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Terrorism and Insurgency (POLS90050)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Not available in 2018
Overview
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The study of political violence by non-state actors has assumed a renewed importance because of the growing threat of terrorism in Australia and because of Australian participation in armed groups overseas. This subject provides an overview of why and how these actors use violence and the threat of violence to attain political goals. We follow the continuum from terror attacks by small groups to full civil wars waged by rebel insurgencies and the logic behind the steps inbetween, including the use of suicide attacks, gendering political violence, transnational mobilization of foreign fighters, media strategies, mercenary vs idealistic motivations for fighters, and approaches to counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency. We will examine the history of terrorism and insurgency globally, but will provide an emphasis on the jihadi movement of recent decades.
This subject is offered online, which provides students with great flexibility but also requires a greater commitment to participation. Asynchronous learning affords students to opportunity to listen to pre-recorded lectures at their convenience. Reading will be intensive, and students are required to post their reactions to discussion boards and to comment on other student postings weekly. In addition to a research paper on an approved topic due by the end of the final week of classes, students must also write a timed policy paper online in response to a provided topic.
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- articulate the different characteristics of terrorists and insurgents and the continuum between the types of activity; and
- explain the strategies behind terror attacks and implications for counter-terrorism; and
- evaluate competing theories of insurgency mobilisation and activity and implications for counter-insurgency; and
- develop skills in analysing contemporary security policy, and preparing policy advice.
Generic skills
Student who successfully complete this subject should:
- apply theory to analyse current events; and
- write analytic documents for policy consumers in limited time frames; and
- evaluate claims by competing theories and analytic frameworks for greatest explanatory power.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Some knowledge of international relations or history.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
- Discussion of readings on LMS (10 weeks x 100 words) (20%), due weekly, from weeks 2 - 11 of Semeter.
- Timed essay delivered via LMS, 1 hour, 1,000 words (20%), available on LMS during weeks 2-12 of Semester.
- Research Paper 3,000 words (60%), due during the examination period.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
Not available in 2018
Time commitment details
170 Hours
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
- Inside Terrorism (2nd edition), Hoffman (Digital edition, $7.78)
- ISIS: The State of Terror, Stern and Berger (Digital edition, $12.79)
- Guerilla Warfare, Guevara (Digital edition, $2.99)
- The Accidental Guerilla, Kilcullen (Digital edition, $7.79)
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Informal specialisation 200 Point Master of International Relations Informal specialisation 100 Point Master of International Relations - Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
Last updated: 3 November 2022