Dr Cormac Opdebeeck Wilson
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 explores the philosophical underpinnings and practical application of nonviolence as a means for effecting social change. Making extensive use of case studies and primary sources, we study the relationship between violence and nonviolence in particular historical contexts, as well as examining debates over the ethics and efficacy of resistance. By focusing on nonviolence, as well as its ostensible opposite, we gain insight into the character of social relations and the distinct forms of violence and nonviolence which mark the everyday lived experiences of people across the world. Such insights allow us to think anew about the nature of contemporary conflicts and resistance movements, including, for example, consideration of the role of new technologies and social media in the pursuit of social change.
Social change ﾠcan occurﾠthrough both violent and nonviolent means. Often, it is violence thatﾠcomes to mind when one thinks about substantial or ﾠradical forms of social and political change, but nonviolent forms of action are just as pervasiveﾠas violence ﾠand ﾠthey ﾠcan be just as effectiveﾠat ushering in change. Crucially, theﾠchange that nonviolent forms of actionﾠusherﾠin areﾠ also of a very different quality than the kind produced by violentﾠcoercion.ﾠThis course explores both the theories and concepts thatﾠ underpin nonviolence as a form of resistance and a means for effecting social and political change, andﾠ its practical character, including its strategicﾠand tactical dimensions. ﾠDrawing on a range of ﾠtheories, concepts, and methods, ﾠfrom a range of academic disciplines, as well as from the unique experiences each of us bring to the table,ﾠ we will discuss how nonviolent resistance has looked, looks today, and might look tomorrow - around the globe. And so, byﾠ the end of the course, each of us will be better equipped to recogniseﾠand analyse nonviolent resistance as it manifests around us.
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:
EX203, VX201, GT256, POLS3503
Course staff
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
The class will run as a weekly 2-hour seminar. Students will be assessed based on their attendance and participation in seminars, a short written case study, an essay proposal, and a final essay.
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to:ﾠ
- Explore the philosophical underpinnings ofﾠnonviolent activism and how these philosophical underpinnings lead to nonviolent change
- Explore the global history of nonviolent change beyond the Western practices and thinkings.ﾠ
- Provide students with an intensive and critical examination ofﾠpractices and content of nonviolent social movements through analysis of key case studies.
- Develop students' abilities to reflect on everyday nonviolent change by linking them with the concepts and theories.ﾠ
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Demonstrate a thorough historical and contemporary understanding of non-violence. This will include the demonstration of reflection as well as developing content knowledge of the course materials.
LO2.
Develop analytical skills and the ability to analyse current events on the basis of knowledge and case studies examined in the course.
LO3.
Effectively communicate ideas and information in spoken and written form.
LO4.
Situate theoretical approaches in everyday case studies.
LO5.
Identify different types of conflicts and nonviolent movements globally.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation/ Student contribution | Seminar Participation | 10% |
6/03/2025 - 22/05/2025 |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Nonviolence Case Study Analysis (1000 words) | 20% |
28/03/2025 4:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
Nonviolence research Proposal (1500 words)
|
30% |
2/05/2025 4:00 pm |
| Essay/ Critique |
Nonviolence Research Essay (3000 words)
|
40% |
9/06/2025 4:00 pm |
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
Seminar Participation
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution
- Weight
- 10%
- Due date
6/03/2025 - 22/05/2025
Task description
Students should attend and actively involve in seminar participation. Participation will be assessed by: students' active participation in small-groups and class discussion. Before seminars, students are expected to read the required readings of the tutorial week.
If students cannot attend the seminar due to a valid reason (i.e. exceptional circumstances / illness supported by relevant documentation), they should contact the course coordinator prior to their seminar by email to be allowed to make up the participation. If the student obtains approval to make up the participation from course coordinator, they should submit a 1-2 page review of the week's required readings to the course coordinator before the next seminar.
