Course coordinator
Dr Juliette Gout
Course overview
- Study period
- Summer Semester, 2024 (25/11/2024 - 08/02/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Politic Sc & Internat Studies
This course provides the foundation for future study in International Relations, and will equip students with the conceptual tools and knowledge for analysing and engaging with global change and international challenges. Students will better understand the changing nature of modern international relations. Topics covered include the 'traditional agenda' of war and peace, state sovereignty, nationalism, insecurity and war, nuclear weapons, international law, and the just war tradition; and the 'new agenda' of global governance and globalisation, non-state actors, terrorism, human rights and humanitarian intervention.
International relations is one of the most complex and intellectually exciting domains of human social interaction. In this course, we break down this complexity and consider some of the most enduringﾠquestions to have emerged from a broad and contested academic field. What are the causes of war and peace? How does the structure of the global economy affect the global distribution of wealth? How well is the international system equipped to manage and respond to pressing challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the threat of climate change? The course begins by previewing IR's key purposes and objects of study, before exploring its major branches of theorising, which form the basis for successful analysis ofﾠworld affairs. Weﾠthen considerﾠa range of important historical events, contemporary actors, and challenges in the international system, including the sources of insecurity and war, globalization and international political economy, international institutions, law, and human rights. We concludeﾠby reflecting on the current crisis of international order.ﾠ
Course requirements
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
GT112
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Juliette Gout
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
There are 8 lectures and 8 tutorials for this course, spread over the Summer Semester. Student's contact time for the course will include a lecture and a tutorial each week.ﾠThis is a 2 unit course, and as such it's recommended that you spend approximately 15 hours studying per week (including contact time) during semester.
Please note: Lectures for this course are recorded and will be posted online (via the course Blackboard site) on Mondaysﾠ for students to watch at their convenience.
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to equip students with the conceptual tools designed to better understand the changing nature of modern international relations. The course provides students with conceptual tools with which to engage in the study of international politics and with which to analyse and make sense of current events and associated developments. Upon completing POLS1201, students shouldﾠdemonstrate the type of understanding and knowledge necessary to complete more advanced International Relations (IR) courses. In other words, POLS1201 is an essential gateway course towards further IR studies.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Show a solid grounding in the major theoretical perspectives in the field of international relations, including critical ones. Students will be encouraged to see these approaches as competing interpretive frameworks, each beginning with different assumptions about human nature and about the social and political world, and each yielding different conclusions about the nature and dynamics of international relations.
LO2.
Identify and understand the main actors, structures and processes of international relations.
LO3.
Demonstrate and communicate an understanding of important historical and contemporary issues in the field of international relations.
LO4.
Demonstrate acquired conceptual and analytical capacities, along with an ability to apply these skills to understand concrete social, political and historical processes in international relations.
LO5.
Develop intellectual tools and skills that will make you more competitive in your future professional activities in a variety of fields and positions.
LO6.
Understand, and comply with, the norms of scholarly writing and academic conduct.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tutorial/ Problem Set | Course engagement | 15% |
25/11/2024 - 24/01/2025
Submit via the Journal tool by 9am each Friday morning throughout the Semester. |
| Essay/ Critique | Minor Essay | 20% |
20/12/2024 1:00 pm |
| Essay/ Critique | Major essay (1500 words) | 30% |
22/01/2025 1:00 pm |
| Examination |
Exam
|
35% |
End of Semester Exam Period 1/02/2025 - 8/02/2025 |
Assessment details
Course engagement
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Oral, Written
- Category
- Tutorial/ Problem Set
- Weight
- 15%
- Due date
25/11/2024 - 24/01/2025
Submit via the Journal tool by 9am each Friday morning throughout the Semester.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
Active engagement with teaching activities and course materials is an essential part of POLS1201. This assessment area consists of two components:
Pre-tutorial work and active tutorial participation.
