Skip to main content
Unit outline_

GOVT4112: Topics in International Relations

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Remote

The seminar will provide a discussion-based setting to examine core topics in the field of international relations such as international security, international political economy, and international relations theory. Students will discuss and debate ideas, and develop analytical and research essays on topics pitched at an advanced level.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Government and International Relations
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
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
Small continuous assessment Seminar lead/participation
students are assigned to lead weekly seminars and actively participate
15% Please select a valid week from the list below semester length
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO2
Assignment Research proposal
Essay
25% Week 06
Due date: 30 Mar 2022 at 23:00
1,000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4 LO1
Assignment Research essay
Research essay
60% Week 13
Due date: 30 May 2022 at 23:00
5,000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

Assessment summary

This assignment requires students to prepare and present a detailed research proposal (specific insturctions will be provided in class). The proposal will be peer reviewed and presented in class.

Assessment criteria

The final essay should have a clear research, a theoretical framework, a sound methodology, evidence/contents, good analysis, and conclusion(s). More detailed requirements will be provided in class. While the research essay is on the topic of your choice, I recommend 1) making it IR related so as to best engage with the course’s contents; and 2) de-linking it from your research topic, to ensure breadth in your research and writing over the year. The final essay must be clearly structured, properly referenced, no longer than 5,000 words long and include an adequate bibliography (not included in the word-count).

 

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:

The standard policy applies.

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.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

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
Week 01 Introduction to the format and requirements of the research seminar Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 02 From Classical Realism to Neo-Realism: The Question of Power Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 03 The English School Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 04 The Rise of Conventional Constructivism: A Rationalist/Reflectivist Divide? Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 05 Side-Stepping IR Altogether: Some Insights on Power and Identity from Political and Social Theory Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 06 From Liberalism to Neo-Liberalism: Back to the Rational Actor Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 07 Work-in-progress Presentation (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 08 Marxism & Critical Theory In IR and Beyond Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 10 IR’s Shortcomings on ‘Power’ and ‘Identity’: Post-structuralist Critiques Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 11 Identity, Alterity, Subjectivity: Postcolonial Insights Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 12 Using Discourse (A Theory and Method) & Genealogy To Study the Construction of Identity Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3

Attendance and class requirements

Class attendance requirements for this unit of study are as per the University of Sydney’s Coursework Policy of 2014 at: https://www.sydney.edu.au/policies/showdoc.aspx?recnum=PDOC2014/378&RendNum=0

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

Weekly readings will be provided in Canvas and through the library’s e-reserve system.

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. Ability to review and apply key IR theories learned from the core units in the Honours thesis
  • LO2. Identify, both analytically and creatively, where theory and practice intersect, especially with reference to the proposed thesis topics
  • LO3. Identify topics and problems associated with key IR theories and concepts
  • LO4. Demonstrate the capacity to engage in research design (planning document)

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.

I am teaching this unit for the first time and will make adjustments based on student feedback following the survey.

Work, health and safety

Please follow the relevant and regularly updated university policies on WHS matters.

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.