Course coordinator
Dr Cormac Opdebeeck Wilson
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Politic Sc & Internat Studies
Violence is often viewed as the ultimate manifestation of power. It permeates the societies we live in. In this course we challenge the ethical foundations of this view and explore how nonviolence can be an effective way of yielding power and promoting social change. Making use of historical and contemporary case studies, we examine a wide range of nonviolent strategies, from strikes and civil disobedience to street protests and everyday resistance. They reveal how nonviolence offers pathways to political transformation when normal institutionalised politics fails to provide justice.
Violence is often viewed as the ultimate form of exercising power. From war to terrorism and from revolutionary upheavals to domestic disputes, violence permeates the societies we live in. This course explores how violence is not only highly problematic from an ethical perspective, but also less powerful than it seems at first sight.ﾠ
We explore cutting edge-literature that reveals how nonviolence has often been a far more effective way of yielding power and promoting social change. Doing so is crucial because in many historical and contemporary situations key political tensions and problems around the world cannot be solved through prevailing institutional mechanisms. Resistance is often the only way to promote change and a more just world.ﾠ
To understand the issues at stake we explore nonviolence through a variety of theoretical lenses and apply them to a global array of case studies, past and present.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Cormac Opdebeeck Wilson
Tutor
Mr Nengzheng Shi
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
This course comprises 12 two-hour seminars, starting in week one. Depending on the week, each seminar contains a mixture of lectures, discussion and group work.
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to provide students with an intensive and critical examination ofﾠpractices and content of nonviolent social movements through analysis of key case studies. ﾠ
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Demonstrate a thorough historical and contemporary understanding of nonviolence.
LO2.
Develop analytical skills and the ability to analyse current events.
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 | Attendance and Participation | 10% |
22/07/2024 - 21/10/2024 |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Case Study (1000 words) | 20% |
23/08/2024 4:00 pm |
| Essay/ Critique | Essay Proposal (1,500 words) | 30% |
20/09/2024 4:00 pm |
| Essay/ Critique | Essay (3,000 words) | 40% |
25/10/2024 4:00 pm |
Assessment details
Attendance and Participation
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution
- Weight
- 10%
- Due date
22/07/2024 - 21/10/2024
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03, L04
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 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 the 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 an agreed-upon piece of assessment 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.
Case Study (1000 words)
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
23/08/2024 4:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
A 1000 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 more extensive list will be shared on Blackboard and 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. Further details and advice will be provided on Blackboard and 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.
Submission guidelines
Submission:
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.
Essay Proposal (1,500 words)
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
20/09/2024 4:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L05
Task description
A 1500 word (+ or - 10%) essay 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 preliminary stage of the research essay. Additional information about the proposal will be provided on Blackboard and 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.
Submission guidelines
Submission:
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.
Essay (3,000 words)
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
25/10/2024 4:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
A 3000 word (+ or - 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 and feedback thereupon, 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. Additional information about the essay will be provided on Blackboard and 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.
Submission guidelines
Submission:
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 | 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 to achieve a recognisable narrative flow appears throughout the 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 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 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:
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.
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
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Additional learning resources will be available through the course Blackboard.
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 |
|---|---|---|
Seminar |
1. COURSE OUTLINE: Introduction to Nonviolence In this introductory seminar, we will discuss the course structure and the nature of the assessments, including the choose-your-own-adventure style we will be adopting in this course. We will briefly discuss some of the principal ideas and concepts that underpin the course subject. We will also discuss the pedagogical approach of the course, not only to set expectations, but to think through, and perhaps adopt, some radical pedagogical insights to turn the classroom, a site of social reproduction, into a site of interruption. Learning outcomes: L03 |
|
Seminar |
2. TOWARDS A GLOBAL HISTORY OF NONVIOLENCE? Revising the Eurocentric Origin Story of Nonviolence 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. While we focus on a dominant genealogy of nonviolence that traces the theory and practice back to Early Modern Europe, we also unsettle this genealogy by turning to Maori and Dharma traditions. We finish by reflecting about the implications of thinking about history and its production as a horizontal system of roots rather than as the vertical trunk of a tree. Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L05 |
