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Overview

Course Prescription

Provides students with a critical understanding of terrorism and counter-terrorism politics, policy and practice in a globalised world. The course examines theories, causes, typologies and case studies of terrorism, as well as counterterrorism responses by states and the international community. It also engages with moral, ethical and political questions posed by the discursive battleground of terrorism and counterterrorism.

Course Overview

Since the attacks on the World Trade Centre in the United States in September 2001, the spectre of terrorism and the ‘War on Terror’ have reshaped and dominated domestic politics in the Global North and international politics more generally. The rise and fall of the Islamic State and the enduring threat of homegrown Salafi jihadists and Far-Right radicals have exacerbated the feeling that terrorism is a fundamental menace to “our way of life.” Terrorism and the responses to it have thus become woven into the fabric of our societies. This course engages with some of the most critical questions that have emerged from this milieu in Western democracies.

This course is an advanced study of terrorism and counterterrorism, straddling politics, international relations, and critical terrorism studies, as well as borrowing from sociology, psychology, media studies, and more. The course provides insights into terrorists’ ideologies, motives, strategies, and key counterterrorism policies and practices. It also questions the political underpinnings that motivate terrorists and shape States' responses to them. Terrorism is seen as a socially constructed category that needs to be explained within a critical analysis of the sociopolitical context from which it originates. Likewise, counterterrorism is not only seen as a set of policies to mediate the terror threat but as part of broader debates on authority and legitimacy in the use of violence and the state's power. This approach focuses on the nature and definition of terrorism, on the politics of labelling ‘terrorists’ and on the media's role in constructing meaning.

There are three parts to this course.

The first part (weeks 1-3) provides the conceptual and theoretical background for the course. These weeks engage with the definitional complexity and ambiguity of terrorism, the media’s role in producing knowledge concerning terrorism, and the pathways that may lead individuals or groups to commit acts of terror.

The second part (weeks 4 and 5) engages with the Jihadist and Far-Right movements and the home-grown and lonewolf typologies of terrorism threats. These case studies allow students to apply some of the learning accrued while learning about contemporary global terrorism’s main facets.

The third part (weeks 7-10) focuses on counterterrorism and opens with a seminar on the main approaches to counterterrorism. The other seminars critically evaluate the operational successes and ethical dilemmas of the ‘War on Terror,’ the implications of the rise of the security state, and the ramifications of Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) programs. These latter three case studies demand a student-led approach to learning.

The course also includes two seminars allocated to in-class policy brief exercises (weeks 6 and 11) and a recap of the learning content (week 12)

Key Topics

By the end of the course, students will gain:

▪ Broad knowledge of the politics that shape terrorism and counterterrorism discourses and practices.

▪ Understanding of the various theories regarding terrorism, its causes and the social, economic and political conditions in which it has emerged as a form of political violence used by various actors.

▪ Understanding of the sociopolitical and historical context that has favoured the rise of global Jihadi-Salafi jihadism and Western Far-Right terrorism.

▪ Understanding of the main counterterrorism approaches and their implications.


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

▪ Understand and critically evaluate issues related to the politics of terrorism and counterterrorism

▪ To construct reasoned, reflexive arguments on the relationship between politics, terrorism and counterterrorism

▪ To present ideas clearly, coherently and persuasively in a variety of forms and to different audiences in matters related to terrorism and counterterrorism

▪ To apply the accrued knowledge in academic and industry-relevant settings.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

The course comprises of twelve, two-hour seminars that include a lecture and a series of student-led activities

Advice on Course Limits

This is a limited entry course: there is a limit on the number of enrolments due to staff or space capacity. In cases where the courses is taught under two separate codes (e.g. concurrently taught courses, general education courses) the course limit specified is the total across both versions of the course. For more information, please see the Programme and Course Limitations section of the University Academic and General Statutes and Regulations.

Locations and Semesters Offered

LocationSemester
City

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at weekly seminars. The seminars will not be available as recordings.

The course comprises 10 two-hour seminars. Each seminar includes lecture segments and student-led activities. The course also includes two non-assessed, in-class policy brief exercises.

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Additional Information on Learning Resources

Students are required to prepare for the seminars via independent research and reading.

The best way for students to prepare is by engaging with Perusall, one of the assignment tools for this course. Perusall requires students to proactively engage with two readings most weeks to gain background knowledge and better appreciate and participate in the seminars.

Students should also frame their reading and independent research to address the weekly discussion questions. Students should familiarise themselves with these questions and seek to answer them by engaging with the resources listed each week and by independent research if needed. These questions often represent the core of the discussions during the seminars.

Students must spend on average, 10.5 hours per week working on this course for the total weeks of the teaching period.

The weekly resources available for students to prepare for the seminars are: 'Perusall essential resources,' 'recommended resources’, and ‘background resources’.

‘Perusall essential resources’ include two weekly readings. These can be peer-reviewed academic materials and or non-peer-reviewed materials, like reports. These readings are essential for students to achieve the course’s aims and learning objectives. Students are also assessed on their engagement with these readings (see assessment section).

The ‘recommended resources’ complement the Perusall readings or represent the main readings in the weeks when there is no Perusall assignment. Recommended resources are also a combination of peer-reviewed academic materials and/or non-peer-reviewed materials, like reports, media articles, videos and podcasts. These resources are particularly useful in stimulating and informed discussion during the student-led part of the seminars.

The ‘Perusall essential resources’ and the ‘recommended resources’ are available on Canvas in the Talis Reading list under each week's module. However, in completing the Perusall assignment, students must access the Perusall resources via the assignment links on Canvas. There are links in the assignment section and under the corresponding module

‘Background resources’ include peer-reviewed academic material and non-peer-reviewed material. These help students gain additional valuable insights into the topic studied and the discussion questions. Students are encouraged to engage with some of these resources, proactively seeking answers to the discussion questions. The list of 'background resources' is available in the Course Manual.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license. You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3
4
5
6

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type123456

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor. Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.