Pre-tutorial work
Prior to each tutorial you must write a 200 word response to one or more of the week's tutorial questions, to be submitted by 9am each Friday morning (ie before each tutorial). You will not receive feedback on this response unless it completely misses the point, but it will demonstrate to your tutor that you have prepared for the tutorial by engaging with the set readings for that week. You can find the tutorial questions for each week in the Course Profile under the Learning Activities section. Submit in Blackboard by navigating to the Assessment tab, finding the 'pre-tutorial work' folder and seeing the instructions on how to submit a Journal entry.
Active participation means being prepared (this means having also submitted your pre-tutorial work), engaging intelligently and contributing ideas and information in class.
Tutorial participation
Tutorial participation requires tutorial attendance - this means means turning up on time and remaining for the duration of the tutorial.
Simply turning up is NOT participation; if you attend all tutorials but never contribute, you will get zero for this component of assessment.
You will not get your tutorial participation mark if you have not submitted your pre-tutorial work for the week.
This is because participation requires preparation - you will need to have engaged with, and reflected upon, the readings in order to participate fully.
If you participate in all the tutorials but submit no pre-tutorial work, you will get 0% for this piece of assessment.
If you submit all the pre-tutorial work but participate in no tutorials you will get 0% for this piece of assessment.
Important: Students who have approved 'Student Access Plan (Disability)' in place may be granted alternative assessment.
Assessment tasks are intended to evaluate a student’s abilities, skills, and knowledge. Unless explicitly stated otherwise in the assessment instructions, assessments (including your pre-tutorial work) are to be completed without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT). Failure to comply with this direction may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
You can find the tutorial questions for each week in the Course Profile. Submit in Blackboard by navigating to the Assessment tab, finding the 'pre-tutorial work' folder and seeing the instructions on how to submit a Journal entry.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Minor Essay
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
20/12/2024 1:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06
Task description
MINOR ESSAY
The Minor Essay questions will be available on the Course Blackboard page under the Assessments tab in the folder marked Minor Essay.
Make sure you consult the School of Political Science and International Studies Essay Guide for further and more detailed information about writing style, referencing, plagiarism and presentation.
An electronic copy of the assignment needs to be submitted through Turnitin (via Blackboard).
Assessment tasks are intended to evaluate a student’s abilities, skills, and knowledge. Unless explicitly stated otherwise in the assessment instructions, assessments (including your pre-tutorial work) are to be completed without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT). Failure to comply with this direction may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin.
In uploading an assignment via Turnitin you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where this is properly acknowledged, and that it has not in whole or part been previously submitted for assessment in any other course at this or any other university.
When you successfully submit your assessment to Turnitin after previewing the uploaded document (to make sure that you have chosen the correct file), you should see the “Submission Complete!” message. After this, a downloadable Digital Receipt will display on your Assignment Dashboard. It is your responsibility to download the Digital Receipt as proof of submission. Turnitin will not send this receipt to you automatically.
If you don’t see the downloadable receipt on your assignment dashboard, you should regard your submission as unsuccessful.
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again, then email your course coordinator immediately.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
If there are circumstances beyond your control that prevent you from submitting an assessment item by the due date, you can apply for an Extension, but you must do so before the due date.
Acceptable reasons for an extension are available here: https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/applying-extension?p=1#1
You must Apply For An Extension via my.UQ before the assessment due date. If you apply for an extension after the assessment due date, you must provide evidence of the reasons for the late request and explain what prevented you from applying before the due date. An application for an extension submitted after the assessment due date will be forwarded to the decision maker listed in the Formal administrative grievances/appeals section of the Student Grievance Resolution Procedure for consideration.
You can Apply For An Extension via my.UQ for assessments such as essays, assignments, case studies, and take-home assignments. Extensions aren't possible for every piece of assessment.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Unless an extension is granted, penalties for late submission apply. Students are penalised 10% of the maximum possible mark allocated for the assessment item for every calendar day that an assessment item is late.