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 cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Nonviolence Case Study Analysis (1000 words)
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
28/03/2025 4:00 pm
Task description
A 700 (+10%) word case study of a nonviolent protest/resistance movement or event to be selected by the student. The case can be historical, current, or even fictional (e.g., from a book or movie). The aim of this assignment is to apply one key theory or concept discussed in class (or to be discussed in class) to a case to produce an interesting insight about the movement/event. Key theories and concepts include, but are not limited to: consent, power, strategic nonviolence, everyday resistance, discourse, intersectionality, decolonisation, indigenous politics, the affective and emotive character of resistance, the visual character of resistance, and so on. A comprehensive list of theories/concepts will be discussed in class.
The document should make one key point that can stand alone. In other words, the reader should need no prior knowledge of the case to understand the contribution. Although it is acceptable to rely on news articles for current cases, and on popular culture media for fictional cases, the document must also be supported by academic references.
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 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.
Nonviolence research Proposal (1500 words)
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
2/05/2025 4:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Peer assessment factor.
Task description
A 1500 word (+10%) research proposal about either (1) a nonviolence movement/event case study or (2) a theory/concept to be selected by the student. Unlike for the case study assignment, the essay proposal and essay cannot engage a fictional protest movement/event. The document should outline the key components required to produce the final essay about the chosen topic. These components include: (1) a research puzzle and research question, (2) background information about the case and a review of a selection of the most relevant literature, (3) a brief discussion of methodological considerations (what kind of sources will be drawn on, how, and why), and (4) a proposed structure for the research essay. This proposal does not require an argument because it is, in effect, a prelimenary stage of the research essay.
Part of this assessment will be completed in class, in week 8 of teaching. The week 8 seminar will run as a workshop. In small groups, students will have to give each other feedback on each other's proposal drafts. We will discuss common research design issues and solutions as a class. Students will have to submit their draft proposals at the end of the week 8 seminar, with the feedback of their peers attached. This week 8 submission will not be graded, but it will serve as the basis from which students' ability to integrate feedback at the research design stage of projects will be assessed upon submission of the proposal in week 9.
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 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.
Nonviolence Research Essay (3000 words)
- Hurdle
- Mode
- Oral, Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
9/06/2025 4:00 pm
Task description
A 3000 word (+ 10%) essay about either (1) a nonviolence movement/event case study or (2) a theory/concept to be selected by the student. The document, which will build heavily on the research proposal, should make one clear argument. The narrative of the argument should be supported by a selection of key literature, a suitable methodology, and an effective structure. The essay should also showcase the student's ability to integrate feedback received from peers during the week 8 workshop and from the course coordinator after the formal submission of the research proposal in week 9.
This written assessment is paired with a compulsory 'one on one' oral assessment about the essay with the course coordinator. Further information about the oral assessment as well as the date and time of this assessment will be communicated in class.
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 receive a pass in the ‘essay oral response’ to pass this course. Students who do not receive a pass on the oral response task can only receive an overall grade of 3 or less for the course. Students who receive an overall score of 3 in the Course are eligible to apply for a supplementary assessment (my.uq Supplementary Assessment).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.
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.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 1 - 19 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: <p>The student does notﾠaddress the question, shows no evidence of reading and minimal comprehension of the issues at hand. |
| 2 (Fail) | 20 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The studentﾠaddresses the question poorly and shows very little evidence of reading. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
