Students

POIR203 – Theories of World Politics

2017 – S1 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Jonathan Symons
Contact via jonathan.symons@mq.edu.au
W6A room 435
Tuesdays 3-4 pm or by appointment (arrange via email)
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
POL108
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
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 actual practice of international politics. International relations was founded as a distinct discipline shortly 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:

  • Collect and record information from self-selected sources with independence to complete a prescribed research task.
  • Demonstrate a critical understanding of the specific theories used in the study of international relations.
  • Identify and analyse interconnections between international relations theory and contemporary international politics.
  • Demonstrate capacity to apply the major analytic and theoretical frameworks in several subfields of international relations.
  • Develop strong written and oral communication skills.
  • Participate and lead, when appropriate, class discussions.
  • Access a wide range of resources related to theories of international relations.
  • Synthesise knowledge to develop an informed perspective on the role of regional powers (such as Australia) in promoting order and justice in international relations.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Reading Responses/Quizzes 25% No Thursday 10pm most weeks.
Research Essay & Presentation 45% Yes Week 9 - Monday 5pm.
Take home examination 30% No Week 13
Class participation 0% Yes Weekly

Reading Responses/Quizzes

Due: Thursday 10pm most weeks.
Weighting: 25%

A) In week 3 all students must complete a short answer reading response on ilearn by 10pm Thursday 16th March (5% of grade).

B) Online reading quizzes (via ilearn) will run in weeks 2, 4, 5, 6, 9 &10. Grades will be based on the best of 5 (out of 6) quizzes. These quizzes will assess comprehension of assigned weekly readings and in most cases will be based on questions set out in the weekly 'reading guide' (available in advance on ilearn).  Each quiz must be completed before 11 pm on the evening before the lecture. You will have 20 minutes from the time you log into the weekly quiz in which to complete it. Each weekly quiz is worth 4% of your total grade for the unit (4% x 5 = 20%).  This means it is possible to skip one quiz without penalty. Further information and sample quiz questions will be available from ilearn.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate a critical understanding of the specific theories used in the study of international relations.
  • Identify and analyse interconnections between international relations theory and contemporary international politics.
  • Demonstrate capacity to apply the major analytic and theoretical frameworks in several subfields of international relations.
  • Synthesise knowledge to develop an informed perspective on the role of regional powers (such as Australia) in promoting order and justice in international relations.

Research Essay & Presentation

Due: Week 9 - Monday 5pm.
Weighting: 45%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

This is a research essay of 2500 words. Essay questions and marking criteria will be provided on iLearn. Students are required to submit via the turnitin link on ilearn. All students must select the essay question they will address by the end of week 4 and post their choice to ilearn (a discussion thread will be provided). Since your class presentation is based on your essay, the timing of your class presentation will be determined by your choice of essay question.

Internal students will be required to give a 5 minute presentation summarising their essay's argument during class; external students will be required to present a short summary of their essay's argument on ilearn. These presentations should summarise your essay's argument and identify a question for discussion by the class. Presentations will not be graded separately, but they are a hurdle requirement for completion of the course and you are encouraged to discuss your presentation with your tutor after class. Students who are unable to complete the hurdle requirement, may post a 400 word summary of the essay's central argument to an ilearn discussion thread.

All students are encouraged to submit an introduction that outlines the central argument and essay structure to the unit convenor by the end of week 6 (via email: jonathan.symons@mq.edu.au), so they can receive feedback prior to completing the essay.

Essays that are submitted late will be penalised at a rate of 2% per business day.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Collect and record information from self-selected sources with independence to complete a prescribed research task.
  • Demonstrate a critical understanding of the specific theories used in the study of international relations.
  • Identify and analyse interconnections between international relations theory and contemporary international politics.
  • Demonstrate capacity to apply the major analytic and theoretical frameworks in several subfields of international relations.
  • Develop strong written and oral communication skills.
  • Participate and lead, when appropriate, class discussions.
  • Access a wide range of resources related to theories of international relations.
  • Synthesise knowledge to develop an informed perspective on the role of regional powers (such as Australia) in promoting order and justice in international relations.

