School: Arts and Humanities
This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.
Unit Title
The World's Most Dangerous Places: Politics and History through DocumentaryUnit Code
HIS3106Year
2016Enrolment Period
1Version
1Credit Points
15Full Year Unit
N
Mode of Delivery
On Campus
Online
Description
This unit will survey a selection of regions which, due to tyrannical rule, internal instability, or international tension, can rightfully be called the world's most dangerous places. There are a growing number of dark corners and strategic fault-lines around the globe that harbour danger for both the wayward traveller and the entire international community. From cities controlled by narco-traffickers in Mexico, and regions run by warlords in Somalia, to the fractious ethno-religious divisions of the Caucasus, and the perilously volatile frontiers of South Asia, we will seek to understand the historical context in which modern crises are situated, and examine the various causes and consequences of the continuing turmoil, through critical analysis of selected documentary films.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this unit students should be able to:
- Analyse the social, political and economic impacts of crisis and conflict on the affected nations, and throughout the international community.
- Apply international relations concepts to the world's most dangerous places.
- Evaluate the quality of analysis of these situations presented in documentary films.
- Identify key areas of social, political and geo-strategic disorder in the contemporary world.
- Outline the historical background to selected crises and conflicts.
Unit Content
- Civil war, inter-state conflict, and genocide in Africa.
- Ethnic and religious conflicts in the Caucasus, the Middle East and Central Asia.
- Narco-trafficking and violence in Central and South America.
- Pakistan, India and the Kashmir dispute.
- The isolated regimes in Burma and North Korea.
- The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Additional Learning Experience Information
Lectures, tutorials, and documentaries.
Assessment
GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units
Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.
ON CAMPUS| Type | Description | Value |
|---|
| Essay | Major essay | 50% |
| Examination | Examination | 50% |
Text References
- Paglen, T. (2009). Blank spots on the map: The dark geography of the Pentagon's secret world. Penguin.
- Wright, A. (2006). Organised crime. Willian.
- Bowden, M. Killing Pablo: The hunt for the richest, most powerful criminal in history. Atlantic Books.
- Collier, P. (2009). Wars, guns and votes: Democracy in dangerous places. Bodley Head.
- Devetak, R. (2007). An introduction to international relations: Australian perspectives. Cambridge University Press.
- Gregory, D., & Pred, A.R. (2007). Violent geographies: Fear, terror, and political violence. Brown.
- Jones, A. (2006). Genocide: A comprehensive introduction. Routledge.
- Kilcullen, D. (2009). The accidental guerrilla: Fighting small wars in the midst of a big one. Oxford University Press.
- Levy, J. (2009). Genocide in Darfur. Rosen Publications.
- Macdonald, D. (2007). Drugs in Afghanistan: Opium, outlaws and scorpion tales. Pluto.
- Smith, M., & Charunee, N.T. (1992). Why people grow drugs: Narcotics and development in the third world. Panos.
- Stohl, R. (2009). The international arms trade. Polity.
- Taylor, R. H. (2000). Burma: Political economy under military rule. C. Hurst.
- Thompson, C. (2009). To hellholes and back: Bribes, lies, and the art of extreme tourism. Henry Holt & Co.
- Vanaik, A. (2007). Selling US wars. Arris Books.
- Bates, R. H. (2008). When things fell apart: State failure in late-century Africa. Cambridge University Press.
Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)
For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.
Academic Misconduct
Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:
- plagiarism;
- unauthorised collaboration;
- cheating in examinations;
- theft of other students' work;
Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.
The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.
HIS3106|1|1
School: Arts and Humanities
This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.
Unit Title
The World's Most Dangerous Places: Politics and History through DocumentaryUnit Code
HIS3106Year
2016Enrolment Period
2Version
1Credit Points
15Full Year Unit
N
Mode of Delivery
On Campus
Online
Description
This unit will survey a selection of regions which, due to tyrannical rule, internal instability, or international tension, can rightfully be called the world's most dangerous places. There are a growing number of dark corners and strategic fault-lines around the globe that harbour danger for both the wayward traveller and the entire international community. From cities controlled by narco-traffickers in Mexico, and regions run by warlords in Somalia, to the fractious ethno-religious divisions of the Caucasus, and the perilously volatile frontiers of South Asia, we will seek to understand the historical context in which modern crises are situated, and examine the various causes and consequences of the continuing turmoil, through critical analysis of selected documentary films.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this unit students should be able to:
- Analyse the social, political and economic impacts of crisis and conflict on the affected nations, and throughout the international community.
- Apply international relations concepts to the world's most dangerous places.
- Evaluate the quality of analysis of these situations presented in documentary films.
- Identify key areas of social, political and geo-strategic disorder in the contemporary world.
- Outline the historical background to selected crises and conflicts.
Unit Content
- Civil war, inter-state conflict, and genocide in Africa.
- Ethnic and religious conflicts in the Caucasus, the Middle East and Central Asia.
- Narco-trafficking and violence in Central and South America.
- Pakistan, India and the Kashmir dispute.
- The isolated regimes in Burma and North Korea.
- The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Additional Learning Experience Information
Lectures, tutorials, and documentaries.
Assessment
GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units
Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.
ON CAMPUS| Type | Description | Value |
|---|
| Essay | Major essay | 50% |
| Examination | Examination | 50% |
ONLINE| Type | Description | Value |
|---|
| Essay | Major essay | 50% |
| Examination | Examination | 50% |
Text References
- Wright, A. (2006). Organised crime. Milton, United Kingdom: Willan.
- Bates, R. H. (2008). When things fell apart: State failure in late-century Africa. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.
- Thompson, C. (2009). To hellholes and back: Bribes, lies, and the art of extreme tourism. New York, NY: Henry Holt & Co.
- Taylor, R. H. (2000). Burma: Political economy under military rule. Bloomsbury, United Kingdom: C. Hurst.
- Stohl, R. (2009). The international arms trade. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Polity.
- Smith, M., & Charunee, N.T. (1992). Why people grow drugs: Narcotics and development in the third world. London, United Kingdom: Panos.
- Paglen, T. (2009). Blank spots on the map: The dark geography of the Pentagon's secret world. Penguin.
- Macdonald, D. (2007). Drugs in Afghanistan: Opium, outlaws and scorpion tales. London, United Kingdom: Pluto.
- Levy, J. (2009). Genocide in Darfur. New York, NY: Rosen Publications.
- Kilcullen, D. (2009). The accidental guerrilla: Fighting small wars in the midst of a big one. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.
- Jones, A. (2006). Genocide: A comprehensive introduction. USA: Routledge.
- Gregory, D., & Pred, A.R. (2007). Violent geographies: Fear, terror, and political violence. Brown.
- Devetak, R. (2007). An introduction to international relations: Australian perspectives. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.
- Collier, P. (2009). Wars, guns and votes: Democracy in dangerous places. Bodley Head.
- Bowden, M. (2001). Killing Pablo: The hunt for the richest, most powerful criminal in history. London, United Kingdom: Atlantic Books.
- Vanaik, A. (2007). Selling US wars. USA: Arris Books.
Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)
For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.
Academic Misconduct
Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:
- plagiarism;
- unauthorised collaboration;
- cheating in examinations;
- theft of other students' work;
Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.
The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.
HIS3106|1|2
