POLITICS 346: Special Topic: Terrorism

 

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POLITICS 346: Special Topic: Terrorism

SEMESTER 2, 2019

15 points

 

Course coordinator and lecturer: 

Dr Fabio Scarpello
Lecturer in Politics and International Relations
Faculty of Arts
Email: fabio.scarpello@auckland.ac.nz
Room: 201E 507
Phone: +64 9 923 5691
https://unidirectory.auckland.ac.nz/profile/fabio-scarpello

Office hours: Tuesday 14-00 – 16-00

 

Teaching assistant:

 Mr Sanjal Shastri
PhD Candidate in Politics and International Relations
Faculty of Arts
Email: shsa674@aucklanduni.ac.nz  

Office hours:  Room 201E-528, Friday 16-00 - 17-00

 

Please email Dr Fabio Scarpello if you require an extension for your assignments. Email Sanjal Shastri for any other question.

 

Course delivery format:

12 X 2-hour lecture 
12 X 1-hour discussion 

(Timetable and room details can be viewed on Student Services Online)

 

Course overview:

Concerns over terrorism have become a part of life throughout the world in the twenty-first century. In 2018, for example, eight countries in Western Europe recorded at least one death from terrorism, while Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia, Syria, and Pakistan recorded hundreds of attacks and deaths. In 2019, terror arrived in New Zealand. As a consequence, and regardless of the real or perceived level of threat, it is not an exaggeration to say that we live in a terrorism-saturated world. Terrorism is one of the most-debated issues amongst politicians, policymakers, academics, the media and the general public. Yet, terrorism – what it is, who is involved, why, how, and how – remains poorly understood and discussions often fall prey to unfounded assumptions. This course aims to mediate this lack of knowledge.

This course is an introductory study of terrorism. The course is structured around a number of questions, which include: What terrorism and New Terrorism are? Who becomes a terrorist and why? What is the role of women in terrorism? Can states be terrorists? How are terrorist groups organized and funded? Which are the main terrorist movements and where they operate? Is the internet terrorists’ best friend? Does terrorism work and is terrorism really a threat to “our [Western] way of life”? These questions are explored in a manner that incorporates insights and approaches from a variety of academic disciplines, including international relations, comparative politics, history, sociology, and psychology. Thus framed, the course provides students with the opportunity to develop specific knowledge of terrorism-related issues and the ability to critically engage with them.

More specifically the course has the below-outlined aims, objectives and learning outcomes:

Aims and objectives

By the end of the course students will gain:  

  • Broad knowledge of some of the main issue related to terrorism.
  • An understanding of what terrorism is, who is involved, why, how and in what way.
  • Broad knowledge of the role of women in terrorism.
  • Broad knowledge of the main terrorist groups and movements and how they operate.
  • An understanding of the threat posed to terrorism.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course, students will have developed:

  • The ability to critically discuss several issues related to terrorism.
  • The ability to critically engage with the role of gender in terrorism studies.
  • A critical understanding of the various source of terrorist financing.
  • A critical understanding of the multilayered role of the internet for terrorists.
  • The ability to apply the accrued knowledge in academic and industry-relevant settings

 

How to study for this course:

The course comprises of twelve, two-hour lectures and twelve one-hour discussion time. The screen capture recordings of the lectures will be available via Canvas. During the lectures, Dr Fabio Scarpello will introduce concepts, information and context with students called to participate regularly. The discussion time will be student-centred and mediated by Dr Fabio Scarpello and Sanjal Shastri.

Students are required to prepare for the lectures and discussion time via independent research and reading.

The best way for students to prepare is by reading and researching in a manner that addresses the ‘discussion questions' listed under each week. Students should first familiarise themselves with these questions and, secondly, seek to answer them by engaging with the resources listed under each week, as well as by independent research if needed. Students are expected to spend on average 10.5 hours per week for the total weeks of this teaching period working on this course.

Three types of resources are available for students to prepare for the lectures/discussion each week:  ‘Essential readings,’ ‘further readings’ and ‘non-peered review resources.’

Essential readings provide some of the answers for the discussion questions. Students must read these prior to the lecture and discussion hour to gain the most out of both. Essential readings are available online via the University of Auckland library and via Canvas. If students have difficulties in accessing the online reading material, they should contact Sanjal Shastri.

Further readings help students gaining deeper insights into the topic studied. Students are encouraged to engage with some of these readings, proactively seeking answers to the discussion questions. Further readings are extremely useful and must be consulted when students engage with a specific topic for the course assessments. 

Non-peer reviewed resources comprise of media articles, policy reports, podcasts, videos and more. These have been selected to add to students’ learning experience and because they provide useful insights into the discussion questions. Students are strongly encouraged to engage with some of this material.

 

Key sources of information

Canvas site

This canvas site includes all the main information related to this course.  Key pages, accessible by the navigation menu on the left are: 

  1. Assignments. Here students will find information on the assignments and the folder where to upload each assignment
  2. Modules.  Here students will find 13 modules. The first module includes the PDF of the Course Guide and of the Coursework Guide. The 12 remaining modules contain the relevant links and information for each week. In particular, each includes links to the essential readings; a PDF file with the weekly learning content (summary of the lecture; study questions; essential readings; further readings; and non-peer resources) and the PowerPoint of the lecture, which is uploaded after each lecture. Under each module, there are also links to the assignments and other relevant information Dr Fabio Scarpello may upload during the course.
  3. Announcements. Here the course coordinator may post information relevant to the course. Students should check it frequently

 
Course Guide

The Course Guide is the main source of information for this course. Students must download it and refer to it throughout the 12 teaching weeks. The Course Guide is available for download in 'Modules/Course Guides'. The Guide includes detailed information on the following: 

  1. Relevant books
  2. Relevant peer-reviewed journals 
  3. Relevant online resources 
  4. Study schedule and key dates
  5. Assessments details and penalties for late submission
  6. Weekly learning content (summary of the lecture; study questions; essential readings; further readings; and non-peer resources)


Coursework Guide 

The Coursework Guide contains a wealth of information to navigate the administrative and academic aspects of studying at the University of Auckland, Department of Politics and International Relations. The Coursework Guide is also available for download in 'Modules/Course Guides'.

 

Assessments 

Assessments are aimed at evaluating students’ progress towards achieving the aim and objectives and the learning outcomes of this course. This course includes three forms of assessment, weighing differently towards students’ final grade as detailed below:

Assessment 1: Position papers (3) – 600 words each. Due 30 August midnight. Worth 40% final grade
Assessment 2: In-class Quiz. To be administered on 17 September. Worth 10% of the final grade
Assessment 3: In-class Quiz. To be administered on 22 October. Worth 10% of the final grade
Assessment 4: Closed book exam.  Exact date TBC. Worth 40% of the final grade. 

Course summary:

Date Details Due