Course coordinator
Dr Kiri Ingram
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Politic Sc & Internat Studies
Terrorism and insurgencies are increasingly identified as a growing source of conflict in the post-Cold War world. This course analyses the development of terrorism as a form of political violence in the context of the rise of the modern state and international state system. It examines the dilemmas associated with, and limitations of, conventional counter terrorist responses in countries such as Australia and the United States.
This course aims to provide a critical understanding of contemporary terrorism: its various causes, rationales and clienteles; its relationship to other forms of violence; its embeddedness in the structures of the modern state and the international system; the inter-relationship between state responses and terrorism; and the ethical and practical dilemmas surrounding both terrorism and counter-terrorism. It will alsoﾠ consider the relationship between terrorism and insurgency in both the theory and practice of protracted warfare. These issues will be explored through looking at not only the development of both ‘traditional’ terrorist groups and insurgent movements in Europe, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, but also the more recent globalizationﾠof terrorism and insurgencyﾠ– including the activities of the al-Qaeda network, the Islamic State, and the rise of ideologically-diffuse right-wing extremist movements.
Course requirements
Recommended prerequisites
We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:
2 units POLS-coded course
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
GT264
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Kiri Ingram
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Lectures start in WEEK 1
There are twelve 2 hour lectures, the first of which commences in WEEK 1 of semester (week starting 24 February).
Tutorials start in WEEK 4.
There are eight 50 minute tutorials beginning in WEEK 4. Students need to sign themselves up for tutorials by completing a list of preferencesﾠthrough My Timetable class allocation system.ﾠ
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to provide students with an introduction to terrorism, insurgency and political violence in contemporary international relations; and to analyse the forces which are driving post-Cold War transnational terrorism and the counter-terrorism responses of selected Western states.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of terrorism and insurgency in world politics.
LO2.
Investigate the underlying drivers of violent extremist movements across the ideological spectrum and develop principles for counterstrategies based on appropriate evidence.
LO3.
Engage in strategic analysis and apply that analysis to the changing nature of transnational terrorism and insurgency in the international system.
LO4.
Analyse and evaluate historical and contemporary counter-insurgency (COIN) and preventing and countering violent extremism (PCVE) strategies.
LO5.
Communicate effectively in both oral and written forms and develop new analytical skills.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation/ Student contribution | Weekly Tutorial Participation | 16% |
17/03/2025 - 19/05/2025 |
| Essay/ Critique, Performance, Tutorial/ Problem Set |
Research Essay Part One - In Class Assessment
|
20% |
7/04/2025 - 11/04/2025 |
| Essay/ Critique | Research Essay Part Two (2500 words) | 32% |
16/05/2025 2:00 pm |
| Examination |
Exam
|
32% |
End of Semester Exam Period 7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025 |
Assessment details
Weekly Tutorial Participation
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution
- Weight
- 16%
- Due date
17/03/2025 - 19/05/2025
Task description
Tutorials are worth 16% of the overall course grade. Students will be awarded 2 marks (2 x 8) per tutorial for participation, which includes not merely attendance but the quality of participation in the tutorial. Both requirements must be satisfied to earn the marks for the tutorial. Tutorial participation requires active listening, constructive participation, and engaging in tutorial activities. In order to make this possible, students are required to do the weekly readings.
Note well: A student can make up the mark for having missed a tutorial by submitting a synopsis on the weekly readings to their tutor after the tutorial only in the case that this has been previously agreed to by the tutor due to medical reasons, Student Disability Action Plan, or exceptional circumstances.
Assessment tasks are intended to evaluate a student’s abilities, skills, and knowledge. Unless explicitly stated otherwise in the assessment instructions, assessments 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
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Please contact the course coordinator directly with regards to extensions.
Research Essay Part One - In Class Assessment
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique, Performance, Tutorial/ Problem Set
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
7/04/2025 - 11/04/2025
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
Task description
During tutorials in week 7, you will be given a task related to your Research Essay to complete and submit during class. It is therefore important that you attend tutorials during week 7 (Monday 7 April – Friday 11 April). You will be informed of the task at the beginning of your tutorial. The in-class assessment is worth a total of 20 marks.
This is a scaffolded assessment, which means students must use the results of this assessment in their Research Essay Part Two. Part One and Part Two of this scaffolded assessment will be clearly explained during the lecture in Week 1 of semester.
If you cannot attend your scheduled tutorial for this week, please contact your tutor and the course coordinator to arrange attending another scheduled tutorial in Week 7.
Assessment tasks are intended to evaluate a student’s abilities, skills, and knowledge. Unless explicitly stated otherwise in the assessment instructions, assessments 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
Students will submit this in-class assessment at the end of their tutorial.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Please contact the course coordinator directly with regards to extensions.
Research Essay Part Two (2500 words)
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 32%
- Due date
16/05/2025 2:00 pm
Task description
Each student will write a research essay based on the topic/s distributed in Week 1 of semester. The essay is worth a total of 32 marks.