Marks will be deducted each day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point the submitted item will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is triggered from the time the submission is due.
Major essay (1500 words)
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
22/01/2025 1:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06
Task description
MAJOR ESSAY
The Major Essay questions will be available on the Course Blackboard page under the Assessments tab in the folder marked Major Essay.
Make sure you consult the School of Political Science and International Studies Essay Guide for further and more detailed information about writing style, referencing, plagiarism and presentation.
An electronic copy of the assignment needs to be submitted through Turnitin (via Blackboard).
Assessment tasks are intended to evaluate a student’s abilities, skills, and knowledge. Unless explicitly stated otherwise in the assessment instructions, assessments (including your pre-tutorial work) are to be completed without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT). Failure to comply with this direction may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin.
In uploading an assignment via Turnitin you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where this is properly acknowledged, and that it has not in whole or part been previously submitted for assessment in any other course at this or any other university.
When you successfully submit your assessment to Turnitin after previewing the uploaded document (to make sure that you have chosen the correct file), you should see the “Submission Complete!” message. After this, a downloadable Digital Receipt will display on your Assignment Dashboard. It is your responsibility to download the Digital Receipt as proof of submission. Turnitin will not send this receipt to you automatically.
If you don’t see the downloadable receipt on your assignment dashboard, you should regard your submission as unsuccessful.
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again, then email your course coordinator immediately.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
If there are circumstances beyond your control that prevent you from submitting an assessment item by the due date, you can apply for an Extension, but you must do so before the due date.
Acceptable reasons for an extension are available here: https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/applying-extension?p=1#1
You must Apply For An Extension via my.UQ before the assessment due date. If you apply for an extension after the assessment due date, you must provide evidence of the reasons for the late request and explain what prevented you from applying before the due date. An application for an extension submitted after the assessment due date will be forwarded to the decision maker listed in the Formal administrative grievances/appeals section of the Student Grievance Resolution Procedure for consideration.
You can Apply For An Extension via my.UQ for assessments such as essays, assignments, case studies, and take-home assignments. Extensions aren't possible for every piece of assessment.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Unless an extension is granted, penalties for late submission apply. Students are penalised 10% of the maximum possible mark allocated for the assessment item for every calendar day that an assessment item is late.
Marks will be deducted each day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point the submitted item will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is triggered from the time the submission is due.
Exam
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 35%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
1/02/2025 - 8/02/2025
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06
Task description
The final piece of assessment for this course will be an exam conducted in the central summer semester examination period. Students will have 2 hours to complete the exam.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person.
Assessment tasks are intended to evaluate a student’s abilities, skills, and knowledge. Unless explicitly stated otherwise in the assessment instructions, assessments (including your pre-tutorial work) are to be completed without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT). Failure to comply with this direction may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed Book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | <p>0</p> - |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: <p>The student does notﾠaddress the question, shows no evidence of engagement with course materials and minimal comprehension of the issues at hand.</p> |
| 2 (Fail) | <p>0</p> - |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: <p>The studentﾠaddresses the question poorly and shows very little evidence of reading and engagement with course materials.</p> |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | <p>0</p> - |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: <p>The student makes an effort to establish a single major argument for the essay andﾠemploys some evidence of reading and engagement with course materials which is correlated with the argument. Makes a visible effort to achieve adequate grammar, spelling and punctuation. Evidence of attempting to achieve a recognisable narrative flowﾠappears throughout the essay component. The studentﾠaddresses the questions and shows evidence of required knowledge and a basic grasp of the issues at hand. However,ﾠfalls short of satisfying all basic requirements for a Pass.</p> |
