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Terrorism and Insurgency (POLS90050)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable (login required)(opens in new window)
Contact information
February
Overview
Availability | February |
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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 in between, 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: 22 March 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: 22 March 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Reading Response Papers (3x500 words), due during semester in weeks of choice from week 3-8
| From Week 3 to Week 8 | 30% |
Research Paper
| During the examination period | 70% |
Hurdle requirement: 1. Attendance hurdle requirement: This subject has a minimum requirement of 80% attendance at tutorials, seminars, or workshops. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Hurdle requirement: 2. Late Penalty and Assessment hurdle requirement: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at five per cent (5%) of the possible marks available for the assessment task per day or part thereof. All pieces of assessment must be submitted to pass the subject. Each submitted assessment must be complete, constitute a genuine attempt to address the requirements of the task and will not be accepted after 20 University business days from the original assessment due date without written approval. | Throughout the semester | N/A |
Last updated: 22 March 2024
Dates & times
- February
Coordinator Bec Devitt Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total of 24 hours: A 3-hour seminar per week for eight weeks from the teaching start date. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 26 February 2024 to 26 April 2024 Last self-enrol date 8 March 2024 Census date 22 March 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 17 May 2024 Assessment period ends 21 June 2024 February 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: 22 March 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: 22 March 2024