International Relations - School of Political Science and ...

Course Descriptions
Advanced International Studies
Provides students with a broad introduction to
international relations and peace studies. This is
a compulsory course for all students entering the
program. After engaging the main conceptual
approaches, such as realism, liberalism, pacifism
and critical theory, the course addresses a
range of key contemporary issues, such as the
role of foreign policy, international institutions,
sovereignty, inequality, humanitarian challenges,
conflict resolution and human rights.
Globalisation, International Political
Economy and Development
Examines the economic and political aspects of
globalisation. The course introduces students to a
range of theoretical perspectives on international
political economy, globalisation and development.
International Relations of the
Asia-Pacific
Explores the politics, economics, and international
relations of the Asia Pacific region at both the intra
and inter regional levels. Particular attention is
paid to East Asia and the possibility of hegemonic
competition between the US, China and Japan.
The intention of the course is to provide an
understanding of East-Asia’s post-war development
and its relations with the US in particular.
International Security
Explores the emerging international security order,
including patterns of conflict, the War on Terror,
and a range of detailed studies of key issues
affecting global and regional security. Case study
teaching features prominently in this course.
Evolution of the International System
Examines the evolution of the international system
from ancient Greece and Rome, through medieval
and renaissance Europe to the emergence of the
modern system. Debates the key ideas that these
developments have evoked.
Foreign Policy, Diplomacy and Statecraft
Examines the practice of modern diplomacy. The
course looks at how foreign and defence ministries
in key states are responding to the challenges of a
rapidly evolving international political environment.
It draws on a number of contemporary diplomatic
case studies, both routine and crisis, in order
for students to develop a set of practical skills in
foreign policy analysis.
Arms Control and Disarmament
Addresses the political, strategic and humanitarian
issues directing arms control and disarmament
processes. The course examines conventional
weapons, and weapons of mass destruction
(nuclear, biological and chemical), and the ways in
which the international community has sought to
limit or proscribe these.
Conflict Prevention and Resolution
Engages the theoretical underpinnings important
to the literature and the skills central to the
practice of conflict resolution; examines processes
including mediation; introduces the key skills and
qualities relevant to third party conciliation in a
variety of conflict scenarios.
Ethics and Human Rights
Addresses key ethical dilemmas in world politics.
The course first investigates traditions of ethics in
an attempt to demonstrate how we have come to
think about issues of peace, morality and justice
in domestic and global politics. The second part
then engages a range of practical issues, including
human rights, international law, just war debates,
humanitarian intervention, war crimes and
poverty.
Contemporary Peacekeeping
Provides an in-depth study of peace operations and
contains a unique peacekeeping simulation where
students take on the role of UN peacekeepers,
civilian staff, and non-governmental organisations
to implement a peace agreement in a fictional
country. During the course, students explore the
historical evolution of peacekeeping, the different
types of peacekeeping and peacekeeping actors as
well as a range of contemporary problems such as
transitional administrations and the use of force.
Peacebuilding
Examines key dynamics of peacebuilding theory
in relation to conflict, international organisations,
governance and civil society and addresses
problems of peacebuilding in practice through the
use of regional case studies, such as Cambodia
and East Timor.
Gender in International Politics and
Development
Analyses how international trends influence
women and children in work, families and sexual
behaviour. The course explores the impact of
conflict and development on women and analyses
practical approaches to gender inequality through
international organisations and development
agencies.
Culture, Conflict and Reconciliation
Examines theories of culture, identity and
difference. The course explores cultural conflict
and multiculturalism, collective trauma, politics
of remembering and forgetting and different
approaches to reconciliation.
Development Administration
Examines the administrative context of development
in post-colonial states, with particular reference to
sub-Saharan Africa, Southern Asia and the Pacific.
The course also looks at internal bureaucratic
reform and the search for political stability and the
constraints applied by external actors including the
UN, WTO, international aid agencies and the World
Bank.
Independent Study
Provides students with an opportunity to study
areas of special interest within the competence
of the supervisory staff but not normally available
within the existing program.
Research Report (MIS)
10,000 - 12,000 word research report on a topic
of the student’s choice, approved by the Program
Director demonstrating application of research
methods to that specific topic.
Research Methods
An introductory overview of approaches to social
science research. It will equip students with an
understanding of research design and the different
research methodologies required to undertake the
most common forms of qualitative and quantitative
data collection and analysis used in social science
research.
The Politics of Development Practice
Focuses on the centrality of governance to
development practice, both at the macroinstitutional
level and at the level of civil society.
It addresses contemporary debates over aid
conditionality and the focus of international
agencies on transitions to and deepening of
democracy in developing countries.
Specialist Studies in International
Politics
This course allows students to study emerging
issues in the field of political science or international
studies. Students will be directed to enrol in
this course where appropriate by their Program
Director.
A range of courses may also be taken outside the
School as electives in the program provided that
permission is obtained from the Program Director.
These include:
International Issues in Community
Development
Examines the changing contexts of international
community development, particularly in relation to
globalisation, growth of international development
institutions and organisations, and critiques of the
development paradigm.
International Dispute Settlement
Covers the procedures and institutions used for
the settlement of international disputes. The
course focuses on the legal infrastructure available
to states to settle disputes without recourse to
physical force, through the use of adjudicatory
and non-adjudicatory means such as inquiries,
conciliation, arbitration and international courts. It
also considers, to a lesser extent, mechanisms that
allow resolution of disputes between legal persons
and the state in the international system, and the
role of non-governmental organisations.
International Humanitarian Law
Examines the international legal standards
governing the conduct of armed conflicts.
Candidates who complete the course should
acquire the ability to interpret, apply and critically
engage with key international rules in this area.
Tolerance and Conflict in the
Contemporary Middle East
Examines cultural and historical factors behind
episodes of violence plaguing the contemporary
Middle East. Topics covered include Islamic notions
of tolerance, treatment of non-Muslims in Islamic
societies, and the effect of nationalism upon former
notions of communal organisation.
Further Information
For more information on the
International Studies (International
Relations) programs, contact:
School of Political Science
and International Studies
The University of Queensland
Telephone: +61 7 3346 9544
Facsimile: +61 7 3365 1388
Email: pols@uq.edu.au
Website: www.uq.edu.au/polsis
Oct05 CRICOS Provider Number 00025B