Unit Descriptions

Core Units

CISS6001 New Security Challenges

This unit considers the evolving nature of security in the context of global politics. It focuses on non-military challenges to security while acknowledging the relationships between these and traditional security concerns. Among the topics considered are: international law and security; the privatisation of security; economics and security; energy resources; environmental degradation; the burden of infectious diseases; population dynamics; gender and age perspectives on security; the dilemmas of fragile and failing states transnational organised crime; and new modes of warfare. The overall objective of the unit is to engage with issues and arguments that challenge how security is traditionally understood. Teaching and learning take place via a combination of lectures, student-led seminars, debates and case studies.

In 2010, this unit will be taught in Semester 2 by Dr Tom Wilkins

CISS6002 Strategy & Security in the Asia-Pacific

The Asia-Pacific region faces a matrix of security challenges that are unique in the early part of the 21st century. This unit will examine whether a new security dilemma is emerging in Asia commensurate with the rise of China and India as two potential superpowers by 2050, and it will assess the major strategic drivers pertinent to the Asia-Pacific. The combination of regional security challenges to be examined in this unit include: the strategic relationships between the United States, China and Japan; the potential for conflict on the Korean peninsula, in the Taiwan strait, and between India and Pakistan; concerns about nuclear proliferation; extremist violence by Muslims and others in Southeast Asia; and inadequate systems of governance in some South Pacific countries. The overall objective of the unit is to engage with issues and arguments about security that relate specifically to the Asia-Pacific region. Teaching and learning take place via a combination of lectures, student-led seminars, independent research, debates and case studies.

In 2010, this unit will be taught in Semester 1 by Dr Tom Wilkins

GOVT6119 International Security

This unit reviews developments in international security since before World War l, to recent events like September 11 and its aftermath. The principal focus is on developments since the end of the Cold War and the collapse of Communism. The unit takes account of traditional notions about the causes of war and the conditions of peace, as well as changes in the structure and process of contemporary international relations.

In 2010, this unit will be taught in Semester 1 by Dr Ben Goldsmith.

Table A Electives

CISS6003 Business and Security

This unit examines the importance of security in business through assessing contemporary security challenges and what 'security' comprises in a business context. Topics include: fraud and corruption, cybercrime, industrial espionage, corporate liability, business and organised crime links, preparedness for terrorism, business continuity during infectious disease outbreaks, the international arms trade, and private military corporations. The unit includes management sessions which focus on risk and crisis management, and planning for effective security. Teaching and learning take place via a combination of lectures, student-led seminars, case studies and crisis simulations.

In 2010, this unit will be taught intensively in Semester 1 by Mark Thomson.

CISS6004 Disease and Security

This unit assesses the political and security significance of infectious diseases. Whether one contemplates historical experiences with smallpox, plague and cholera, or the contemporary challenges posed by new diseases like HIV/AIDS and SARS, it is clear that pathogenic micro-organisms exercise a powerful influence over civilized humankind. The unit concentrates on areas in which human health and security concerns intersect most closely, including: biological weapons proliferation; responses to fast-moving disease outbreaks of natural origin; safety and security in microbiology laboratories; and the relationships between infectious disease patterns, public health capacity, state functioning and violent conflict. The overall aim of the unit is to provide students with a stronger understanding of the scientific and political nature of these problems, why and how they might threaten security, and the conceptual and empirical connections between them.

In 2010, this unit will be taught in Semester 1 by Dr Christian Enemark

CISS6005 Ethics, Law and War

This unit examines ethical and legal norms relating to the use of armed force for political purposes by states and non-state actors. In particular, it explores the ways in which ethics and law influence - or fail to influence - strategic and tactical decisions. After an introduction to the nature of ethics and law and their relationship with politics and strategy, the unit examines a wide range of topics, drawing on historical and contemporary case studies. The topics covered include: conscription and conscientious objection; law of armed conflict in international and internal conflicts; the concept of inhumane weapons; the use of private contractors to support and wage war; ideas of Just War and self-defence; forceful intervention in other states for humanitarian and other purposes; ethics and the 'war on terror'; and the enforcement of ethical and legal norms.

