POLITICS 777 Special Topic: Politics of Terrorism - Course Outlines

Course Prescription

Provides students with a critical understanding of terrorism and counter-terrorism politics, policy and practice in a globalised world. The course examines theories, causes, typologies and case studies of terrorism, as well as counterterrorism responses by states and the international community. It also engages with moral, ethical and political questions posed by the discursive battleground of terrorism and counterterrorism.

Course Overview

Since the attacks on the World Trade Centre in the United States in September 2001, the spectre of terrorism and the ‘War on Terror’ have reshaped and dominated domestic politics in the Global North and international politics more generally. The rise, and relative fall, of the Islamic State, the growing threat of homegrown Salafi jihadists and Far-Right radicals have exacerbated the feeling that terrorism is a fundamental menace to “our way of life.” Terrorism, and the responses to it, have thus become woven into the fabric of our societies. This course engages with some of the most critical questions that have emerged from this milieu in Western democracies.

This course is an advanced study of terrorism and counterterrorism, straddling politics, international relations and critical terrorism studies. Thus, the course provides insights into terrorists’ ideologies, motives and strategies and key counterterrorism policies and practices. But it also questions the political underpinnings that motivate terrorists and shape states' responses to it. Terrorism is seen as a socially constructed category that needs to be explained within a critical analysis of the sociopolitical context from which it originates. Likewise, counterterrorism is not only seen as a set of policies to mediate the terror threat but as part of broader debates on authority and legitimacy in the use of violence and the power of the state and a set of practices that have political and ethical repercussions for societies at large. This approach focuses on the nature and definition of terrorism, the politics of labelling ‘terrorist’ and the role that media and the internet play in constructing meaning. Indeed, meaning, in regard to terrorism, represents the base upon which counterterror policymaking is drafted, justified and legitimised.

There are two parts to this course.

The first part engages with terrorism. The first four weeks provide the conceptual and theoretical background for the course. They engage with the definitional complexity and ambiguity of terrorism and the role of the media and the internet in producing knowledge concerning terrorism, including normative understandings of what terrorism is or isn’t. They also consider the history of understandings of terrorism as a unique form of political violence, the various factors behind the use of the label ‘terrorism’, and the prevailing theories of terrorism causation. Weeks five, six and seven engage with case studies. These latter present students with the opportunity to apply some of the learning accrued while learning about the main facets of contemporary global terrorism.

The second part of the course focuses on counterterrorism and opens with a seminar on the main approaches to counterterrorism. The remaining seminars critically evaluate the operational successes and ethical dilemmas of the ‘War on Terror,’ the implication of the rise of the security state in Western democracies and the ramification of Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) programs. The latter three weeks entail case studies and a student-led approach to learning. The course ends with a reflection on whether terrorism is a threat to our way of life.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

Understand and critically evaluate issues related to the politics of terrorism and counterterrorism (Capability 1.1)
Able to construct reasoned, reflexive arguments on the relationship between politics, terrorism and counterterrorism (Capability 2.1)
Able to present ideas clearly, coherently and persuasively in a variety of forms and to different audiences in matters related to terrorism and counterterrorism (Capability 4.3)
Able to apply the accrued knowledge in academic and industry-relevant setting

Assessments

Assessment Type	Percentage	Classification
Position Papers	30%	Individual Coursework
Op-ed article	20%	Individual Coursework
Essay	50%	Individual Coursework
3 types	100%

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.

The course comprises of twelve, two-hour seminars that include a lecture and a series of student-led activities

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at weekly seminars. The seminars will not be available as recordings.

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.

There is no required textbook for this module. Three types of resources are available for students to prepare for the seminar each week: ‘Essential readings,’ ‘further readings’, and ‘non-peered review resources.’

Essential readings are available online via the University of Auckland Library and via Canvas.

Further readings are listed in the POL777 Course Guide and available online via the University of Auckland Library.

Non-peer-reviewed resources comprise media articles, policy reports, podcasts, videos and more. A list of useful non-peer-reviewed resources is provided in the POL777 Course Guide with links to the original source.

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.

The course was highly rated by students that did not suggest any specific change.

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 against online source material 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.

Capability 1:	Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2:	Critical Thinking
Capability 4:	Communication and Engagement

POLITICS 777 : Special Topic: Politics of Terrorism

Arts

2023 Semester Two (1235) (15 POINTS)