Course coordinator
Professor Matt McDonald
Matt is available during office hours (Monday 10-11; Wednesday 1-2) or by appointment: matt.mcdonald@uq.edu.au
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
This course examines security in international relations. We examine debates about the meaning of security in international relations and debates about the role, origins and changing nature of warfare in the international system. We then explore key global security dynamics ranging from the arms trade to nuclear proliferation, ethnic conflict and terrorism, and the contours of a new global security agenda in which we explore the relationship between security and poverty, disease and environmental change.
This course first familiarizes students with debates about security and the use of force in international relations, pointing to different theoretical approaches to the meaning of security and the origins of war. We also examine the changing nature of war and challenges associated with the threat and use of force. The course then examines key global security dynamics and issues, from great power security dynamics and the political economy of warfare to the role of nuclear weapons, terrorism and insurgency and debates about the legitimacy of war and the responsibility to protect. We conclude by pointing to the so-called ‘new security agenda’ and exploring debates about the future of global security and war.
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:
GT263
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Lectures: There will be 12 two-hour lectures starting in Teaching Week 1.
Tutorials: There will be 8 one-hour tutorials starting in Teaching Week 2.ﾠ
Aims and outcomes
POLS2209 aims to introduce students to the study of security in international relations. Itﾠaimsﾠto provideﾠstudents with a sound understanding of key security concepts and theories as they relateﾠto conflict and the use of force as well as the so-called 'new security agenda'. It also aims to provide an account of the range of actors who might be seen as security providers inﾠglobal politics.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Critically analyse learning materials, interrogating their assumptions and limitations
LO2.
Apply methods and theories of security to understand and/or examine contemporary issues
LO3.
Examine contemporary security issues in global politics and develop innovative analyses and solutions to those issues
LO4.
Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the cultural context in which course materials and disciplinary debates take place, and awareness of alternative (Indigenous and post-colonial) perspectives to dominant approaches to the study of security.
LO5.
Wield intellectual tools and develop 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation/ Student contribution, Reflection |
Tutorial Engagement
|
15% |
5/03/2025 - 30/05/2025 |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
Crisis Briefing (1000 words)
|
25% |
28/03/2025 2:00 pm |
| Essay/ Critique |
Research Essay (2000 words)
|
30% |
23/05/2025 2:00 pm |
| Examination |
Final Exam
|
30% |
End of Semester Exam Period 7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025
Examination period (7 June 25 - 21 June 25) |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
Tutorial Engagement
- In-person
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution, Reflection
- Weight
- 15%
- Due date
5/03/2025 - 30/05/2025
Task description
Tutorial Attendance and Participation /12 (1.5 per tutorial)
Tutorial Reflection /3
For the eight weeks of tutorials, students will receive 1.5 marks for participation for each tutorial attended in which they:
- Arrive on time
- Listen to others
- Illustrate a willingness to speak or participate in class activities
- Engage other students respectfully
If you cannot attend a tutorial due to extraordinary circumstances, you will have the opportunity to make up for your lost mark with a review of the two essential readings for that week, submitted to your tutor by the following week. You must obtain permission for this in advance from your tutor, and it must be due to unforeseen events (not ongoing work or study commitments, e.g.).
Three (3) marks will also be allocated to students submitting a brief (500 word) reflective note on how readings, tutorial activities or discussions illuminated or illustrated one of three core themes in the course: the role of theories of security; the changing nature of war when it comes to security; and the relationship between ethics and security. An example exercise is available on Blackboard. This reflective piece will be submitted via Turnitin. It will not be formally assessed and no feedback will be provided, but it will be checked to ensure you have completed the exercise and are eligible to receive these three additional marks. This piece of assessment is due on Friday 23rd May at 2pm.
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
Submit your Tutorial Reflection by 2pm on 23 May via the link provided on Blackboard (under Assessment), specifying your tutor.
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.
Email your tutor directly to request an extension for this piece of assessment.
Late submission
Late submissions will be penalised at 1 mark per day.
Crisis Briefing (1000 words)
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 25%
- Due date
28/03/2025 2:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific, Work integrated learning.
Task description
This piece of assessment (maximum 1000 words AND 2 pages excluding bibliography) requires students to identify an existing security ‘crisis’ in world politics, and to provide a briefing document that outlines the nature of the crisis, its urgency, the appropriate response and responders, and why this constitutes a security crisis. This briefing, similar to reports developed by organizations such as the International Crisis Group, should clearly target relevant stakeholders to articulate a clear and compelling case for action in response to an ongoing security crisis. An example is available on Blackboard.
This briefing should be set in the present, must contain no in-text references (a separate bibliography is to be provided), and should be no more than 1000 words in length or 2 pages in length (excluding the bibliography, which should begin on p3). If the version visible on Blackboard (excluding bibliography) is longer than either 1100 words OR 2 pages you will be penalised (10%- 2.5 marks). You are also required to adhere to a particular template, with suggested word limits applying to each. This template is below, also evident in the example of Blackboard.
Template
- What is the issue (no more than 100 words): what is the crisis?
- Why is this urgent (no more than 100 words): why does this issue require the immediate attention of particular stakeholders (whether national decision-makers or the international community more broadly)?
- Who should act (no more than 100 words): which actors specifically are you calling on to respond to this crisis?
- What should be done (no more than 100 words): what exactly are you asking the above actors to do?
- How is this a ‘security’ crisis (no more than 100 words): make it clear how this connects to the course content by being clear about why this can be viewed as an issue of security.