|
Seminar |
3. POWER AND CONSENT IN EARLY MODERN EUROPE: A Comparative Analysis of Machiavelli's The Prince and de la Boetie's Anti-One In this seminar, we discuss traditional understandings of power and consent. We return to Early Modern Europe to think about these concepts and we engage the work of two key thinkers of nonviolence and violence, Etienne de la Boetie and Niccolo Machiavelli, comparatively. Concepts of power and consent are central in a all influential theories of nonviolent change. But we also query the validity of these dominant theorisations by thinking about the basic assumptions that de la Beotie and Machiavelli built into their work. Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04 |
|
Seminar |
4. STRATEGIC NONVIOLENCE AND ITS LIMITS: Feminist and Anti-Colonial Critiques of Gene Sharp's Work In this seminar, we discuss strategic approaches to nonviolence. We focus on the work of influential American theorist Gene Sharp. Sharp is responsible for making nonviolence a relatively-mainstream subject in the study of politics. However, Sharp, like de la Boetie and Machiavelli, has built assumptions about politics and society into his theories, so we also discuss his work through the lens of Feminist and Anti-Colonial critiques to highlight the limits of his theories. Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L05 |
|
Seminar |
5. (BIO)POWER AND TACTICAL NONVIOLENCE: Everyday Resistance to Everyday Power In this seminar, we discuss Michel Foucault's theory of Biopolitics and his influential conception of power, which will help us think about the nature of everyday relationships and the way that the state can shape even our most intimate thoughts. We will then discuss two conceptions of resistance that complement Foucauldian power by locating resistance in everyday practices. The first is James Scott's theory of theatrical resistance. The second is Michel de Certeau's theory of subversive consumer practice. We will discuss our own practices of everyday resistance, to patriarchy, to white supremacy, and so on. Learning outcomes: L03, L04, L05 |
|
Seminar |
6. INTERSECTIONAL NONVIOLENCE: The Identity-Based and Intersectional Nature of Modern Political Struggle In this seminar, drawing on the work of Kimberle Crenshaw and the Combahee River Collective, we discuss the concept of identity politics and the associated notion of intersectionality. We also discuss the appropriation of these concepts by interest groups, corporations, and institutions using Taiwo Olufemi's concept of 'Elite Capture' as an analytical tool. Finally, we discuss the need for thinking beyond individualism when theorising and practicing politics of nonviolence using the work of Judith Butler and we will complete an exercise about belonging. Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04 |
|
Seminar |
7. DECOLONISING NONVIOLENCE: How the Racial Contract Shapes Activism and Academia In this seminar, we discuss the notion of decolonising nonviolence. We discuss Charles Mill's theory of the Racial Contract and think about how this contract shapes academia and activism. We think about the way European and Australian, and other universities were implicated in colonial projects and how they continue to be implicated in neo-colonial projects, using Aileen Moreton-Robinson's concept of 'White Possessive' as a guiding thread. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
|
Seminar |
8. ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO NONVIOLENCE NUMBER 1: Writing About/As Resistance In this seminar, the first of a series of alternative approaches to nonviolence, we discuss the importance of writing. We start with a discussion of 'good academic writing' - to help with the final assessments - but we move on to discuss how writing is implicated in dynamics of resistance and can itself constitute a form of resistance (inside and outside of academia). We discuss research writing but also poetry and fiction, and the way these forms relate to each other. We will also discuss our favourite writing and writers. Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L05 |
|
Seminar |
9. ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO NONVIOLENCE NUMBER 2: Emotions and the Politics of Protest In this seminar, the second of a series of alternative approaches to nonviolence, we discuss the importance of emotions in dynamics of 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. Using the work of Emma Hutchison, we will discuss representations as vehicles for emotion, and we will draw some diagrams together that help us conceptualise how emotions, affect, and protest relate to each other. Learning outcomes: L03 |
|
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
MID-SEMESTER BREAK WEEK |
|
Seminar |
10. ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO NONVIOLENCE NUMBER 3: Visualising Resistance In this seminar, the third of a series of 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 historically contingent. 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, among others. We will use my concept of the 'Visual Lifecycle of Protest' to think about the way that visual feedback loops slowly reshape the visual character of protest. We will briefly discuss visual methods, and together, we will analyse some photographs of protest - both iconic and mundane - to highlight how exceptional and unexceptional visuals play important political roles in society. Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04 |
|
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
BREAK: King's Birthday Public Holiday |
|
Seminar |
11. THE FUTURE OF NONVIOLENCE: What's Trending? In this seminar, the last seminar before the course summary, we turn away from the past and present to look into 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 recent and emerging social, political, and technological trends, including Artificial Intelligence. We will also try to think about algorithmic thinking (without thinking algorithmically). Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L05 |
|
Seminar |
12. SUMMARY SESSION AND Q&A In this final seminar, we will run through the key theories, concepts, and takeaways of the course and reflect on its strengths and weaknesses. Having taken stock of the course, we will discuss our pessimisms and optimisms vis a vis nonviolence, avenues for further study, and the ways that the course will hopefully extend after it has ended. Learning outcomes: L05 |
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.