APG5199 Peacekeeping in the international system: Theory, policy and practice
Faculty of Arts
APG5199 Peacekeeping in the international system: Theory, policy and practice is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Arts, offered in 2027 in Semester 1 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2027
- Semester 1
- Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 3 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
Reviews
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Overview
In this unit, you will examine peace operations using three levels of analysis: international, national and local, and assess the role each level plays in the success and failure of peace operations. In the first third of the unit, you will study the history of peacekeeping – how it was conceived by the UN and the different types of UN peacekeeping missions (traditional, multi-dimensional and stabilization) that have evolved over time in response to shifts in international politics. Following that, we explore how IR theory has been applied to peacekeeping, in particular focusing on debates between liberal and critical theorists. In the remainder of the unit you will consider peacekeeping policy and practice. We will focus on the challenges peacekeeping faces which include: the impact of the crisis of multilateralism in the UNSC; implementing the mandate at mission level; demonstrating impartiality, winning legitimacy; building credibility and promoting local ownership in the field. Empirical topics include: peacebuilding, the protection of civilians (POC), peace enforcement, counterterrorism, the women peace and security (WPS) agenda, non-UN peacekeeping, regional peacekeeping initiatives, and the psychology of peacekeeping. Your learning experience will be enhanced by participation in role play, presentations, and grouped debates throughout the unit.
Offerings in 2027
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Clayton | Flexible |
Assessment
- Policy briefWritten35%
- Oral presentationPresentation25%
- EssayWritten40%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
critique and apply the multiple criteria used to understand success and failure in peacekeeping;
- 2
recognise and apply the different theoretical and methodological approaches used to explain peacekeeping in international relations;
- 3
analyse and evaluate UN peacekeeping operations at the international, national and local levels;
- 4
communicate in writing, both as a member of a team and individually;
- 5
reflect critically on your ability to work professionally, ethically, and collaboratively with others.
Workload and teaching
- Seminars24 hours
- Teaching approachProblem-based learning
- Teaching approachCase-based teaching
- Teaching approachResearch activities
- Teaching approachActive learning
- Teaching approachRole play
- Teaching approachEnquiry-based learning
- Teaching approachPeer assisted learning
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
This unit includes problem-based learning approaches, where you engage in research, integrate theory and practice and apply knowledge and skills to develop viable solutions in response to a problem or set of problems.
This unit includes case-based teaching, where you apply your knowledge and engage in analytical and reflective thinking to solve complex contextual scenarios. Activities are often designed so that there is not one clear answer, but students need to work together to examine, analyse and make decisions to resolve the situation.
This unit allows you to develop your research skills by engaging in structured inquiry using a systematic approach and discipline-specific methodologies.,
This unit engages you in actively applying your knowledge, skills and attributes in interactive, collaborative and reflective activities.
This unit provides you with opportunities to Role-play in order to have that personal engagement.
This unit engages you in enquiry-based learning, where you will be encouraged to use your own knowledge to develop and engage in a process of enquiry, study and research to identify areas to be investigated and an approach to doing so.
This unit will provide you with opportunities to work with peers in groups and pairs in class. You will have interactive discussions to deepen your knowledge and understanding of the topic, and reinforce your learning.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Vanessa Newby
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Vanessa Newby
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for APG5199?
APG5199 has no prerequisites.
When is APG5199 offered?
In 2027, APG5199 runs in Semester 1 at Clayton.
How much work is APG5199?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does APG5199 have an exam?
No. APG5199 has 3 assessment tasks and no exam.