- Overview (no more than 500 words): this is your opportunity to outline all of the above at length, giving more background and detail to areas of the briefing that might have been missed in the briefer summary at the start.
A criteria sheet is available on Blackboard, an example briefing is also available on Blackboard. Students should also consult briefs produced by the (International) Crisis Group
Crisis Briefings are to be submitted electronically through Turnitin by 2pm on Friday 28th March. In the title you enter on Turnitin, you should clearly identify your tutor.
No in-text referencing or footnotes are required for this piece of assessment, and should be avoided to ensure consistency with the assessment type (see the example on Blackboard).
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
Please submit your Crisis Briefing via the link provided on Blackboard (under Assessment), specifying your tutor.
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.
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.
Research Essay (2000 words)
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
23/05/2025 2:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
Task description
Each student will write a research essay of 2000 words due at 2pm on Friday 23rd May. A list of essay questions are available on Blackboard, or students may choose a topic of their own with approval from the course coordinator by 23rd April - one month prior to the essay deadline.
A full list of marking criteria is available on Blackboard, but as a general guide the essay should attempt to develop a clear argument in response to the question, one supported by significant engagement with literature on that topic. The course outline’s recommended readings should provide some guidance for reading material relevant to your topic, and all essays must draw on at least 3 sources from the course recommended reading list- failure to do so will incur a 20% (6 marks) penalty. The essay should also attempt to engage at some level with theories and conceptual frameworks associated with security in international relations, although the extent of engagement depends on the question chosen. Finally, students should acknowledge and engage with counter-arguments to maximize the strength of their conclusions.
Assignments must be typed (1.5 spaced), fully referenced and include a reference list (not a bibliography). All assignments submitted are to be the original and individual work of the student submitting them. The assignment must be submitted electronically through Turnitin in Word form (not PDF). Penalties will apply for late submissions (10% per day) and excessive variation from the set word limit- more than 10% variation from the word limit will result in a penalty of 10%.
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
Submit your Essay via the link provided on Blackboard (under Assessment), specifying your chosen question (e.g. Q2 Theory).
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.
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.
Final Exam
- Hurdle
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025
Examination period (7 June 25 - 21 June 25)
Task description
The final piece of assessment for this course will be a central exam conducted in the central exam period. This is a hurdle requirement, meaning students must complete and pass the exam to pass the course overall.
Students will have 2 hours to complete the exam. Students will be required to answer two questions in essay form. Students will be required to complete one question from Part A of the exam question list and the other from Part B. The topics covered in Part A correspond approximately with the lectures in the first half of the course (from 'Introduction' to 'Great Power Security Politics'), while the topics covered in Part B correspond with the lectures in the second half of the course (from 'Global Security Governance' to 'The Future of Security and War'). Students will choose one of 6 possible questions from Part A and one of 6 possible questions from Part B.
Each of the two questions will be worth 15 marks. The maximum score for the exam will be 30 marks.
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.
Hurdle requirements
Students must complete and pass the exam to pass the course overall.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 | 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 and employs 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
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 |
Security Studies: an introduction
Edition: 4th edition Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd ISBN: 9781032162737; 9781003247821; 9781032162713; 9781000820300 |
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
Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04, L05 |
Week 2 (03 Mar - 09 Mar) |
Lecture |
Lecture 2: Theories of Global Security Traditional Security
Critical Security
|
Tutorial |
Tutorial 1: Introduction, Theories of Security Possible Topics for Discussion:
|
|
Week 3 (10 Mar - 16 Mar) |
Lecture |
Lecture 3: Clausewitz & the Changing Nature of War
|
Tutorial |
No tutorials |
|
Week 4 (17 Mar - 23 Mar) |
Lecture |
Lecture 4: Causes of War
|
Tutorial |
Tutorial 2: War Possible Topics for Discussion:
|
|
Week 5 (24 Mar - 30 Mar) |
Lecture |
Lecture 5: The Use and Threat of Force
|
Tutorial |
Tutorial 3: The Use and Threat of Force Possible Topics for Discussion:
|
|
Week 6 (31 Mar - 06 Apr) |
Lecture |
Lecture 6: Great Power Security Politics
|
Tutorial |
Tutorial 4: Great Power Security Politics Possible Topics for Discussion:
|
|
Week 7 (07 Apr - 13 Apr) |
Lecture |
Lecture 7: Global Security Governance
|
Tutorial |
Tutorial 5: Global Security Governance Possible Topics for Discussion:
|
|
Week 8 (14 Apr - 20 Apr) |
Lecture |
Lecture 8: Intrastate War
|
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
No tutorials |
|
Mid-sem break (21 Apr - 27 Apr) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Mid-Semester Break |
Week 9 (28 Apr - 04 May) |
Lecture |
Lecture 9: Terrorism and Insurgency
|
Tutorial |
Tutorial 6: Intrastate War, Terrorism & Insurgency Possible Topics for Discussion:
|
|
Week 10 (05 May - 11 May) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
No classes- Labour Day Week |
Week 11 (12 May - 18 May) |
Lecture |
Lecture 10: Security in the Anthropocene
|
Tutorial |
Tutorial 7: Anthropocene Security Possible Topics for Discussion:
|
|
Week 12 (19 May - 25 May) |
Lecture |
Lecture 11: Human Security
|
Tutorial |
Tutorial 8: New Security Agenda Possible Topics for Discussion: - Should security be expanded to include non-military threats? - Have issues like disease been securitized? - Should security be defined in terms of 'human security'? |
|
Week 13 (26 May - 01 Jun) |
Lecture |
Lecture 12: Review/ The Future of Security and War
|
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.