Course Coordinator:Stefanie Fishel (sfishel@usc.edu.au) School:School of Law and Society
UniSC Sunshine Coast |
Blended learning | Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online. |
Online |
Online | You can do this course without coming onto campus. |
Please go to usc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.
Theory is crucial to how we understand and make meaning of global politics. In this course you will be exposed to the evolution of theories and philosophies concerning international relations and how they apply to and explain a range of practices in world politics. This strong critical underpinning will allow you to actively transform and better navigate the future of world politics.
Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
Blended learning | |||
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Weekly tutorials (synchronous) | 2hrs | Week 1 | 13 times |
Learning materials – Online (asynchronous) learning materials) | 1hr | Week 1 | 13 times |
Online | |||
Learning materials – Online (asynchronous) learning materials | 1hr | Week 1 | 13 times |
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Weekly tutorials (synchronous) | 2hrs | Week 1 | 13 times |
What is International Relations Theory?: Introduction to theory; ontology and epistemology; positivism and post-positivism; Worldviews and Theories in International Relations; Guide to the Course
Realism and Utopia (Part 1): Realism and The Origins of War: The Hobbesian Imaginary and Machiavellian Politics; WWI; the formation of the discipline of IR; war and peace
Realism and Utopia (Part 2): Cosmopolitanism and the Possibilities of Perpetual Peace: The World State and Human Community; Kant; The League of Nations; The Inter-War period; the UN
Power and Institutions: The Neo-Neo-Con Synthesis: International Institutions; The Inter-Paradigm debate; Neorealism; The Neo-Neo Synthesis; Constructivism and the Normative Turn: Is anarchy what states make of it?
Order and Justice: The English School: The Problem of Order and Justice; The Anarchical Society; The expansion of International Society; pluralism & solidarism
Marxism and World-Systems Theory: Marxism; World-Systems Theory: Globalisation, Imperialism and Revolution; the problem of change; JusticeCritical International Relations Theory (Seminar): Critical Theory; Frankfurt School; Welsh School; Critical Security Studies; Positivism, Dialogue and Emancipation
Postmodernism: Postmodernism and the Other in World Politics; boundaries and borders; diversity, difference and otherness; pluralism and relativism; dissidence
Feminism and Gender in World Politics: Confronting Global Patriarchy; gender; human rights and women's rights; private & public; empowerment, opportunity and emancipation
Postcolonialism and the Subaltern: the Other in IR theory: Confronting Marginalisation in the Discipline of IR and the Practices of Sovereignty; epistemology and power; race and racism; empire and neo-colonialism
Green Theory and the Future of World Order: Global environmental crises and possibilities for the future; environmental crises; climate change; biosphere; ecosystems; resilience, mitigation and adaptation; the future of IR
[All course topics contain adult themes]
300 Level (Graduate)
12 units
Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... | Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... | |
1 | Critically review, analyse and evaluate theories and philosophies of international relations. | Creative and critical thinker |
2 | Communicate international relations theory and philosophy through written and oral modes. | Engaged |
3 | Critique and describe the conflicting ethical issues within various theories of international relation and their application in the practices of world politics | Ethical |
Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.
Not applicable
Not applicable
INT235
It is assumed students have basic knowledge of international relations as demonstrated by successful completion of any one INT subject.
Standard Grading (GRD)
High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL). |
Early feedback is provided in Assessment 1 Preparation and Participation Portfolio. Students will be given direct oral and written feedback on their preparation and participation in the tutorial related to readings and online-learning materials each week.
Delivery mode | Task No. | Assessment Product | Individual or Group | Weighting % | What is the duration / length? | When should I submit? | Where should I submit it? |
All | 1 | Portfolio | Individual | 30% | 150 words per week |
Throughout teaching period (refer to Format) | In Class |
All | 2 | Written Piece | Individual | 20% | Paper is 2x 750 word answers (i.e. 1500 words) |
Week 7 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
All | 3 | Essay | Individual | 50% | 2000-2500-word essay |
Week 13 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
All - Assessment Task 1:Portfolio - Preparation and Participation | |
Goal: | You will complete a written portfolio documenting your engagement with readings and online materials. You will also prepare and participate in tutorials and seminar discussions and activities and constructively respond to course content questions, theories, concepts, and practices. |
Product: | Portfolio |
Format: | Submissions Weeks 1 -11 Preparation for each tutorial and seminar/workshop will require: reading the required readings for the week; watching the online recording of the lecture and online materials; completing written summaries and/or question/answer (150 words) each week and emailing these to the lecturer prior to the tutorial or workshop/seminar and uploading to Canvas in Discussion format; reflecting about the issues highlighted for discussion in the tutorial or seminar/workshop. Discussions will take place in the tutorials and seminar/workshop which will give you the opportunity to be heard and participate in a range of learning activities. The mark is based on active and informed participation. |
Criteria: |
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All - Assessment Task 2:Written Piece - Short Answer | |
Goal: | You will demonstrate your knowledge and application of international relations theory and practice. |
Product: | Written Piece |
Format: | The short answer paper will consist of responses to two questions (750 words each for a total of 1500 words). You will have a choice of topics that will be listed on Canvas. The paper will be written as a formal academic paper. |
Criteria: |
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All - Assessment Task 3:Essay | |
Goal: | You will undertake research and write an essay that explores a specific topic regarding international relations theory and practice. In particular, you will critique and describe the conflicting ethical issues within various theories of international relation and their application in the practices of world politics. |
Product: | Essay |
Format: | Academic format 2000-2500 words. This essay is an argumentative piece of writing. Particular attention will be focused on the inclusion of theoretical concepts to support points and arguments made, integration of arguments with theories of international relations, and, critical analysis and synthesis of materials in the essay. |
Criteria: |
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A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.
Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.
Please note that you need to have regular access to the resource(s) listed below. Resources may be required or recommended.
Required? | Author | Year | Title | Edition | Publisher |
Required | Scott Burchill,Andrew Linklater,Jack Donnelly,Terry Nardin,Matthew Paterson,Christian Reus-Smit,André Saramago,Toni Haastrup,Alina Sajed | 2022 | Theories of International Relations | 5 | Bloomsbury |
Not applicable
Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.
Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.
In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.
Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct
Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: - 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.
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