| 4 (Pass) | <p>0</p> - |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: <p>The student makes a reasonable effort to provide evidence to support a visible argument andﾠemploys an adequate knowledge base of course materials to support the argument. Achieves a reasonable, if not completely coherent standard of grammar, spelling, and punctuation. A recognisable narrative flow is sustained throughout the essay. The studentﾠanswers the questions and shows evidence of adequate knowledge and engagement with course materials and a degree of understanding of the issues at hand.</p> |
| 5 (Credit) | <p>0</p> - |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: <p>The studentﾠprovides suitable evidence to support an argument andﾠemploys a comprehensive research base that directly relates to the topic, though it may not completely support the argument. Achieves decent levels of competence in grammar, spelling, punctuation and narrative flow. The studentﾠanswers the questions in a direct, well supported fashion and shows evidence of some wide engagement with course materials and a reasonable understanding of the issues at hand.</p> |
| 6 (Distinction) | <p>0</p> - |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: <p>The studentﾠdemonstrates a very good grasp of the chosen topic andﾠprovides a considerable amount of evidence drawn from course materials to support a clearly stated argument. The studentﾠemploys a reasonably extensive and well-organised research base to structure evidence in support of the argument and achieves a high level of competence in grammar, spelling, punctuation and narrative flow. The studentﾠanswers the questions in a direct, reasonably sophisticated fashion, employs wide knowledge of and engagement with course materials and shows a sound understanding of the issues at hand.</p> |
| 7 (High Distinction) | <p>0</p> - |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: <p>The studentﾠdemonstrates a highly sophisticated grasp of the topic andﾠsucceeds in addressing the question by providing a high level of evidence drawn from course materials to support a clearly stated argument. The studentﾠemploys an extensive and well organised research base drawn from course materials to structure evidence in support of the argument andﾠachieves impeccable levels of grammar, spelling, punctuation and narrative flow. The studentﾠanswers the question in a direct and elegant fashion, employs significant research and shows a deep understanding of the issues at hand.</p> |
Additional course grading information
Grades will be awarded on the following basis:
1.ﾠFailﾠ 1 - 19%
2. Failﾠ 20 - 44%
3. Failﾠ 45 - 49%
4. Passﾠ 50 - 64 %
5. Creditﾠ 65 - 74 %
6. Distinctionﾠ 75 - 84 %
7. High Distinctionﾠ 85 - 100 %
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Word Length Penalty
Unless otherwise indicated, in the case of written submissions with a specified word count, you are given a +10% leeway on the upper word limit. If your written submission is over this leeway limit, it will attract a 10 percentage point penalty. For example, if your essay is 1,500 words, you may write up to 1,650 before attracting a word count penalty. If your essay exceeds the upper word limit, it will attract a 10% word count penalty. Therefore, if your essay is worth 40 marks, you will lose 4 marks from your allotted grade. Unless specified, penalties only apply to exceeding the word length, not for failure to write a sufficient amount.
Students should note:
• The Author-date in-text referencing system will count toward the word length;
• References in the Footnote referencing system will not count toward the word length. If you are using footnotes, any content included in footnotes beyond the specific text reference will count towards the word length.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Own copy required
You'll need to have your own copy of the following reading resources. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Book |
Introduction to International Relations
Edition: 4th Publisher: Cambridge University Press ISBN: 9781009315227; 9781009315234 |
| Book |
An introduction to international relations
by Devetak; Richard; George; Jim; Percy; Sarah - 2017 Edition: Third edition Publisher: Cambridge University Press ISBN: 9781316631553; 9781316855188 |
Additional learning resources information
The course has an Ultra/ Blackboard site that has information and the links to the learning materialﾠin regards to the course.ﾠStudents are required to become proficient in accessing and using the Course site. To access BB log in to my.UQ dashboard. You will find Learn.UQ on the left under Favourite apps. You can also log in via https://elearning.uq.edu.au/.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (25 Nov - 01 Dec) |
Lecture |
Week 1: Introduction to International Relations This lecture introduces international relations by outlining the actors, structures, and processes that lie at the centre of international political enquiry. We then explore debates about the discipline's origins and encounter conceptual and theoretical thinking in IR. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
Tutorial |
