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Unit outline_

GOVT1621: Introduction to International Relations

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit provides students with a foundational understanding in two key areas of international relations. First students will gain an understanding of the history of the international political and economic system, and the forces, events, and processes that have shaped the contemporary international system. Second, students will be introduced to the main theories of international relations and explore how these help explain the forces that shape international relations.

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

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Minglu Chen, minglu.chen@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Canvas discussion board posts
Weekly discussion board post
20% Ongoing 1000 words, ongoing
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Research essay
Research essay
30% Week 07
Due date: 06 Apr 2022 at 23:00
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Assignment Final essay
Final essay
50% Week 13
Due date: 25 May 2022 at 23:00
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

Assessment summary

The Research Essay and Final Essay must be submitted in this unit otherwise a grade of Absent Fail (AF) will be applied.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

 

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 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.

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: what is international relations? Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 02 The Modern State System Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 03 Realist Theories of IR Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 04 Feminist Theories of IR: Complications of Sovereignty, Part 2 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 05 How to use the library website and find scholarly sources? Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO4
Week 06 Liberalist Theories of IR Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 07 Environmental Governance and Protection Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 08 Constructivist Theories of IR Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 09 Marxist Theories of IR Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 10 Security and International Development Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 11 Poststructuralist Theories of IR Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 12 Postcolonial Theories of IR: Complications of Sovereignty, Part 1 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 13 Review and Revision: The international system today, problems, prospects and developments Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4

Attendance and class requirements

 In Semester 2, 2020:

  • Lectures: Lectures will be taught online synchronously and recorded at the same time. Lecture recordings and facilitating learning materials will be uploaded on Canvas weekly.
  • Discussion board: Students should make contribution to the weekly Canvas asynchronous discussion boards. This is a mandatory activity and attendance will be marked.
  • Tutorial sessions: This unit will run a number of on-campus and online tutorial sessions for students to ask questions and engage in discussions related but not covered in that week’s discussion board. Students should sign up for one of the tutorial sessions.
  • 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

Required reading: Richard Devetak, Anthony Burke and Jim George (eds), An Introduction to International Relations 3rd Edition, Cambridge University Press, 2017.

Week 1 Introduction: What is International Relations?

     Devetak et al. Introduction chapter

     Devetak et al. Chapter 1.

 

Week 2 The Modern State System 

     Devetak et al. Chapter 11.

     de Carvalho, Benjamin, Halvard Leira and John Hobson, ‘The Big Bangs of IR: The Myths That Your Teachers Still Tell You about 1648 and 1919’, Millennium: Journal of International Studies, 2011, 39(3), 735–758.

 

Week 3 Postcolonial Theories of IR: Complications of Sovereignty, Part 1

     Anievas, Alexander, Nivi Manchanda and Robbie Shilliam, ‘Confronting the Global Colour Line: An Introduction’, in Race and Racism in International Relations, ed. Alexander Anievas, Nivi Manchanda, Robbie Shilliam (London, Routledge, 2014), 1-15.

     Capan, Zeynep Gulsah, ‘Decolonising International Relations?’, Third World Quarterly, 2017, 38(1), 1-15.

Week 4 Feminist Theories of IR: Complications of Sovereignty, Part 2

     Devetak et al. Chapter 5

     Shepherd, Laura J. ‘(Why) Gender Matters in Global Politics’, in Caitlin Hamilton and Laura J. Shepherd, eds, Gender Matters in Global Politics: A Feminist Introduction to International Relations (London: Routledge, forthcoming).

 

Week 5 How to use the library website and find scholarly sources?

      No required readings for this week.

 

Week 6 Realist Theories of IR

     Devetak et al. Chapter 3

     Devetak et al. Chapter 9

     Devetak et al. Chapter 10

 

Week 7 Liberalist Theories of IR

      Devetak et al. Chapter 2

      Tim Dunne, ‘Liberal Internationalism’, in John Baylis, Patricia Owens and Steve Smith (eds), The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2020.

Week 8 Constructivist Theories of IR

     Devetak et al. Chapter 7

     Devetak et al. Chapter 22

 

Week 9 Environmental Governance and Protection 

     Devetak et al. Chapter 34

     Devetak et al. Chapter 35

 

Week 10 Marxist Theories of IR

     Devetak et al. Chapter 4

     Devetak et al. Chapter 27

 

 

Week 11 Security and Development

     Devetak et al. Chapter 13

     Devetak et al. Chapter 30

 

Week 12 Poststructuralist Theories of IR

     Devetak et al. Chapter 6

     Lene Hansen, ‘A Case for Seduction? Evaluating the Poststructuralist Conceptualization of Security’, Cooperation and Conflict, 1997, 32(4): 369-397.

 

Week 13 Review and Revision: The international system today, problems, prospects and developments

     No required readings for this week.

 

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. understand the historical context in which the discipline of international relations has emerged
  • LO2. identify the various theoretical approaches to understanding international relations
  • LO3. apply one or more of these theories to contemporary issues in international relations
  • LO4. effectively communicate an understanding of outcomes 1-3
  • LO5. engage in classroom debate regarding competing theories of international relations.

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.

No changes have been made since the unit was last offered.

Work, health and safety

Coronavirus (Covid-19) University of Sydney advice:

https://www.sydney.edu.au/study/coronavirus-infection-university-of-sydney-advice.html

Disclaimer

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

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