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) | 50 - 64 |
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) | 65 - 74 |
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) | 75 - 84 |
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) | 85 - 100 |
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. Credit 65 - 74 %
6. Distinction 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.
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) |
Seminar |
S1. Introduction to Theories of Nonviolent Change In this introductory seminar, we will discuss the course structure and the nature of the assessments. We will also discuss plagiarism and acceptable uses of Artificial Intelligence. We will then briefly discuss some of the principal ideas and concepts that underpin the course subject. |
Week 2 (03 Mar - 09 Mar) |
Seminar |
S2. Global History of Nonviolent Movements In this seminar we will discuss the historical nature of nonviolence from a global perspective. We will acquaint ourselves with key thinkers from different traditions and time periods to gain an appreciation for the richness and diversity of nonviolent traditions. |
Week 3 (10 Mar - 16 Mar) |
Seminar |
S3. Conceptual Foundations of Nonviolence In this seminar, we discuss traditional understandings of power and consent. These notions are central in a number of influential theories of nonviolent change. But we also query the validity of these dominant theorisations by thinking about power not as a thing but as a complex relation. |
Week 4 (17 Mar - 23 Mar) |
Seminar |
S4. Strategic Approaches to Nonviolence In this seminar, we discuss strategic approaches to nonviolence. We will query the effectiveness of nonviolent forms of action as tools for social and political change, focussing on direct and organised nonviolence, including phenomena like protest marches and strikes. |
Week 5 (24 Mar - 30 Mar) |
Seminar |
S5. Tactical Approaches to Nonviolence In this seminar, we will discuss tactical approaches to nonviolence. Leaving behind the strategic kind of nonviolence (direct and organised), we will turn our attention to the indirect and everyday forms of resistance that take place all around us, all the time. To do so, we will acquaint ourselves with the notions of practice and discourse. |
Week 6 (31 Mar - 06 Apr) |
Seminar |
S6. Nonviolence through an intersectional lens In this seminar, we engage nonviolence through an intersectional lens. With a focus on race and gender (without limiting ourselves to these categories), we will discuss the dynamics through which oppression functions. We will also discuss how intersectionality might serve as the basis for emancipation, and we will engage with critiques of the concept to better understand its limitations as a tool for academics and activists. |
Week 7 (07 Apr - 13 Apr) |
Seminar |
S7. Decolonising Resistance In this seminar, we discuss decolonisation. We do so through reference to historical struggles of decolonisation, before shifting our attention to contemporary movements (academic, activist and otherwise) that seek to decolonise spaces and practices that, at a glance, may not appear to be colonial in character. We also discuss the limits of 'decolonising' spaces and practices. |
Week 8 (14 Apr - 20 Apr) |
Seminar |
S8. Research Essay Proposal Workshop In this seminar, you will workshop your essay proposals in small groups. After this round of peer-review, we will discuss common issues with research design as well as possible solutions. At the end of the seminar, you will have to submit your draft proposals, along with the feedback from your peers, but you will have two weeks to fine tune the proposals before the final submission in week 9 of class. |
Mid-sem break (21 Apr - 27 Apr) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Mid-Semester break (No seminar this week) |
Week 9 (28 Apr - 04 May) |
Seminar |
S9. Writing Research and Writing as Resistance In this seminar, the first of three seminars on alternative approaches to nonviolence, we discuss writing. We will begin by discussing what constitutes 'good' academic writing, a 'good' research proposal and essay. We will then discuss writing as an act of resistance in and of itself. To do so, we will discuss political writing, but also the political power of literary forms like poetry and fiction. |
Week 10 (05 May - 11 May) |
Seminar |
S10. Emotions and the Politics of Protest In this seminar, the second of three seminars on alternative approaches to nonviolence, we will discuss the role of emotion in resistance. Protests are contexts loaded with affects and emotions. We will discuss how paying attention to the political character of these phenomena can enrich our understanding of protest. We will also discuss the methodological challenges involved in the study of emotions in protest contexts and elsewhere. |
Week 11 (12 May - 18 May) |
Seminar |
S11. Visualising Resistance In this seminar, the third of three seminars on alternative approaches to nonviolence, we discuss the visual character of resistance. Focussing on street protests, we will see how the visual character of such events are not an historical given, nor is it a universal feature of protest. We will also think about representation and the different levels at which the visual plays a role in protest: in the street, in the media, in our imagination. |
Week 12 (19 May - 25 May) |
Seminar |
S12. The Future of Nonviolence In this seminar, the last substantive seminar before the course summary, we turn away from the past and present to look to the future. We ask: how will nonviolence function in the years and decades that lie ahead? To help us answer this question, we will discuss the significance of recent events like the covid-19 pandemic, looming catastrophes like those heralded by climate change, as well as the significance of emerging social, political, and technological trends, like A.I. |
Week 13 (26 May - 01 Jun) |
Seminar |
S13. Summary Seminar In this summary lecture, we will run through the key theories, concepts, and takeaways of the course and reflect on its strengths and weaknesses. |
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.