In 2010, this unit will be taught in Semester 2 by Dr Christian Enemark.

CISS6006 Statebuilding and Fragile States

This unit examines the characteristics of fragile and failed states, and the nature of donor and international community engagement with these states. It will explore the international community’s gradual acceptance of the norms of humanitarian intervention and post-conflict reconstruction to assist civilians affected by civil war, insurgencies, state repression, profound state weakness and state collapse. The unit will expand upon the theoretical literature with evidence from case studies on Africa, the Middle East, South/Central Asia and the Asia-Pacific. It will also focus on the potential security implications of fragile and failing states and the limitations on external actors in these environments.

This unit will be taught by Dr Sarah Phillips in Summer School in December 2009 and in Semester 2 2010.

CISS6007 Terrorism in the Asia-Pacific Region

The unit will begin by providing a conceptual framework for understanding the phenomenon of terrorism as a form of asymmetrical warfare waged by political actors including an examination of the impact that the end of the Cold War has had on the rise of religiously inspired terrorism. In doing so, common misconceptions will be challenged, highlighting the rationality that drives terrorist behaviour and strategies. With a focus on the Asia-Pacific region, the unit will analyse terrorist organisational structures, including leadership, ideologies, motivations, capabilities, strategies, tactics and targets. Equipped with this knowledge, students will consider effective counter-terrorism strategies, including practical considerations for protecting critical functions of the state and private sector.

In 2010, this unit will be taught in Winter School by Professor Greg Barton.

CISS6008 Population and Security

This unit considers the importance of demographic factors in international security. It attempts to provide answers to the complex questions regarding how population changes affect security concerns. In particular it examines how population dynamics and characteristics such as growth rates, fertility, mortality, age and ethnic structure might be linked to national and international security. Among topics covered will be key global population trends, differing world population transitions, the significance of resource scarcity and environmental degradation, the role of natural disasters, and the significance of ethnic and religious divisions. Case studies will be presented with respect to how demographics may contribute to undermining the viability of modern states and the importance of population to security considerations in the Asia-Pacific region.

In 2010, this unit will be taught in Semester 2 by Professor Peter Curson.

CISS6011 Special Topic in International Security

Details to be announced.

CISS6012 Civil-Military Relations

This unit assesses the nature and effectiveness of civil-military cooperation and coordination in preparing for, responding to, and averting the impact of natural disasters (such as the 2004 tsunami) and conflict, particularly in Australia's nearer region. The new realities of intra-state conflict and support to fragile states have seen Australia commit increased resources to enhance prospects for stability and reduce population displacement, while promoting economic development and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Students in this unit will examine the nexus between state-centric and human security, as well as the difficulties for military forces and humanitarian actors in navigating the 'space' in which they are co-located. Policies, principles and practices of the Australian Government, the United Nations, and other key international actors and non-government organisations will be considered. The unit will also examine issues such as disaster risk-reduction, peace-building strategies, population displacement, and civil-military requirements for population protection, particularly under the Responsibility to Protect framework. The overall aim of the unit is for students to gain a better understanding of the complexities of civil-military relations in disaster and conflict situations, and to examine trends, policies and practices relevant to Australia.

In 2010, this unit will be taught intensively in Semester 2 by Maj Gen Mike Smith (Ret'd).

CISS6013 Middle East Conflict and Security

The Middle East has been plagued for more than a century by a series of national, ethnic and religious conflicts, reflecting shifting regional alliances and the unresolved legacy of the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the end of colonial rule. The security of this region will always remain a focus of those concerned with energy security for as long as it remains the location of the world's largest known reserves of oil and gas. This unit examines the causes and manifestation of conflict and insecurity in the Middle East today by starting with a theoretical framework for examining the process of state-formation in the region followed by an analysis of specific intra and inter-state conflicts with a view of considering, at the end of the semester, the probability of the region becoming more secure in the foreseeable future.

