AIR732 - Terrorism in International Politics
Unit details
| Year | 2027 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes | Trimester 2: Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
| Credit point(s) | 1 |
| EFTSL value | 0.125 |
| Unit chair | Trimester 2: Bianca Baggiarini |
| Prerequisite | D305 students must have passed 24 credit points of study at levels 1, 2 & 3 with a minimum WAM of 60%, otherwise Nil |
| Corequisite | Nil |
| Incompatible with | Nil |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment | 1 x 2-hour on-campus seminar per week (livestreamed, recordings provided) |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment | 1 x 2-hour online seminar per week (livestreamed, recordings provided) |
| Typical study commitment | Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. |
Content
This unit examines terrorism through the lens of Critical Terrorism Studies (CTS), challenging conventional assumptions about the nature, causes, and consequences of political violence. Rather than treating terrorism as a static or self- evident category, this unit explores how terrorism has been historically constructed, and how it is contested and variously mobilised by states, media, individuals, and non-state groups today. Students will critically analyse the relationship between terrorism and state violence, and the political, ethical, social, cultural and legal implications of terrorism in global politics. Drawing on case studies related to the War on Terror and its aftermath, the unit investigates themes such as securitisation, radicalisation, race, colonialism, human rights, torture, counterinsurgency, the global governance of security and the role of emerging technologies in new forms of terrorism and counterterrorism. Through engagement with key theoretical debates and empirical research, students will develop advanced analytical skills for critically evaluating terroristic violence, discourse and practice.
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 | Understand the nature and significance of terrorism as a global activity | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO2 | Apply concepts, theories and methods used in the study of international relations to the analysis of terrorism in the global arena | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO3 | Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the origins and evolution of the terrorism, including contemporary changes underway | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO4 | Evaluate different interpretations of terrorism | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO5 | Gather, organise and deploy evidence, data and information from a variety of secondary and some primary sources | GLO2: Communication GLO3: Digital literacy GLO6: Self-management |
| ULO6 | Identify, investigate, analyse, formulate and advocate solutions to problems | GLO2: Communication GLO3: Digital literacy GLO5: Problem solving GLO6: Self-management |
Note – From 2026, Deakin commenced introducing Graduate Attributes (GAs), which define the distinctive characteristics of a Deakin graduate. You may notice some units still refer to Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) during this transition period.
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: Annotated Bibliography | 1500 words or equivalent | 20% | Week 6 |
| Assessment 2: Film Analysis | 3000 words or equivalent | 60% | Week 12 |
| Assessment 3: Presentation and Peer Review Exercise | 1500 words or equivalent | 20% | Ongoing |
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 AIR732 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.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
To fully engage with Deakin's learning experiences, students must be able to access and use internet-connected devices as outlined in computing requirements at Deakin.
To support student success at Deakin, we have a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) learning environment that acknowledges that students and educators bring with them the digital tools they regularly use to complete academic tasks. These tools stay with you beyond the classroom, helping you to keep learning, explore ideas more deeply, and connect with knowledge in ways that matter to you.
Students requiring a loan device should visit our Loan Laptop webpage or students requiring longer-term assistance should visit our Student Financial Assistance webpage.
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.