Handbook home
Terrorism and Insurgency (POLS90050)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)
To learn more, visit 2023 Course and subject delivery.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 - Dual-Delivery |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
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 lone wolves and 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.
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
- Explain the strategies behind terror attacks and implications for counter-terrorism
- Evaluate competing theories of insurgency mobilisation and activity and implications for counter-insurgency
- 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
- Write analytic documents for policy consumers in limited time frames
- Evaluate claims by competing theories and analytic frameworks for greatest explanatory power
Last updated: 31 January 2024
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: 31 January 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Reading Response Papers (3x500 words), due during semester in weeks of choice from week 3-10
| From Week 3 to Week 10 | 30% |
Research Paper
| During the examination period | 70% |
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Coordinator Liane Hartnett Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours 2-hour seminar per week Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 27 February 2023 to 28 May 2023 Last self-enrol date 10 March 2023 Census date 31 March 2023 Last date to withdraw without fail 5 May 2023 Assessment period ends 23 June 2023 Semester 1 contact information
Time commitment details
170 Hours
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
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)
- 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
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 31 January 2024