AIR242 - Key Concepts in International Relations
Unit details
| Year | 2025 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 2; Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online, Community Based Delivery (CBD)* |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 2: Peter Ferguson |
| Prerequisite: | Nil |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 1 x 1-hour on-campus lecture per week 1 x 1-hour on-campus seminar per week |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | 1 x 1-hour online lecture per week (recordings provided) 1 x 1-hour online seminar per week |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
Note:*Community Based Delivery (CBD): only for students of the National Indigenous Knowledges, Education, Research and Innovation NIKERI Institute (located at the Waurn Ponds campus) | |
Content
The nature and purpose of the study of international relations is now widely contested. This is reflected in the diversification of theoretical approaches in the field. Conventional perspectives (realism, neorealism), once largely unchallenged, now face both reformist (liberalism, rationalism) and critical (Marxism, postmodernism) rivals. This unit focuses on the evolution of international thought last century by concentrating on the debates and disputes between competing intellectual perspectives. The approaches of various theoretical traditions to the central actors and issues in global politics-such as human rights, war, sovereignty, markets and the environment are a central focus of the unit.
Learning Outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Critically analyse the core features of the main accounts of International Relations theory and communicate findings in writing | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO2 | Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the main accounts of International Relations theory and communicate findings in writing | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO3 | Apply concepts, theories and methods used in International Relations theory to the analysis of political ideas, practices and problems in world politics | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO4 | Critically analyse the relationship between the history of world politics and the changing nature of ethical and political problems in world politics | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO4: Critical thinking GLO8: Global citizenship |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: Reading and Writing Exercise | 1600 words or equivalent | 40% | Information not yet available |
| Assessment 2: Essay | 2400 words or equivalent | 60% | Information not yet available |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for AIR242 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.