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Unit of study_

CISS6016: Chinese Foreign and Security Policy

Semester 2, 2022 [Normal day] - Remote

China's rise to regional and global prominence has attracted growing attention in recent years. Scholars as well as policy-makers debate and assess the implications of rising Chinese power for regional security and the international system. This seminar introduces students to Chinese foreign and security policy including its handling of major-power relations, its active pursuit of multilateral diplomacy in regional organizations and participation in international peace-keeping operations and its changing perspectives on arms control disarmament and non-proliferation. It begins with a brief history of phases in Chinese foreign and security policy and then gives an overview of major theoretical approaches to the subject. These theoretical perspectives are useful in examining a wide range of policy issues ranging from Chinese strategic modernization, security trends in the Taiwan Strait, civil-military relations, the Chinese foreign policy process and the domestic sources of Chinese foreign and security policy. The unit is taught as a seminar with students expected to write a book review, a research design and bibliography and a final research paper. Students will be required to do assigned reading, participate actively in class discussions, make oral presentations of their book review and research paper and serve as a discussant for one of their classmate's papers.

Unit details and rules

Unit code CISS6016
Academic unit Government and International Relations
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Jingdong Yuan, jingdong.yuan@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Research paper
Assess students' abilities to integrate theories/ analysis on chosen topics
60% Formal exam period
Due date: 07 Nov 2022 at 23:59
4,500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4
Assignment Book report
Pick and review a book on topics related to Chinese foreign/security policy
20% Week 07
Due date: 14 Sep 2022 at 23:59
1000 words submitted by designated date.
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO4 LO3
Presentation Seminar lead
Seminar leads (introducing readings and leading discussions)
10% Weekly Equivalent 500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Online task participation
participation in/contribution to seminar discussion
10% Weekly weekly
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2

Assessment summary

The unit coordinator will assess the overall quality (rather than the quantity) of your preparation for and contributions to seminar discussion and regular class attendance.  Further details and expectations will be discussed at the beginning of the semester. Students may also consult the coordinator during office hours for further assistance.

All written works will have a deadline for submission. The unit coordinator can approve a 48-hour simple extension for written works. Any requests that go beyond the 48-hour period should consult Special Consideration and other relevant university/faculty policies. The standard university/faculty adopted penalty rates apply.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

All written works will have a deadline for submission. The unit coordinator can approve a 48-hour simple extension for written works. Any requests that go beyond the 48-hour period should consult Special Consideration and other relevant university/faculty policies. The standard university/faculty adopted penalty rates apply.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.

  • Lecture recording: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience.

  • Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed on the Library eReserve link available on Canvas.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Learn about Chinese perspectives on international relations, global and regional security, and China’s role as a rising power in a changing international system.
  • LO2. Understand how Chinese culture and history influence Chinese policies, negotiating strategies, and thinking about foreign policy and security issues.
  • LO3. Develop the ability to use different international relations theories to examine/explain Chinese foreign policy decisions and outcomes.
  • LO4. Course assignments will improve student analytical and presentation skills via book reviews that critique important books on the subject, oral presentations, and a research paper. Students will be encouraged to use Chinese language sources (if they have the appropriate language ability).

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This will be the first time I again teach this unit after six years. I don't have any recent feedback to work with but will try to update the course materials to reflect the latest research and to link the conceptual part of the unit to contemporary issues.

More information can be found on Canvas.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.