Course coordinator
Professor Andrew Phillips
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2025 (28/07/2025 - 22/11/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Politic Sc & Internat Studies
This course examines the nature, uses and limits of military power as an instrument of political influence in contemporary world politics. Part one of the course introduces students to conceptual debates on the role of military power in the world today. In particular, we focus on debates concerning the supposed transformation of both 'security' and war, and the implications of these debates for the management of violence in the international system. Part two of the course then examines the role of military power, relative to other instruments of statecraft, in shaping international relations between states. We focus here especially on themes of Great Power rivalry, alliances and collective security regimes, nuclear weapons proliferation, and energy security. In part three of the course, we then examine the uses and limits of military power as a means of managing 'new' security challenges, focusing particularly on transnational terrorism and asymmetric conflicts. In part four , we conclude with an extensive reflection of the future of war and military power in world politics.
This course introduces students to a 'strategic studies' perspective on global security issues. Strategic studies constitutes that part of the security studies sub-field concentrating specifically on the role of military power as an instrument of political influence in world politics. Force and the threat of force remain regrettable constants in world politics, and the global security landscape cannot be properly understood without a thorough awareness of the myriad ways diverse state and non-state actors employ military power in the furtherance of their political goals. At the same time, in confronting global security challenges, political leaders are frequently confronted with the insufficiency or unsuitability of military power as a means to mitigate these threats. Upon completion of this course, students will be equipped with a comprehensive understanding of military power's evolving importance as an instrument of statecraft, as well as an enhanced ability to apply a strategic studies perspective to contemporary debates on global security.
Course requirements
Assumed background
There are no official prerequisites for this course. However, POLS7211 International Security ﾠconstitutes an ideal complementary course, which if taken in conjunction with POLS7228 will provide you with a comprehensive introduction to the 'security studies' sub-field. ﾠ
Recommended prerequisites
We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:
POLS7211
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Professor Andrew Phillips
Tutor
Mr Viet Dung Trinh
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
The teaching program will consist of twelve two hour seminars (including the in-class test), commencing from Teaching Week 1.ﾠ
Aims and outcomes
- Develop a 'strategic studies' sensibility and ability to apply this perspective to the study of global security issues.
- Understand the uses and limits of military power as an instrument of political influence in world politics.
- Develop an understanding of the diverse functions of military power (e.g. assurance, deterrence and compellence) beyond war-fighting.
- Develop an understanding of the complex relationship between military power and other instruments of influence (e.g. diplomacy) in actors' pursuit of their international political goals.
- Acquire an understanding of different theoretical approaches to the study of the causes of war and develop an ability to apply insights from these to the study of global security issues.
- Encourage the development of writing and verbal skills through analysis of issues and problems relating to strategic studies and the use of force in world politics.
- Develop an ability to critically assess a range of academic and other sources pertaining to strategic studies.ﾠ
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Demonstrate broad knowledge relating to international relations and strategic studies issues
LO2.
Evaluate the strength of particular theoretical approaches to strategic studies
LO3.
Assess different perspectives and approaches to the use and limits of military power as an instrument of influence in world politics
LO4.
Apply your knowledge of key issues for a better understanding of current affairs
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examination |
In-Class Test
|
20% |
21/08/2025 2:00 pm |
| Essay/ Critique |
Research Essay 3000 words
|
40% |
22/09/2025 2:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
2035 Strategic Foresight Exercise Part 1: Written Brief (1500 words)
|
20% |
31/10/2025 2:00 pm |
| Presentation |
2035 Strategic Foresight Exercise Part 2: Oral Assessment (10 minutes, including questions and answers)
|
20% |
17/11/2025 - 18/11/2025 |
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
In-Class Test
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
21/08/2025 2:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
Students will undertake an in-class exam (reading time 10 minutes, writing time 90 minutes) that will evaluate their ability to understand and apply key course concepts from Weeks 1-3 to the analysis of contemporary strategic challenges. More detailed information on the exam's format, focus and assessment criteria will be provided to students via the course Blackboard site.
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 | 90 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.
Research Essay 3000 words
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
22/09/2025 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
Students will select one topic from a list of research essay questions that will be released in the early weeks of the semester via Blackboard. The essay should be 3000 words long, with a plus or minus 10 percent margin. Any essays longer will suffer a 10% reduction in the total possible grade.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
The essay must be submitted via TURNITIN on the POLS7228 Blackboard site. TURNITIN cross checks tutorial and essay papers submitted in the course and with those submitted in POLS7228 in previous semesters. Instances of suspected plagiarism are required to be forwarded to the School's Integrity Officer.
