POLIS 7026 - International Security

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2022

This course explores the transforming paradigm of international security. We engage with the latest debates, theories and essential concepts in the field of security studies, and apply these against existing and emerging transnational security dilemmas that affect nation-states and international organisations alike. We commence by interrogating prevailing notions of national security, sovereignty, and human security. Central to these notions are the preservation of stability and human freedoms amid (or in the absence of) inter alia wars, conflicts, emancipatory struggles, colonialism, the Cold War and the establishment of international system. The course encourages discussion of these issues through the lens of dominant theoretical frameworks including (neo)realism, liberalism and constructivism. These frameworks inform our substantive investigation, of designing effective international institutions and norms, particularly those relating to conflict resolution, humanitarian intervention, human rights and displaced peoples. We then consider how the concepts of 'national' or 'international' security are fundamentally transformed by (i) transnational dilemmas that undermine long-standing principles of sovereignty, independence and border integrity, and (ii) states? weakening capacity to deliver security outcomes. Thus, we consider how traditional state-based threats interact with the incipient rise of non-traditional security challenges, from the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and fragile/fragmenting states, to new technologies of violence, maritime security in the Indo-Pacific, and proliferating cyber assaults on infrastructure and democratic processes. Throughout the course, we reflect on the debates between mainstream and critical security perspectives on the state: querying how security is constituted; why and how policy issues come to be framed as security issues; and the ethical repercussions and ramifications for democracy.

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Course Details

Course Code	POLIS 7026
Course	International Security
Coordinating Unit	Politics and International Relations
Term	Semester 1
Level	Postgraduate Coursework
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	6
Contact	Up to 3 hours per week
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	N
Restrictions	Available to M. International Security students only
Assessment	Online quiz 10%, Textual analysis 30%, Research essay 60%

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Professor Joanne Wallis

Email: joanne.wallis@adelaide.edu.au

Bio: https://www.adelaide.edu.au/directory/joanne.wallis

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes

No information currently available.

University Graduate Attributes

No information currently available.
Learning Resources

Required Resources

Readings will be provided via MyUni.

Recommended Resources

Recommended resources such as additional readings, essay writing information, referencing guidelines, and a wide range of information regarding student support services will be available in the course webpage located on MyUni.

Online Learning

MyUni will be utilised to upload additional resources (e.g. links to news items for tutorial discussion). Lectures will be be pre-recorded and available on MyUni.
Learning & Teaching Activities

Learning & Teaching Modes

This course is comprised primarily of lectures and seminars. Due to Covid-19 teaching arrangements, the lectures will be pre-recorded and available online. The lectures will introduce the key concepts, theories and themes. The seminars will consist of small-group discussion on the weekly topics.

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

In addition to three hours of class time (two hours of lectures, one of seminars) each week, you should spend at least five hours doing your course readings and preparing your assignments each week.

Learning Activities Summary

Indicative weekly topics:

Week 1 – Introduction to ‘international security’

Part 1 - Traditional security challenges

Week 2 – Realism/the role of ‘great powers’

Week 3 – Military security/flashpoints

Week 4 – Military power/nuclear weapons

Week 5 – Liberalism/the role of multilateral institutions in providing security

Week 6 – Constructivism/the relevance of ‘middle powers’ and ‘small states’

Week 7 – Zones of security/maritime and cyberspace

Part 2 - Non-traditional security challenges

Week 8 – Critical security studies and Copenhagen School/environmental security

Week 9 – National security/terrorism and transnational crime

Week 10 – Regime and societal security/nationalism, insurgency and civil war

Week 11 – Cosmopolitanism and human security/humanitarian intervention and peacebuilding

Week 12 – Gender and security/the women, peace and security agenda

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

Seminar participation 10%
Journal article analysis 20%
Conceptual framework analysis 20%
Final essay 50%

Assessment Detail

No information currently available.

Submission

Apart from tutorial participation, assessment must be submitted electronically, through Turnitin. The link will be available on MyUni.

The official procedure and form to apply for extensions is: https://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/3303https://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/3303

Late assignments without an approved extension will be penalised at the rate of 2% (2 marks) per day.

There is a cut-off period of 7 days (including weekends and public holidays), after which late submissions without a formal extension will not be accepted/marked. In the case of late submissions with a formal extension approved, the cut-off date is 7 days (including weekends and public holidays) from the revised due date, at 11:59pm.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
Fraud Awareness

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator