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  2. Radicalism and Political Extremism [SCY3508]

School: Science

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

    Radicalism and Political Extremism

  • Unit Code

    SCY3508

  • Year

    2017

  • Enrolment Period

    1

  • Version

    2

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

    N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

  • Unit Coordinator

    Mr Jeffrey Douglas CORKILL

Description

This unit develops students understanding of the motivating factors behind terrorism and the core ideological concepts and practices used to indoctrinate and radicalize individuals for terrorist causes. On completing this unit, students should have an understanding of and be able to critically analyse the major ideological, political and religious issues involved in the process of radicalization and promulgation of extremist behaviour.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Analyse left and right wing political extremism and the use of violence.
  2. Compare different state governance models in relation to the terrorism environment.
  3. Discriminate between extremism and radicalism.
  4. Evaluate the clash of civilisations theory in the contemporary context.
  5. Evaluate various models, modes and tactics of radicalisation and de-radicalisation.
  6. Outline the ideological and social foundations of terrorist causes.
  7. Outline the key concepts of religious terrorism.

Unit Content

  1. Countering radicalisation and extremism: contemporary approaches.
  2. Holy wars, crusades and jihads.
  3. Ideologies and social movements in terrorism: anarchism, anti colonialism, marxism, socialism and nationalism.
  4. Ideology, extremism and radicalism.
  5. Political extremism: left and right wing extremes.
  6. Radical religious movements.
  7. Recruitment and radicalisation models.
  8. Terrorism and state governance models: Does democracy encourage terrorism?.
  9. The use of new technologies in radicalisation: cyber jihad.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures, class activities, discussions and independent learning exercises.

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
TypeDescriptionValue
EssayEssay on the topic of ideology25%
ReportReport on the topic of a radical group25%
ExaminationEnd of semester exam50%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
EssayEssay on the topic of ideology25%
ReportReport on the topic of a radical group25%
ExaminationEnd of semester exam50%

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.

SCY3508|2|1

School: Science

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

    Radicalism and Political Extremism

  • Unit Code

    SCY3508

  • Year

    2017

  • Enrolment Period

    2

  • Version

    2

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

    N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

  • Unit Coordinator

    Mr Jeffrey Douglas CORKILL

Description

This unit develops students understanding of the motivating factors behind terrorism and the core ideological concepts and practices used to indoctrinate and radicalize individuals for terrorist causes. On completing this unit, students should have an understanding of and be able to critically analyse the major ideological, political and religious issues involved in the process of radicalization and promulgation of extremist behaviour.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Analyse left and right wing political extremism and the use of violence.
  2. Compare different state governance models in relation to the terrorism environment.
  3. Discriminate between extremism and radicalism.
  4. Evaluate the clash of civilisations theory in the contemporary context.
  5. Evaluate various models, modes and tactics of radicalisation and de-radicalisation.
  6. Outline the ideological and social foundations of terrorist causes.
  7. Outline the key concepts of religious terrorism.

Unit Content

  1. Countering radicalisation and extremism: contemporary approaches.
  2. Holy wars, crusades and jihads.
  3. Ideologies and social movements in terrorism: anarchism, anti colonialism, marxism, socialism and nationalism.
  4. Ideology, extremism and radicalism.
  5. Political extremism: left and right wing extremes.
  6. Radical religious movements.
  7. Recruitment and radicalisation models.
  8. Terrorism and state governance models: Does democracy encourage terrorism?.
  9. The use of new technologies in radicalisation: cyber jihad.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures, class activities, discussions and independent learning exercises.

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
TypeDescriptionValue
EssayEssay on the topic of ideology25%
ReportReport on the topic of a radical group25%
ExaminationEnd of semester exam50%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
EssayEssay on the topic of ideology25%
ReportReport on the topic of a radical group25%
ExaminationEnd of semester exam50%

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.

SCY3508|2|2