POLITICS 708 : Theorising International Relations

Arts

2024 Semester Two (1245) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

An advanced examination of contemporary international relations theory. Students will explore key concepts, such as war, anarchy and the state, along with a range of different theoretical perspectives, from realism and liberalism through to feminism, poststructuralism and postcolonialism.

Course Overview

POLITICS 708 will be re-designed each semester to reflect the latest debates in IR. In 2024, POLITICS 708 will focus on the theme "global disorder" in response to ongoing concerns about the threat to the rules-based international order and the potential for increased conflict and instability in global politics. The first part of the course will examine the origins and emergence of the international order, focusing on the historical forces that have shaped its formation, previous international orders that were modified, transformed and displaced, and the central features of the current rules based international order. The second part will examine theoretical debates about how the international order shapes global politics, drawing on the main theoretical traditions within IR and the more critical perspectives that have emerged in recent decades. The final part will focus on the main challenges to the rules based international challenges, and how these challenges might re-shape global politics. 

Course Requirements

Restriction: POLITICS 318

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Graduate Profile: Master of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Understand and explain recent transformations in global politics and their potential impact on the international order. (Capability 3 and 6)
  2. Critically evaluate the different theoretical claims that have been made about the challenge to the international order. (Capability 3, 4 and 6)
  3. Research and present theoretically-sophisticated and empirically-rich arguments about the international order. (Capability 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7)
  4. Demonstrate an understanding of about how these transformations to the international system might impact upon Aotearoa and the Pacific. (Capability 1, 3 and 4)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Article Reviews 20% Individual Coursework
Group Presentation/Podcast 30% Group & Individual Coursework
Essay 50% Individual Coursework

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect a two-hour tutorial, four hours of reading/tutorial preparation, and four hours of work on assignments each week.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled tutorials to receive credit for components of the course. These tutorials will not be recorded.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable with one two-hour tutorial.

This course is not available for delivery to students studying remotely outside NZ in 2024.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

This is the first time that POLITICS 708 will run.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 11/10/2023 04:55 p.m.