Essays must be typed (double-spaced), fully referenced, and include a reference list with at least 20 academic sources (i.e., journal articles, books, but some specialist publications will be acceptable such as the CTC at West Point reports). The word limit is 2500 words. Marks will be deducted for excessive variation from word limit.
This is Part Two of your scaffolded assessment. This means you must substantially incorporate the results of Part One (your in-class assessment) into this essay. Part One and Part Two of this scaffolded assessment will be clearly explained during the lecture in Week 1 of semester.
Assessment tasks are intended to evaluate a student’s abilities, skills, and knowledge. Unless explicitly stated otherwise in the assessment instructions, assessments 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 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 email your course coordinator immediately.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
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
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 32%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
Task description
Students will be required to undertake a 2 hour examination at the end of semester. The exam is worth a total of 32 marks.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT 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 - specified written materials permitted |
| Materials | One A4 sheet of typed notes, single sided, is 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 | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student does notﾠaddress the question, shows no evidence of reading and minimal comprehension of the issues at hand. |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The studentﾠaddresses the question poorly and showsﾠvery little evidence of reading. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: The student makes an effort to establish a single major argument for the essay andﾠemploys some research 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 assignment. The studentﾠaddresses the question and shows evidence of required research and a basic grasp of the issues at hand. However,ﾠfalls short of satisfying all basic requirements for a Pass. |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student makes a reasonable effort to provide evidence to support a visible argument andﾠemploys an adequate research base 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 question and shows evidence of adequate research and a degree of understanding of the issues at hand. |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 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 question in a direct, well supported fashion and shows evidence of some wide reading and a reasonable understanding of the issues at hand. |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The studentﾠdemonstrates a very good grasp of the chosen topic andﾠprovides a considerable amount of evidence 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 question in a direct, reasonably sophisticated fashion, employs wide research and shows a sound understanding of the issues at hand. |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The studentﾠdemonstrates a highly sophisticated grasp of the topic andﾠsucceeds in addressing the question by providing a high level of evidence to support a clearly stated argument. The studentﾠemploys an extensive and well organised research base 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. |
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
Feedback for theﾠessay will be provided via Turnitin.
NB: If you need extra help in preparing your assignment, your first point of contact is your tutor, not the course coordinator.
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.
Additional learning resources information
Essay Guide
The School of Political Science and International Studies Essay Guide can be downloaded from the School’s Student Support webpage.
The Guide sets out guidelines you should follow in preparing written assignments.
Essay Writing Assistance
The School of Political Science and International Studies schedules regular “drop-in” sessions designed to provide one-on-one advice and assistance in essay planning and writing.
There is no need to make an appointment and you are encouraged to bring your essay with you.
The day and time of these sessions will be finalized at the beginning of each semester and published on the Student Support webpage.
Student Services
Student services offer a variety of short courses during the semester which will help you improve your study, research and writing skills and thus your academic performance in this course.
Library Resources
UQ Library offers training in software, assignment writing, research skills, and publishing and research management.
The University’s library holdings for Political Science and International Studies are primarily located in the Central Library.
There is a help desk in the Library. Students are also welcome to contact the BEL/HASS Librarians for assistance.
Email: librarians@library.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 (24 Feb - 02 Mar) |
Lecture |
Lecture 1 - Introduction: Key Concepts and Historical Context Lecture 1 introduces the course's core concepts, and locates it within the framework of strategic studies. The colonial origins of insurgency and counterinsurgency are discussed, as well as a brief history of terrorism and insurgency by tracing key manifestations from anarchist and separatist/anti-colonial insurgencies to global Salafi-Jihadism and the extreme right. |
Week 2 (03 Mar - 09 Mar) |
Lecture |
Lecture 2 - WWII and the Evolution of Guerrilla War Lecture 2 considers the impact of twentieth century 'total war' on the evolution of guerrilla warfare. Insurgencies in Nazi-occupied Europe and Mao's development of modern guerrilla warfare doctrine against imperial Japan will form a particular focus of attention. |
Week 3 (10 Mar - 16 Mar) |
Lecture |
Lecture 3 - Cold War Insurgencies and Propaganda Lecture 3 is divided into two parts. The first explores two asymmetric conflicts (Malaya and Kenya) that saw departing colonial authorities prevail over local insurgencies. The practical and moral challenges these conflicts present for those looking to learn from counterinsurgents' success will form a main focus of attention. The second part contrasts Malaya and Kenya to Algeria and Vietnam, two cases that constitute counterinsurgency failure in the Cold War period. The reasons counterinsurgents failed, and the larger lessons that can be drawn from these failures, will be the main focus of part two. Central to these discussions will be the role of information operations and the use of media. |
Week 4 (17 Mar - 23 Mar) |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 1 - History of Terrorism and Insurgency Tutorial 1 (based on Lecture's 1-3) recaps and unpacks the first three weeks of the semester. |
Lecture |
Lecture 4 - Israel-Palestine Conflict Lecture 4 examines the rise of modern transnational terrorism in the context of the Israel-Palestine conflict. The effectiveness of transnational terrorism as a means of advancing Palestinian political objectives will form a core theme of the lecture. |
|
Week 5 (24 Mar - 30 Mar) |
Lecture |
Lecture 5 - Post-Cold War International Order and the Internationalisation of Terrorism Lecture 5 analyses the emergence of transnational terrorism through two cases: the Weather Underground in the United States, and the rise of Al Qaeda as a threat to the Post-Cold War international order. |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 2 - Israel/Palestine Conflict In tutorial 2, students will discuss the historical conflict between Israel and Palestine before analysing the current conflict. |
|
Week 6 (31 Mar - 06 Apr) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
WEEK 6 - INDEPENDENT STUDY WEEK No lecture or tutorials |
Week 7 (07 Apr - 13 Apr) |
Lecture |
Lecture 6 - The 'War on Terror' and Afghanistan Following the 9/11 attacks, the West embroiled itself in two long running counterinsurgency campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. Lecture 6 considers the conflict in Afghanistan, paying particular attention to the sources of insurgent longevity and eventual success. |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 3 - Week 7 - In-class Assessment In-class assessment (Research Essay Part One) will be conducted in tutorials in Week 7. |
|
Week 8 (14 Apr - 20 Apr) |
Lecture |
Lecture 7 - The Iraq War and the Rise of Islamic State and its Global Affiliates Lecture 7 considers the war in Iraq and the ensuing rise of the Islamic State, one of the most successful and persistent insurgences of recent times. The Islamic State's origins, adaptiveness and persistence will form a particular focus of analysis. Further, by analysing the Islamic State's global affiliates in West Africa and the Philippines, we question the efficacy of COIN and whether Islamic State poses an enduring threat. |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 4 - The 'War on Terror' and Afghanistan Tutorial 5 explores the war in Afghanistan, paying particular attention to the failures of Western counterinsurgent strategy and the sources of the Taliban's resilience and eventual resurgence and victory. |
|
Mid-sem break (21 Apr - 27 Apr) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
EASTER HOLIDAYS AND MID-SEMESTER BREAK |
Week 9 (28 Apr - 04 May) |
Lecture |
Lecture 8 - Authoritarian Counterinsurgency In Lecture 8, we turn to the Assad regime's suppression of insurgency in Syria to analyse the advantages and disadvantages dictatorships face when fighting asymmetric conflicts. |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 5 - The Iraq War and the Rise of Islamic State and its Global Affiliates Tutorial 6 investigates the Islamic State, one of the world's most successful and resilient insurgent organisations. We scrutinise the Islamic State's evolving strategy in its post-territorial phase as a key focus of discussion. |
|
Week 10 (05 May - 11 May) |
Lecture |
Lecture 9 - The Far and Extreme Right Acknowledging the ideological diffusion of the extreme-right, Lecture 9 aims to cover its key manifestations, including Neo-Nazism, white supremacy, Christian extremism, and anti-government and sovereign citizens. It specifically questions why the far and extreme right undermines democratic legitimacy, and how democratic nations can counter this threat. |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 6 - Authoritarian Counterinsurgency Tutorial 6 dissects the effectiveness of Authoritarian Counterinsurgency. |
|
Week 11 (12 May - 18 May) |
Lecture |
Lecture 10 - Gender and Violent Extremism Lecture 10 is focused on gender and violent extremism and is broken into two parts. It begins with an historical overview of women in terrorist organisations throughout history, and details the strategic significance of gender in insurgency and propaganda strategy. The second part examines the role of masculinities in motivating political violence. Emphasis will be paid to analysing the Involuntary Celibates (Incels) movement and its connection to anti-feminism. |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 7 - The Far and Extreme Right Tutorial 7 considers the distinctive ideological and security challenge far and extreme right terrorism poses to liberal multicultural democracies, and reflect on the effectiveness and limits of current strategies to mitigate this threat. |
|
Week 12 (19 May - 25 May) |
Lecture |
Lecture 11 - Asymmetric Warfare and Interstate Conflict In Lecture 11, we consider recent state-based attempts to adapt asymmetric warfare methods in the context of strategic competition between states. Russia's and China's pursuit of 'hybrid' warfare, and Iran's mobilisation of proxies (the 'Axis of Resistance') will form particular points of reference for the lecture. |
Tutorial |
Tutorial 8 - Gender and Violent Extremism Tutorial 8 questions why a feminist intersectional lens is important for the study of political violence. Further, we discuss the gender stereotypes marring objective discussion on violent extremism and the detrimental impacts this may have on counter-terrorism. |
|
Week 13 (26 May - 01 Jun) |
Lecture |
Lecture 12 - Terrorism, Democracy, and Order The concluding lecture revisits the course's key themes, and reflects on the impact of terrorism and insurgency on the long-term viability of democracy and the current liberal international order. In what ways does asymmetric violence force trade-offs between security and liberty, and how might both democracies and the present international order need to adapt to manage the challenges of terrorism and insurgent violence? |
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.