Take home examination

Due: Week 13
Weighting: 30%

An end-of-semester take home exam will cover content drawn from the entire unit. The exam will consist of 4 questions and the maximum word length will be 2000 words. Late submission of the exam will not be accepted.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Collect and record information from self-selected sources with independence to complete a prescribed research task.
  • Demonstrate a critical understanding of the specific theories used in the study of international relations.
  • Identify and analyse interconnections between international relations theory and contemporary international politics.
  • Demonstrate capacity to apply the major analytic and theoretical frameworks in several subfields of international relations.
  • Develop strong written and oral communication skills.
  • Access a wide range of resources related to theories of international relations.
  • Synthesise knowledge to develop an informed perspective on the role of regional powers (such as Australia) in promoting order and justice in international relations.

Class participation

Due: Weekly
Weighting: 0%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

Internal Students: Attendance and participation in at least 6 tutorials is a hurdle requirement for completion of the unit. 

External students are required to participate actively in discussion on the iLearn website. Meaningful participation in class discussion on at least 6 topics (discussion must occur no more than 1 week after the lecture on a given topic) is hurdle requirement for completion of the unit. 

Alternative task: Students who fail to meet this hurdle requirement (internal or external) must submit a 500 word critical analysis of the weekly readings for a week in which they did not meet the participation requirement. 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Develop strong written and oral communication skills.
  • Participate and lead, when appropriate, class discussions.

Delivery and Resources

Delivery

For lecture times and classrooms please consult the MQ Timetable website: http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au. This website will display up-to-date information on your classes and classroom locations.

Internal students are expected to attend the following classes each week:

Lecture: Friday 10.05 am-11.55 pm E7B T4 Theatre.

Tutorial: Friday - see calendar for options. Attendance and participation in 6 tutorials is a hurdle requirement for completion of the unit.

NOTE: Tutorials will begin in Week 2.

External students: The lecture is digitally recorded and can be downloaded from the iLearn website shortly after it is delivered. You will also find lecture slides on the ilearn site.

External students are required to participate actively in discussion on the iLearn website (further details are given in the section on Assessment). Meaningful participation in class discussion on at least 6 topics is a hurdle requirement or completion of the unit. 

External students are welcome to attend weekly lectures whenever they can.

 

Required resources:

There is one required text for this unit which is available for purchase from the Macquarie University Coop Bookstore:

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, access through the library cannot be guaranteed. All other unit readings will all be available on ilearn or e-reserve.

 

 

 

Unit Schedule

Week 1 - 3 March

Introduction: Theorising International Relations 

Week 2 - 10 March

Realism. First week of weekly reading quizzes - available on iLearn and must be completed by Thursday 11pm each week. 

Week 3 - 17 March

Liberalism. Short answer ilearn response due by Thursday 11pm

Week 4 - 24 March

Neo-Realism and Neo-Liberal Institutionalism. Weekly iLearn quiz due by 11pm Thursday. NB: You must also nominate which research question you will address this week via the iLearn discussion forum.

Week 5 - 31 March

Marxism and Critical Theories. Weekly iLearn quiz due by 11pm Thursday.

Week 6 -  7 April

Constructivism & The English School Weekly. iLearn quiz due by 11pm Thursday.

Week 7 - 14 April

Postcolonial and  Post-structural Theories. No reading quiz this week.

_______________________________

MID SEMESTER BREAK14 to 28 April 2017

Week 8 - 5 May

Essay Writing Week - NO CLASSES - See ilearn for details of essay discussion drop-in sessions. 

Week 9 - 12 May

**Essay due Monday 8 May, 5pm;

Middle Power Theory & Foreign Policy Analysis. Weekly iLearn quiz due by 11pm Thursday.

Week 10 - 19 May

Feminist IR Theory. Final weekly iLearn quiz due by 11pm Thursday.