Week 1: Introduction to International Relations Tutorial Questions: International Relations (usually in upper case) is an academic discipline. Why was it originally established? What prompted the establishment of the study of international relations (lower case)? Should the original premises and purposes continue to govern the study of international relations today? Or are new approaches required to reflect the changing realities of global politics? Do the European and North American origins of International Relations inhibit the discipline from being truly global in outlook? In other words, is IR biased towards western ways of doing and thinking about international relations to the exclusion of non-western ways? What is theory? Why do we need it in the study of international relations? What are some of the different ways of theorizing? What is the state and what is the nation and how do they differ? Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
|
Week 2 (02 Dec - 08 Dec) |
Lecture |
Week 2: Realism and Liberalism This lecture introduces students to the two dominant theoretical approaches to the study of international relations: Realism and Liberalism. The disciplines origins are steeped in Liberal idealism, but since the Second World War the discipline has been dominated by Realism. This lecture will outline the key features of each tradition of international thought. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
Tutorial |
Week 2: Realism and Liberalism Tutorial Questions: - What are the main characteristics of liberalism and realism? What are the main actors, structures and processes according to each perspective? According to Chiaruzzi, what has ancient thought contributed to the theory of Realism? Why do realists see international relations as essentially conflictual? What does it mean to talk about liberalism as a ‘family of ideas’? How has liberalism been used to justify war? Why do liberals believe world peace is possible and how do they seek to realise it? Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
|
Week 3 (09 Dec - 15 Dec) |
Lecture |
Week 3: Feminism and Postcolonialism This lecture introduces two critical approaches to international relations:Feminism and Postcolonialism. We will explore what it means for theories to be 'critical', including the ways in which critical theories challenge or reframe the assumptions of mainstream IR theories. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
Tutorial |
Week 3: Feminism and Postcolonialism Tutorial Questions: - What does postcolonialism have to say about international relations? Why might postcolonial scholars be suspicious of a ‘global’ IR? What does Edward Said say about the 'Orient' outside of Orientalism - does it exist? How does postcolonialism help explain the ‘war on terror’? What are some of the theories developed by feminist scholars? What unites them and what sets them apart? What are some of the insights feminist scholarship has contributed to an understanding of international relations? Is International Relations a masculine construction? What, if anything, do postcolonialism and feminism have in common? What does it mean to be 'critical'? In what ways are feminism and postcolonialism critical? Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
|
Week 4 (16 Dec - 22 Dec) |
Lecture |
Week 4: International History in the Twentieth Century This lecture will introduce students to the Great War, the inter-war years and the Cold War by surveying the different accounts of their origins and ends. It will focus substantively on the Cold War, sometimes referred to as 'the long peace', which dominated twentieth century international relations. Although they were wartime allies, the USA and the USSR quickly became suspicious of each other after the Second World War s end -- much as they had been after the Russian Revolution of 1917. This lecture looks at how the USA and USSR viewed each other across most of the 20th century, what strategies they adopted in their superpower rivalry, and how the Cold War ended. It also considers the impact of nuclear weapons on the Cold War and international relations more generally. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
Tutorial |
Week 4: International History in the Twentieth Century Tutorial Questions: How did international relations change over the course of the twentieth century? What were the origins of the two World Wars? What made the ‘Cold’ War cold? What were its principal characteristics? How do you explain the origins and the ends of the Cold War? To what extent did nuclear weapons play a role in the Cold War? What are the legacies of the Cold War? What are the pertinent historical moments from the twentieth century which have shaped contemporary international politics? Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
|
Week 5 (Mid Sem break ends Wed) (30 Dec - 05 Jan) |
Lecture |
Week 5: Security and War Please note the lecture will be released on Thursday 2 January 2025 when classes resume after mid-semester break (rather than the usual release on Monday). This lecture will introduce students to theories of war and to conceptions of security. It will examine how war is understood and how competing theories explain its causes. It will also consider different conceptions of security. Traditional conceptions focus on national security and military responses to other states threatening behaviour. In recent times, however, states have begun to identify non-state sources of threat (from asylum-seekers to terrorists), non-military threats (environmental harm and economic insecurity), and non-military solutions to the security dilemma (cooperative and common security). Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