In 2010, this unit will be taught in Semester 1 by Dr Sarah Phillips.

CISS6014 Human Security

The UN Development Programme’s Human Development Report of 1994 first proposed the concept of ‘human security’. Often referred to as ‘people-centred security’ or ‘security with a human face’, human security places human beings – rather than states – at the focal point of security considerations. This unit considers three facets of human security: freedom from want; freedom from fear; and the freedom to live in dignity. It considers the contested nature of the concept and assesses its value for understanding the development of the security field. It will focus in particular on human security issues related to terrorism, human trafficking, humanitarian intervention, and the responsibility to protect doctrine, as well as the framework of global governance for advancing human security. The importance of understanding the gender dimensions of human security will also be a core feature of the unit.

This is a new unit for 2010. It will be taught in Summer School 2010 by Associate Professor Louise Chappell.

CISS6015 Alliances and Coalition Warfare

Alliances and coalitions are pivotal features of international security. This unit interrogates these closely related phenomena using a combination of conceptual frameworks to analyse them and empirical studies to illustrate them. The unit starts with an investigation into the thorny definitional issues that surround the distinctions between ‘alliance’ and ‘coalition’, then outlines the major conceptual theoretical works pertinent to examining these phenomena, such as balance of power, intra-alliance politics and multinational operations. Equipped with these analytical tools, students will apply these concepts to a series of case studies of alliance management and coalition warfare operations. Case studies include World Wars I and II, the Cold War (NATO/Warsaw Pact), The Gulf War (1991), the Balkan Wars (Bosnia 1992-5, Kosovo 1999), and the current ‘global war on terror’ (i.e. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan). Through this process students will gain both a conceptual and practical understanding of peacetime alliance behaviour and the principles of conducting military operations alongside allies. Student presentations will include an emphasis on Australia’s role as an alliance/coalition partner in historical and contemporary conflicts.

This is a new unit for 2010. It will be taught in Semester 2 2010 by Dr Tom Wilkins.

Table B Electives

CISS6009 Research Essay 1

This unit consists of a 6,000 word research essay under the guidance of a supervisor from CISS. Normally it involves deeper study of a subject which the student has already covered in her/his degree. Entry into this unit is by permission only, and depends upon the availability of a CISS supervisor for the proposed topic, the student's existing knowledge in the area, and her/his performance in the preceding semester.

MCom, MBus, and MIntSec students can take this unit as a stand-alone elective unit. MIntSec students may also take this unit in conjunction with CISS6010 Research Essay 2, writing a supervised dissertation of 10,000 - 12,000 words.

In 2010, this unit is available in both Semesters 1 and 2.

CISS6010 Research Essay 2

This unit is the second of a two-part, supervised dissertation of 10,000 - 12,000 words to be taken in conjunction with CISS6009 Research Essay 1. Entry into this unit is by permission only and requires the completion of a minimum of 4 units with an average of 75%, and upon the availability of a CISS supervisor for the proposed topic.

In 2010, this unit is available in both Semesters 1 and 2.

TPTM6390 Logistics in Humanitarian Aid Projects

Logistics in humanitarian aid projects has long been an overlooked factor in the efficient and effective delivery of help to victims of war, natural disasters and epidemics. With increased media coverage and the rise of the “CNN-factor” of humanitarian assistance to countries such as Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan and Iraq, professional logistics and supply-chain management for humanitarian aid missions has taken a place in the spotlight and is more and more recognised as one of the core components of all successful relief efforts. Unstable security environments, long and fragile supply lines, time constraints and access restrictions often add to the pressure on logistics managers to deliver aid where it is most needed. This unit offers an introduction into the complex and challenging world of logistics in humanitarian aid projects by case-studies of real emergencies, group exercises and discussion of mission parameters based on experience from the field.

This is a new unit for 2010. It will be offered in Semester 2 2010 by the Institute for Transport and Logistics Studies.