Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Rethinking Global Security,War and Violence
Credit Points: 12.00
Important Information:
Important Information:
In 2024, this course is titled 'Rethinking Global Security, War and Violence'.
From 2025 this course is titled 'Global Conflict, War and Violence'.
Terms
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
HUSO2316 |
City Campus |
Undergraduate |
365H Global, Urban and Social Studies |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 2 2011, Sem 2 2013, Sem 2 2015, Sem 2 2016, Sem 2 2017, Sem 2 2020 |
Flexible Terms
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
HUSO2316 |
City Campus |
Undergraduate |
365H Global, Urban and Social Studies |
Face-to-Face |
UGRDFlex18 (ISV) |
Course Coordinator: Damian Grenfell
Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 3462
Course Coordinator Email: damian.grenfell@rmit.edu.au
Course Coordinator Location: 37.5.32a
Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
None
Course Description
This course focuses on warfare and forms of violent conflict around the world, and in doing so students will investigate key dimensions of how war is changing, the role of state and non-state armed actors, the intersection of warfare with terrorism and criminality, the role of new technologies in warfare, its mediatization and the gendered impacts of warfare.
In a period of dramatic global change, the pursuit of security occurs as new rivalries emerge within the nation-state system and as new threats suggest thorough changes in that system itself. The post-cold war period has given rise to a series of immense challenges, with new forms of warfare intersecting with criminality and terrorism and an increasingly amplified role of non-state actors leading to enduring conflicts. At its core is the question of why violence in the form of warfare occurs, while other key social dynamics—such as mass urbanization and climate change—impact future trajectories of violence.
While this course will be of key interest to students focusing on security, it will also provide critical groundwork for those who wish to develop skills and knowledge for humanitarian, peacebuilding and development contexts, diplomacy and foreign affairs, and those who have a general interest in global politics.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
Program Learning Outcomes:
In this course you will develop the following program learning outcomes:
PLO1: Contribute to global justice and equity with empathy, critical thinking and resilience.
PLO2: Navigate international complexity using disciplinary and interdisciplinary knowledge, practice and research.
PLO4: Address challenges to international security, society and development in ways that are holistic, ethical and respectful of diverse knowledge systems.
Upon successful completion of the course, you will be able to:
- Analyse a range of approaches to understanding warfare from its inception and in its different forms.
- Identify key dynamics within wars in relation to the perpetuation of violence, key state and non-state actors, and the impact of social changes on the activities of warfare
- Interpret and articulate the social and political impact of warfare, on civilians and what it means for security and humanitarian responses.
- Generate analysis and research on contemporary conflicts.
- Articulate the connections between localised conflicts and global politics.
Overview of Learning Activities
This course will run over 12 modules, eight of which will run as lectures with class activities set around key readings. The remaining four classes will run in a studio mode where assessment is integrated with live analysis of current and recent conflicts. Written work is shaped industry briefings, communications and policy analysis. Each assessment will be designed to build on each other and you will be encouraged to tailor your assessments to areas of specific interest.
Overview of Learning Resources
RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems.
The principle learning resources will be made available to students through Canvas in the form of lecture materials, readings and other related resources.
There are services and resources 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 RMIT student website.
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
Assessment Task 1: Four Studio Sessions: Engagement, Presentation and Analysis 40% CLO 1, 2, 4
Assessment Task 2: Press Release, 500 words (following Studio One) 10% CLO 2, 3, 4
Assessment Task 3: Communications Piece, 10% 500 words (following Studio Two) CLO 2, 3, 4, 5
Assessment Task 4: Industry Report, 2000 words, 40% (following Studio Three and Four). CLO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
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.