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.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
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.
2035 Strategic Foresight Exercise Part 1: Written Brief (1500 words)
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
31/10/2025 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
Students will be required to submit a 1500 word brief for the Australian Prime Minister, addressing a strategic crisis unfolding in the year 2035. The brief must address the following: (a) Provide a succinct overview of the crisis (b) Provide a diagnostic assessment of how the crisis impacts on Australia's strategic interests (i.e. how does the crisis constitute a a challenge and or/opportunity for Australia?) and (c) Provide the Prime Minister with a well-reasoned policy recommendation to address the crisis.
Students will be offered the choice of one of a number of one sentence scenario 'prompts' for potential crises on which to base their brief, but may alternatively formulate their own alternative crisis, subject to prior approval from the course coordinator.
Further detail on the requirements and format of this assessment will be provided to students via Blackboard.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts or tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide limited support and guidance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension or their written submission independent of AI or MT tools.
Submission guidelines
The brief must be submitted via TURNITIN on the POLS7228 Blackboard site. TURNITIN cross checks tutorial and essay papers submitted in the course and with those submitted in POLS7228 in previous semesters. Instances of suspected plagiarism are required to be forwarded to the School's Integrity Officer.
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.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
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.
2035 Strategic Foresight Exercise Part 2: Oral Assessment (10 minutes, including questions and answers)
- Hurdle
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Oral
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
17/11/2025 - 18/11/2025
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
Students will sign-up to an approximate time to meet with the coordinator and tutor (between Monday 17 November 9am and Tuesday 18 November 4pm). This time and date will be treated as the due date.
The oral assessment builds off the written brief (assessment item 3), and provides students with the opportunity to advocate for their preferred policy option to address the strategic crisis they have previously introduced in the written brief.
The oral assessment will comprise two components:
a). An oral presentation from the student, in which they are to advocate for their preferred policy option for addressing their nominated 2035 strategic crisis.
The presentation should be 4-5 minutes long (an alarm will sound at 4 minutes 30 seconds).
b). Follow-up questions from the examiner (in their nominal role as the Australian Prime Minister). The follow-up questions will be designed to allow the student to amplify/clarify their policy proposal, and to address potential challenges to it. None of the questions will be deliberately difficult.
Further details of the assessment (including its format and assessment criteria) will be provided on Blackboard.
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.
Hurdle requirements
You must achieve 40% in this task to pass the course. Students who do not meet this threshold will not be eligible to pass the course, regardless of their performance in other assessment components and 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
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Late submission
You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.
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 not address 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 student addresses the question poorly and shows very 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 and employs some research which is correlated with the argument. Makes a visible effort to achieve adequate grammar, spelling and punctuation. Evidence of attempting a recognizable narrative flow appears throughout assignment. The student addresses the question and shows evidence of required research and a basic grasp of the issues at hand. However, falls short of satisfying 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 and employs 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 student answers 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 student provides 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 student answers 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 student demonstrates a very good grasp of the chosen topic and provides a considerable amount of evidence to support a clearly stated argument. The student employs 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 student answers 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 student demonstrates a highly sophisticated grasp of the topic and succeeds in addressing the question by providing a high level of evidence to support a clearly stated argument. The student employs an extensive and well organised research base to structure evidence in support of the argument and achieves impeccable levels of grammar, spelling, punctuation and narrative flow. The student answers 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:ﾠ
1.ﾠ Failﾠ 1 - 19%ﾠ
2. Failﾠ 20 - 44%ﾠ
3. Failﾠ 45 - 49%ﾠ
4. Passﾠ 50 - 64 %ﾠ
5. Creditﾠ 65 - 74 %ﾠ
6. Distinctionﾠ 75 - 84 %ﾠ
7. High Distinctionﾠ 85 - 100 %ﾠ
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.
Marking Criteria/Rubric
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
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
Library resources are available 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 (28 Jul - 03 Aug) |
Seminar |
Seminar 1: Introduction - What is Strategic Studies? This seminar will introduce the scope of the course, teaching methods and assessment. Substantively, we will discuss the meaning of 'strategy' and the distinctiveness of a 'strategic studies' approach to studying global security issues. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 2 (04 Aug - 10 Aug) |
Seminar |
Seminar 2: The Uses of Military Power as an Instrument of Influence in World Politics This seminar considers the question: what are the uses of military power as a means of political influence in world politics? We consider the varied nature of military power as a political resource, and evaluate when, where and under what circumstances it can be deployed to advance agents' political goals. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 3 (11 Aug - 17 Aug) |
Seminar |
Seminar 3: The Limits of Military Power as an Instrument of Influence in World Politics In this seminar, we build upon and the previous seminar's discussions about the utility of military power as an instrument of political influence in world politics. This seminar will however primarily focus upon the real-world challenges that complicate and often frustrate political agents' efforts to use military power as a means of advancing their political interests. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 4 (18 Aug - 24 Aug) |
Seminar |
In-Class Test This week's class will be entirely dedicated to completion of the first assessment task for the course - the in-class test (reading time 10 minutes, writing time 90 minutes). Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 5 (25 Aug - 31 Aug) |
Seminar |
Seminar 4: Grand Strategy and Sino-US Strategic Competition This seminar explores the concept of grand strategy - states' integrated and synchronised use of all instruments of national power to shape the international environment to their advantage. The rapidly evolving and increasingly adversarial of American and Chinese grand strategies will form a particular focus of discussion. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 6 (01 Sep - 07 Sep) |
Seminar |
Seminar 5: Power Politics in Maritime Asia In this seminar, we consider power politics in the maritime domain of the Indo-Pacific. We consider the present nature of the US-dominated Asian security order, the evolving regional military balance, and the ways in which Great Powers are now contesting that order. We also consider the distinctiveness of strategic rivalry in a maritime context, and the scope for managing regional power transitions short of armed conflict. The long running Taiwan Straits dispute will form a focal point of discussion. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 7 (08 Sep - 14 Sep) |
Seminar |
Seminar 6: Power Politics and the War in Ukraine This week we continue our investigation of power politics in the current global order. We shift our focus from Asia to Europe, considering Great Power rivalry and the ongoing order transition in Eastern Europe and in post-Soviet Eurasia. The ongoing war in Ukraine will be our primary focus of attention. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 8 (15 Sep - 21 Sep) |
Seminar |
Seminar 7: Nuclear Deterrence and Assurance in Asia This week we focus on the raft of challenges now undermining the global nuclear non-proliferation order. In particular, we focus on the increasingly complex US-China deterrence relationship. We also consider America's increasingly strained extended nuclear assurance relations with key Asian allies, and the prospective longevity of the US nuclear security umbrella in Northeast Asia. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 9 (22 Sep - 28 Sep) |
Seminar |
Seminar 8: Australian Strategic Challenges 1 - Grand Strategy, Alliance Politics and Deterrence This seminar interrogates whether Australia possesses, or requires, a coherent grand strategy, and how alliance commitments—particularly ANZUS—shape national strategic choices. Discussion will focus on balancing sovereignty, alliance expectations, and Australia’s role within a shifting Indo-Pacific security architecture. We will also Australia’s evolving approach to deterrence, weighing the merits of deterrence by denial versus punishment, and the implications of acquiring nuclear-powered submarines under AUKUS. Students will consider whether Australia’s capabilities and strategic culture are well-matched to sustain a credible deterrent posture in the region. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Mid Sem break (29 Sep - 05 Oct) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Mid-Semester Break Mid-semester break - no classes. |
Week 10 (06 Oct - 12 Oct) |
Seminar |
Seminar 9: Australian Strategic Challenges 2 - Economic Statecraft This seminar explores how economic statecraft has become central to Australia’s security, particularly in the context of Chinese economic coercion and critical infrastructure vulnerabilities. We assess policy responses and consider how Australia might balance economic openness with national resilience. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 11 (13 Oct - 19 Oct) |
Seminar |
Seminar 10: Australian Strategic Challenges 3 - The Struggle for Strategic Influence in the Pacific We investigate how Australia seeks to shape the strategic environment in the Southwest Pacific amid intensifying great-power competition, using tools ranging from development aid to security partnerships. Special attention will be given to emerging initiatives like the Australia–Tuvalu Falepili Union Treaty and the grey-zone dynamics influencing regional alignments. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 12 (20 Oct - 26 Oct) |
Seminar |
Seminar 11: Strategic Foresight - Anticipating and Preparing for 'Black Swan' Events out to 2035 This seminar introduces the practice of strategic foresight and scenario planning as tools for managing uncertainty and complexity in national security. Students will apply these methods to imagine potential ‘black swan’ events and assess how Australia might prepare for shocks that could redefine regional or global security landscapes. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
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 for Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.