Tutorial |
Week 5: Security and War Tutorial Questions: What does it mean to speak of the morality of war? How do the laws of war help us to understand aspects of the war in Ukraine? How might the ‘just war’ tradition be reformed? What is security and why is the concept of security contested? Who or what should be made secure? What is the security dilemma? What are three concepts of security for liberals? What is the concept of human security? What are the sources of instability and insecurity for states in the world today? Who defines a threat? Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
|
Week 6 (06 Jan - 12 Jan) |
Lecture |
Week 6: International Law and International Society This lecture will introduce students to the idea that a rule-governed society of states exists. Although Realists downplay the role of laws and norms in international relations, Liberals and others (including the so-called English School theorists) have argued that most states, most of the time, observe international law, thus maintaining international order. This lecture will outline the historical evolution of international society and international law before reflecting on their current predicament. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
Tutorial |
Week 6: International Law and International Society Tutorial Questions: What is ‘international society’? Does order exist in international relations? If so, how is it produced? Why and how did the European society of states expand across the globe? Are the rules of international society Eurocentric and if so, how this come about? What role does law play in international relations? How effectively does it restrain the use of force? What are the different perspectives that liberal institutionalists and neorealists have on international law? What are some of the sources of international law? What is the relationship between international law and international society? What role did law play in the war in Iraq? What were the implications of September 11 and the war on terrorism for international society and international law? Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
|
Week 7 (13 Jan - 19 Jan) |
Lecture |
Week 7: Global Governance and Human Rights This lecture introduces students to the concept of global governance by surveying the rules, institutions and structures that are fundamental to the regulation of international affairs. This lecture will map out how the increasing fragmentation and integration of political authority has potentially eroded state control and introduced new regimes of power governing international life. It will focus on the role of organizations such as the UN, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs),and the rise of Non-State Actors (NSAs) in responding to new environmental, economic, social and political challenges and what implications this has for state sovereignty and international politics.This lecture also explains the historical development of human rights discourses, contemporary critiques of human rights, the institutions and actors responsible for upholding human rights, and the tension between state sovereignty and human rights. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
Tutorial |
Week 7: Global Governance and Human Rights Tutorial Questions: What are the core concepts of global governance? Why has power shifted from domestic to global authority? What effective is the UN today? What are its main challenges and limitations? How might the UN Security Council be reformed? Why has the UN security council been described as ‘paralysed’? What are human rights? What are the discourses which have contributed to conceptions of human rights? Who has responsibility for upholding human rights? What is the relationship between human rights and state sovereignty? Are human rights western? What the critiques of liberal universalism? Is force ever legitimate in order to spread human rights? Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
|
Week 8 (20 Jan - 26 Jan) |
Lecture |
Week 8: The Changing International Order This lecture will introduce students to the changing nature and character of the international order, canvassing different perspectives of how the world is organized politically and outlining the rise of the non-West. Questions will be raised about the growth of populism, nationalism and isolationism and the extent to which these attitudes and policies may threaten the existing international order and institutions of global governance. We will also discuss the rise of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa). Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
Tutorial |
Week 8: The Changing International Order Tutorial Questions: - How is the international order changing? - What is the basis of the liberal international order? - Are regional powers challenging the current status quo? - Describe the phenomena of the BRICS. Why are they considered as a group? - What do you think is the likelihood of conflict with the rise of new powers? - How are international organizations and institutions implicated in this changing world order? - What do you think the strength or weaknesses of the liberal international order are? - How robust is the liberal international order? Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.