Outline

Overview

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
Participation	Participation attendance and active contribution in class	10%	Ongoing	N/A
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Research essay Research essay	30%	Week 07 Due date: 14 Sep 2023 at 23:59	1500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Final essay Final essay	50%	Week 13 Due date: 02 Nov 2023 at 23:59	2000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Canvas discussion board posts Weekly discussion board post	10%	Weekly	1000 words equivalent
Outcomes assessed:

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.

Learning support

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.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction: what is international relations?	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 02	Sovereignty and the Modern State System	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 03	Feminist Theories of IR	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 04	How to conduct research?	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 05	Realist Theories of IR	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 06	Liberalist Theories of IR	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 07	Constructivist Theories of IR	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 08	Environmental Governance and Protection	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 09	Marxist Theories of IR	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 10	Poststructuralist Theories of IR	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 11	Postcolonial Theories of IR	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 12	Security and International Development	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 13	Review and Revision: The international system today, problems, prospects and developments	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

In Semester 2, 2023:

Lectures: Lectures will be taught in-person and recorded at the same time. Lecture recordings and facilitating learning materials will be uploaded on Canvas weekly.
Tutorial sessions: Students should sign up for one of the tutorial sessions. Attendance in tutorials sessions will be marked.
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 International Relaitons theory in an age of critical diversity

Week 2 The Modern State System

Devetak et al. Chapter 11 The modern state

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 Feminist Theories of IR

Devetak et al. Chapter 5 Feminism

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 4 How to conduct research?

No required readings for this week.

Week 5 Realist Theories of IR

Devetak et al. Chapter 3 Realism

Steve Smith, ‘Paradigm dominance in International Relations: The development of International Relations as a social sicence’, Millennium: Journal of International Studies, 1987, 16(2), 189-206.

Christine Sylvester Feminist Theory and International Relations in a Postmodern Era, Cambridge University Press, 1994, 68-99.

Week 6 Liberalist Theories of IR

Devetak et al. Chapter 2 Liberalism

Michael C. Williams, ‘The darkness at the end of history’, Polity, 2022, 54(4).

Week 7 Constructivist Theories of IR

Devetak et al. Chapter 7 Constructivism

Frankel Pratt, S. (2019). 'Norm transformation and the institutionalisation of targeted killing in the US'. Enropean Journal of International Relations, 25(3), 723-747.

Week 8 Environmental Governance and Protection

Devetak et al. Chapter 34 Global environmental politics

Devetak et al. Chapter 35 Climate change

Week 9 Marxist Theories of IR

Devetak et al. Chapter 4 Marxism and critical theory

Devetak et al. Chapter 27 Global poverty, inequality and development

Week 10 Poststructuralist Theories of IR

Devetak et al. Chapter 6 Postmodernism

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

Week 11 Postcolonial Theories of IR

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 12 Security and Development

Devetak et al. Chapter 13 Security

Devetak et al. Chapter 30 Post-conflict state-building

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

No required readings for this week.

Learning outcomes

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.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

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
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

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

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

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.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

GOVT1621: Introduction to International Relations

Semester 2, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect