This course explores core questions about modern armed conflict: What is war? What shapes does it take? What are its main drivers? What consequences does it have? How has it evolved over time? Who plays a role in it? Is it ever legitimate to wage war? Is the use of violence legal? What role does terrorism play? How do we build a sustainable peace? What are some of the challenges involved? How do we address them? How do we avoid war? How can we respond to mass atrocities? To do so, the course draws on various case studies and uses a multidisciplinary lens by building on the fields of International Relations, political science, strategic studies, anthropology, history, law, gender studies and psychology. By doing so, it introduces students to some of the key debates and concepts of the field of peace and conflict studies. Additionally, it gives them a robust foundation for further study, while allowing them to better understand current international affairs.

This course will be taught in Japan (in English) as part of the Bachelor of Asia Pacific Affairs.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Demonstrate a strong understanding of some of the key concepts and debates of the field of peace and conflict studies. 
2. Display a fuller appreciation of the multifaceted causes and consequences of violent conflict. 
3. Demonstrate a deep understanding of the complexity surrounding the concept of peace and some of the key pathways to achieve it. 
4. Gain a practical perspective on peace and conflict studies in the 21st century.
5. Develop strong communication skills including oral and written skills. 
6. Develop critical analysis skills and critical reflexivity.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• Written comments
• Verbal comments
• Feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals, focus groups

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Peace and Conflict: An introduction
2	Armed Conflicts and War: What are the causes?
3	Armed Conflicts and War: How can we analyse them?
4	Armed Conflicts and War: What are the rules of engagement?	Assessment Item 1: Video Reflection due on Monday, October 19th
5	Armed Conflict and War: What do leaders do to secure our support?	Assessment Item 2: Tutorial Presentations commence this week
6	Armed Conflict and War: What are gendered impacts?
7	Building Peace: How do conflicts come to an end?
8	Building Peace: What is the future of international peacekeeping?
9	Building Peace: What can humanitarian action achieve?
10	Building Peace: How do people reconcile in the wake of war?
11	Building peace: Do we need new visions for peace?	Assessment Item 2: Tutorial Presentations will end this week
12	Peace and Conflict: A reflection	Assessment Item 4: Final In-Class Test

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Assessment Item 1: Video Reflection	20 %	19/10/2026	05/11/2026	1, 5
Assessment Item 2: Tutorial Presentation	10 %	*	*	3, 4, 5
Assessment Item 3: Tutorial Participation	10 %	*	*	2, 4
Assessment Item 4: Final In-Class Test	25 %	*	*	1, 2, 3, 5
Assessment Item 5: Documentary review	35 %	04/01/2027	*	1, 2, 3, 5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Assessment Task 1

Assessment Item 1: Video Reflection

Task

Watch the following two videos

The most shocking second a day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBQ-IoHfimQLinks to an external site.

Still the most shocking second a day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKDgFCojiT8Links to an external site.

To frame your response, consider the following questions:

• In your opinion: What does Safe the Children want people to understand?
• What are some of the ways in which war impacts people differently?
• Do any of the scenes resonate with you in particular? Why?

 

You may but do not have to consider each question individually.

Requirements

• A video recording of approximately 5 minutes in length (min 4:00 / max 5:15).
• The student’s face must be visible throughout the recording.
• Make sure the recording is of sufficient quality and in a standard format that it is possible to view, and that the audio is easy to hear.
• Do not use a script made with generative AI.

Due date: by 18:00 JT on Monday 19 October 2026

Assessment Task 2

Assessment Item 2: Tutorial Presentation

Task

 

Each student will prepare a short presentation to be delivered in the tutorials to demonstrate their engagement with and understanding of the core concepts of peace and conflict studies. Students can choose an image, a dialogue, or a scene from one of the following seven graphic novels:

 

Munnu: A Boy from Kashmir, by Malik Sajad

Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi

Maus, by Art Spiegelman

Palestine, by Joe Sacco

The Best We Could Do, by Thi Bui

A Game for Swallows: To Die, To Leve, To Return, by Zeinal Abirached

Echoes of the Lost Boys of Sudan, by James Disco

 

Each presentation should provide a short reflection on what this form of visual art and literature can relate about the everyday impacts of conflict and war and people’s visions for peace.

The graphic novels will be available on Canvas.

Assessment Task 3

Assessment Item 3: Tutorial Participation

Regular and active participation in tutorials is expected of all students. 

Assessment Task 4

Assessment Item 4: Final In-Class Test

Description:

This in-person test will take place during the exam period at the end of the semester and will cover the readings and course content of the entire semester. I will highlight core concepts and key texts relevant to the exam throughout the semester. The aim of the exam is to verify that you have assimilated all the core material of the course and that you are capable of using them in an analytical way. This assessment will also give you an opportunity to reflect on your learning journey and the relevance of peace and conflict studies to our own lives and communities. 

Assessment Task 5

Assessment Item 5: Documentary review

Task

Students need to watch the documentary, The Fog of War,and discuss it in reference to the content of the course. This assessment encourages students to use the film as a framework for thinking about whether there are enduring features of war and peace, whether the lessons

presented in the film are convincing, and how they relate to the issues considered during the semester. In doing so, students need to connect lessons and insights from the documentary to topics considered in lectures, tutorials and readings. The assessment requires demonstrating comprehension of the documentary, as well as engaging in the process of thought and

reflection. As this is a reflective exercise, it is appropriate to write in the first person if you prefer.

Requirements

• Word length: 1,500 words (references not included in word count).

• Assignments should not be under 1,400 words or over 1,600 words.

• The assignment must be submitted through the Canvas Turnitin page.

• You are encouraged not to use generative AI. Regardless, the assignment needs to have a ‘statement of AI use’ at the start of the assignment. It should contain the following information: whether an AI tool was used, if so which tool(s), and

acknowledge all functional uses of the tool(s).

• No late submissions.

Due date: 18:00 JT on Monday 4 January 2027.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations and tutorial presentations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Canvas site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information. In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service — including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy. If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes. Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students