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Unit outline_

GOVT6147: Foundations of International Relations

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Why do states behave the way they do? Using a historical perspective, this unit explores the ways in which the different theories of international relations account for what shapes the international system - who are its main actors, what are its determining forces and structures. It examines both how these theories have vied with one another within inter-paradigm debates and how they developed in relation to specific historical events. These theories include realism, idealism, neorealism, neoliberal institutionalism, Marxism, the English school, constructivism, poststructuralism, feminism, post-colonial approaches. While no prior study of international relations is required, a willingness to engage with theoretical thinking and grapple with complex questions of ontology and epistemology is essential.

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 Minran Liu, minran.liu@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Georgette Matthews, georgette.matthews@sydney.edu.au
George Boone, george.boone@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 April 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment hurdle task Second Essay
Critical comparative essay
45% Formal exam period
Due date: 05 Jun 2024 at 23:59
3,000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Small continuous assessment Tutorial participation
Participation
10% Ongoing In class throughout the semester
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Assignment hurdle task First Essay
Critical comparative essay
45% Week 08
Due date: 17 Apr 2024 at 23:59
3,000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2
hurdle task = hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

1st  Essay

The first essay is 3,000 words in length and is due on Wednesday 17 April by 11:59 pm. It must be submitted online via the Canvas site for this unit of study. It is designed to fulfil the following requirements:

  • To test your ability to think analytically and critically about the theoretical approaches covered in weeks 1-7.
  • To test your ability to reach a conclusion about which ones you think are (1) most analytically accurate; and (2) most ideologically appealing.

2rd Essay

The second essay is 3,000 words in length and is due on Wednesday 5 June by 11:59 pm.  It is designed to fulfil the following requirements:

  • To test your ability to think analytically and critically about the major theoretical issues and perspectives studied throughout the unit of study.
  • To test your ability to research around a chosen topic and pursue new arguments, identify new material, and provide evidence as a result of research in the library and elsewhere.                               

Tutorial Participation

You will be allotted a participation mark, worth ten percent of the overall assessment. The key to a good tutorial is informed debate and discussion – not only discussion between the tutor and students, but above all between students themselves. Fruitful discussion cannot occur if everyone is not adequately prepared and willing to engage in conversation. Because tutorial participation is such a fundamental part of the learning process (and indeed of university experience more generally), it is part of the overall assessment.

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. Below 50 is a fail.

.

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.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 02 Realism Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 03 Liberalism Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 04 Constructivism Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 05 The English School Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 06 Marxism and Critical theory Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 07 Feminism and Gender in IR Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 08 Postcolonialism and Decolonising IR Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 09 Race and IR Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 10 Post-Structuralism Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 11 Rethinking Security Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 12 Non-Western IR Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 13 Conclusion Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

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: Lectures will be recorded and made available to students on Canvas. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience.

  • Preparation: Students should commit to spend at least 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

Textbooks

Baylis, J., Smith, S., & Owens, P. eds. (2020). The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations, 8th edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Dunne, T., Kurki, M., and Smith, S. eds. (2020). International Relations Theories. Discipline and Diversity, 5th edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

 

Additional Readings

Some additional readings are also available each week.  These are available from the library and via a link from the Canvas site.  

 

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. demonstrate a sound basis of knowledge of the different theoretical approaches that define the field of International Relations (IR) and of their founding concepts; with a view to being able to subsequently apply these to its other issue-areas
  • LO2. demonstrate the ability to apprehend contemporary international issues through theoretical lenses and to understand, discuss, and explore the relations between theory and practice in the study of international relations
  • LO3. engage in critical analysis of the contending approaches through which international issues are understood in order to differentiate between academic and polemical writing/reporting
  • LO4. demonstrate a capacity for critical reflection so that the assumptions underpinning the study of IR can be effectively scrutinized.

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.

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.