Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Global Conflict and Humanitarian Intervention
Credit Points: 12.00
Important Information:
In 2024, this course is titled 'Global Conflict and Humanitarian Intervention'.
From 2025 this course is titled 'Humanitarian Interventions and Peace Transitions'.
Terms
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
SOCU2237 |
City Campus |
Undergraduate |
365H Global, Urban and Social Studies |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 2 2007, Sem 2 2008, Sem 1 2009, Sem 1 2010, Sem 1 2012, Sem 2 2023 |
SOCU2238 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
365H Global, Urban and Social Studies |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 1 2010, Sem 1 2011, Sem 1 2014 |
SOCU2238 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
365H Global, Urban and Social Studies |
Face-to-Face or Internet |
Summer2017 |
Flexible Terms
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
SOCU2238 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
365H Global, Urban and Social Studies |
Face-to-Face or Internet |
PGRDFlex17 () |
Course Coordinator: Dr. Damian Grenfell
Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 3462
Course Coordinator Email: damian.grenfell@rmit.edu.au
Course Coordinator Location: 15.3.2
Course Coordinator Availability: Contact Offering Coordinator
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
None.
Course Description
Military-Humanitarian
interventions have become an integral part of the political make up of the post-cold war world, often situated at the intersection of the demands of humanitarianism, security, development and human rights.
In this course, you will be introduced to different forms and definitions of intervention, exploring in particular ’Humanitarian Interventions’ undertaken by military forces, the United Nations, and a range of global institutional actors such as humanitarian and relief organisations and development agencies. Drawing on an understanding of contemporary warfare and security, you will examine the key debates and case examples of military-humanitarian interventions since the end of the Cold War and consider their evolution over that time.
The primary questions underpinning the course are ‘why’ do interventions occur and ‘how’ do they unfold in practice as examined from ethical, legal and political perspectives. Conceptual mapping will allow you to determine what does and does not constitute a humanitarian intervention, its relationship to international law, the character of peacekeeping missions, as well as considering key questions of gender, doctrines such as R2P, as well as state-building. A range of contemporary case studies will be drawn on from around the world, assisting you to make connections between the theory and practice of interventions.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
Program Learning Outcomes:
- Contribute to global justice and equity with empathy, critical thinking and resilience.
- Navigate international complexity using disciplinary and interdisciplinary knowledge, practice and research.
- Problem solve collaboratively and adaptively using linguistic, intercultural and digital skills.
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Evaluate and appraise theoretical and practical frameworks that relate to humanitarian intervention
- Critically examine the linkages between political, economic and military dimensions of interventions
- Delineate and determine what are the indicators in various local, regional, and global conflicts that may or may not lead to intervention
- Analyse the political and ethical causes and consequences of interventions, including the role of international organisations and related protocols.
- Determine the contemporary significance of different case studies that illustrate the rationale of humanitarian interventions
Overview of Learning Activities
You will be involved in a variety of module based activities including:
Reading, lectures and discussion, presentations and in class activities.
Overview of Learning Resources
RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems.
There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.
Overview of Assessment
You will be assessed on how well you meet the course learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes.
Assessment Tasks
Task 1: Written assessment: essay, 30%, CLO 2,3,4,5 (1500 words)
Task 2: Presentation and group/individual work in class activities (20%) CLO 1,2,3,4,5
Task 3: Written report, 40%, CLO 1,2,3,4,5 (2000 words)
Task 4: Participation and collaboration in class activities (face to face and online discussions), 10%, CLO 1, 2, 4
Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks.
If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.
Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions.