Violence, the Nation-State and Terrorism (6603.4)

Availability

Syllabus

The unit examines in depth aspects of the role of the nation-state in regulating, suffering from or carrying out violence. It looks at revolutionary and nation-building transitions, at failed or rogue states, colonial and imperial conquests, and episodes of terrorism, genocide and reconciliation. Explanations and justifications for these events are analysed from a range of perspectives. Case studies may include recent regional or international conflicts, the settlement of Australia and the use of capital punishment.

Learning Outcomes

1. Students who complete this unit should have an enhanced ability to: analyse critically the role of nation-states in regulating, suffering from or carrying out violence against individuals, communities and states; understand justifications and critiques of official violence in social theory; critically examine and deconstruct theories of the 'state', 'genocide', ethnicity and masculinity in relation to state-sanctioned violence;
2. demonstrate a higher order understanding of methods and techniques useful for analysing information about violence and the state, including oral history, document analysis and analysis of official statistics; demonstrate an enhanced ability to carry out independent research on state-related violence using an appropriate range of sources and techniques.

Contact Hours

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Prerequisites

6599 Law and Society OR 6607 Introductory Sociology OR 675 Politics and Democracy OR 9548 Introduction to Politics OR 8296 Introduction to Politics and Government OR 9549 Introduction to Western Political Thought OR 9271 Introduction to Criminology