Week 11 - 26 May

Normative International Theory

Week 12 - 2 June

Conclusion: IR Theory in an Era Of Globalization

Week 13 

Exam opens Thursday 8 June, 9am; closes Sunday 11 June at 9 pm.

 

Policies and Procedures

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

Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.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 (in effect until Dec 4th, 2017): http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html

Special Consideration Policy (in effect from Dec 4th, 2017): https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration

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:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate a critical understanding of the specific theories used in the study of international relations.
  • Identify and analyse interconnections between international relations theory and contemporary international politics.
  • Develop strong written and oral communication skills.

Assessment tasks

  • Reading Responses/Quizzes
  • Research Essay & Presentation
  • Take home examination

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

  • Collect and record information from self-selected sources with independence to complete a prescribed research task.
  • Identify and analyse interconnections between international relations theory and contemporary international politics.
  • Synthesise knowledge to develop an informed perspective on the role of regional powers (such as Australia) in promoting order and justice in international relations.

Assessment tasks

  • Research Essay & Presentation
  • Take home examination

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Participate and lead, when appropriate, class discussions.
  • Access a wide range of resources related to theories of international relations.

Assessment task

  • Research Essay & Presentation

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

  • Collect and record information from self-selected sources with independence to complete a prescribed research task.
  • Demonstrate a critical understanding of the specific theories used in the study of international relations.
  • Identify and analyse interconnections between international relations theory and contemporary international politics.
  • Demonstrate capacity to apply the major analytic and theoretical frameworks in several subfields of international relations.
  • Participate and lead, when appropriate, class discussions.
  • Access a wide range of resources related to theories of international relations.
  • Synthesise knowledge to develop an informed perspective on the role of regional powers (such as Australia) in promoting order and justice in international relations.

Assessment tasks

  • Reading Responses/Quizzes
  • Research Essay & Presentation
  • Take home examination

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

  • Collect and record information from self-selected sources with independence to complete a prescribed research task.
  • Demonstrate a critical understanding of the specific theories used in the study of international relations.
  • Identify and analyse interconnections between international relations theory and contemporary international politics.
  • Demonstrate capacity to apply the major analytic and theoretical frameworks in several subfields of international relations.
  • Synthesise knowledge to develop an informed perspective on the role of regional powers (such as Australia) in promoting order and justice in international relations.

Assessment tasks

  • Reading Responses/Quizzes
  • Research Essay & Presentation
  • Take home examination
  • Class participation

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

  • Collect and record information from self-selected sources with independence to complete a prescribed research task.
  • Demonstrate a critical understanding of the specific theories used in the study of international relations.
  • Identify and analyse interconnections between international relations theory and contemporary international politics.
  • Demonstrate capacity to apply the major analytic and theoretical frameworks in several subfields of international relations.
  • Participate and lead, when appropriate, class discussions.
  • Access a wide range of resources related to theories of international relations.

Assessment tasks

  • Reading Responses/Quizzes
  • Research Essay & Presentation
  • Take home examination

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

  • Demonstrate capacity to apply the major analytic and theoretical frameworks in several subfields of international relations.
  • Develop strong written and oral communication skills.
  • Participate and lead, when appropriate, class discussions.

Assessment tasks

  • Reading Responses/Quizzes
  • Research Essay & Presentation
  • Take home examination
  • Class participation

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

  • Identify and analyse interconnections between international relations theory and contemporary international politics.
  • Participate and lead, when appropriate, class discussions.
  • Synthesise knowledge to develop an informed perspective on the role of regional powers (such as Australia) in promoting order and justice in international relations.

Assessment tasks

  • Reading Responses/Quizzes
  • Research Essay & Presentation
  • Take home examination
  • Class participation

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:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify and analyse interconnections between international relations theory and contemporary international politics.
  • Synthesise knowledge to develop an informed perspective on the role of regional powers (such as Australia) in promoting order and justice in international relations.

Assessment tasks

  • Reading Responses/Quizzes
  • Research Essay & Presentation
  • Take home examination