting: 30%
This assessment requires you to write a 1500 word essay to critically discuss the existing strategy, preparatory arrangements, response of the State and actual political impact for a nominated 'terrorist' incident (for example Mumbai 2008).
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Explain the range of tactical (and strategic) response options available to Governments
- Evaluate key security counter-measures, tactical response capabilities and preparedness levels needed to manage security incidents
- Critically assess high profile incidents of terrorism and tactical counter-terrorism operations
Delivery and Resources
UNIT REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS
* You should spend an average of 12 hours per week on this unit. This includes listening to lectures prior to seminar or tutorial, reading weekly required materials as detailed in iLearn, and preparing assessments.
* Internal students are expected to attend all seminar sessions and external students are expected to contribute to on-line activities.
* Students are required to submit all major assessment tasks in order to pass the unit.
* Students are required to complete all assessment tasks in order to pass the unit.
REQUIRED READINGS
* The citations for all the required readings for this unit are available to enrolled students through the unit iLearn site, and at Macquarie University's library site. Electronic copies of required readings may be accessed through the library.
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. * This unit has an online presence. Login is via: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/
* Students are required to have regular access to a computer and the internet. Mobile devices alone are not sufficient.
Unit Schedule
PART I - WHAT IS ‘TERRORISM’?
Module 1 - Introduction to the Unit and Political Violence
Module 2 - What is ‘Terrorism’ and Who are ‘Terrorists’?
PART II - POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND ‘TERRORISM’
Module 3 – Asymmetric Political Violence in History
Module 4 - Political Violence in the Name of God
Module 5 - Origins of Political Violence: Causes, Conditions and Influences
Module 6 - Effects and Purposes of Political Violence: ‘Terrorism’ as Strategy
Module 7 - The Means and Methods of Political Violence
Module 8 – The Sustainment or Decline of Political Violence
Module 9 - The Who’s Who of Contemporary ‘Terrorists’
PART III - COUNTERING POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND ‘TERRORISM’
Module 10 - Constraining Political Violence: Strategy, Intelligence and Policing
Module 11 - Responding to Political Violence: Hard Power and Soft Power
Module 12 – State Repression and Overreaction
Module 13 – Propaganda and the Media - Unit Conclusion
Policies and Procedures
Late Submission - applies unless otherwise stated elsewhere in the unit guide
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.
Extension Request
Special Consideration Policy and Procedure (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration)
The University recognises that students may experience events or conditions that adversely affect their academic performance. If you experience serious and unavoidable difficulties at exam time or when assessment tasks are due, you can consider applying for Special Consideration.
You need to show that the circumstances:
- were serious, unexpected and unavoidable
- were beyond your control
- caused substantial disruption to your academic work
- substantially interfered with your otherwise satisfactory fulfilment of the unit requirements
- lasted at least three consecutive days or a total of 5 days within the teaching period and prevented completion of an assessment task scheduled for a specific date.
If you feel that your studies have been impacted submit an application as follows:
- Visit Ask MQ and use your OneID to log in
- Fill in your relevant details
- Attach supporting documents by clicking 'Add a reply', click 'Browse' and navigating to the files you want to attach, then click 'Submit Form' to send your notification and supporting documents
- Please keep copies of your original documents, as they may be requested in the future as part of the assessment process
Outcome
Once your submission is assessed, an appropriate outcome will be organised.
OUA Specific Policies and Procedures
Withdrawal from a unit after the census date
You can withdraw from your subjects prior to the census date (last day to withdraw). If you successfully withdraw before the census date, you won’t need to apply for Special Circumstances. If you find yourself unable to withdraw from your subjects before the census date - you might be able to apply for Special Circumstances. If you’re eligible, we can refund your fees and overturn your fail grade.
If you’re studying Single Subjects using FEE-HELP or paying up front, you can apply online.
If you’re studying a degree using HECS-HELP, you’ll need to apply directly to Macquarie University.
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://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
New Assessment Policy in effect from Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html. For more information visit http://students.mq.edu.au/events/2016/07/19/new_assessment_policy_in_place_from_session_2/
Assessment Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of 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/support/student_conduct/
Results
Results shown in iLearn, 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.
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 improve your marks and take control of your study.
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
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.
Graduate Capabilities
Creative and Innovative
Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Assessment task
- Weekly 'Blog' and Final Exam
Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative
We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Evaluate key security counter-measures, tactical response capabilities and preparedness levels needed to manage security incidents
- Critically assess high profile incidents of terrorism and tactical counter-terrorism operations
Assessment tasks
- Weekly 'Blog' and Final Exam
- Terrorist Capability & Impact
- The State Countering Terrorism
Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills
Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Identify the main types of tactical security incidence which threaten modern society (in both Western and Non Western contexts)
- Identify the principal actors who pose a tactical security threat to states (those posing greatest risk of political violence)
- Describe the primary weapons tools and tactics employed by non state actors against individuals, public places and state infrastructure
- Explain the range of tactical (and strategic) response options available to Governments
- Evaluate key security counter-measures, tactical response capabilities and preparedness levels needed to manage security incidents
- Critically assess high profile incidents of terrorism and tactical counter-terrorism operations
Assessment tasks
- Perspectives of Terrorism
- Weekly 'Blog' and Final Exam
- Terrorist Capability & Impact
- The State Countering Terrorism
Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking
We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Identify the principal actors who pose a tactical security threat to states (those posing greatest risk of political violence)
- Describe the primary weapons tools and tactics employed by non state actors against individuals, public places and state infrastructure
- Evaluate key security counter-measures, tactical response capabilities and preparedness levels needed to manage security incidents
- Critically assess high profile incidents of terrorism and tactical counter-terrorism operations
Assessment task
- Terrorist Capability & Impact
Problem Solving and Research Capability
Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Identify the main types of tactical security incidence which threaten modern society (in both Western and Non Western contexts)
- Identify the principal actors who pose a tactical security threat to states (those posing greatest risk of political violence)
- Describe the primary weapons tools and tactics employed by non state actors against individuals, public places and state infrastructure
- Evaluate key security counter-measures, tactical response capabilities and preparedness levels needed to manage security incidents
- Critically assess high profile incidents of terrorism and tactical counter-terrorism operations
Assessment tasks
- Weekly 'Blog' and Final Exam
- Terrorist Capability & Impact
- The State Countering Terrorism
Effective Communication
We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Identify the main types of tactical security incidence which threaten modern society (in both Western and Non Western contexts)
- Identify the principal actors who pose a tactical security threat to states (those posing greatest risk of political violence)
- Describe the primary weapons tools and tactics employed by non state actors against individuals, public places and state infrastructure
- Explain the range of tactical (and strategic) response options available to Governments
- Evaluate key security counter-measures, tactical response capabilities and preparedness levels needed to manage security incidents
- Critically assess high profile incidents of terrorism and tactical counter-terrorism operations
Assessment tasks
- Perspectives of Terrorism
- Weekly 'Blog' and Final Exam
- The State Countering Terrorism
Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens
As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Explain the range of tactical (and strategic) response options available to Governments
- Critically assess high profile incidents of terrorism and tactical counter-terrorism operations
Assessment tasks
- Perspectives of Terrorism
- Terrorist Capability & Impact
- The State Countering Terrorism
Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible
We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Assessment tasks
- Terrorist Capability & Impact
- The State Countering Terrorism