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.

Please note that given the circumstances of COVID-19, there may be some modifications to the assessment schedule promoted in Handbook for Semester 1 2020 Units. Students will be notified of all approved modifications by Unit Coordinators via email and Unit Blackboard sites. Where changes have been made, these are designed to ensure that you still meet the unit learning outcomes in the context of our adjusted teaching and learning arrangements.

  • Unit Title

    Radicalism and Political Extremism
  • Unit Code

    SCY3508
  • Year

    2020
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    3
  • 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. Discriminate the difference between extremism and radicalism.
  2. Evaluate the clash of civilizations theory in the contemporary context.
  3. Assess various models, modes and tactics of radicalisation and de-radicalisation.
  4. Debate the ideological and social foundations of terrorist causes.

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.

Learning Experience

ON-CAMPUS

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU Blackboard.

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 113 x 2 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 113 x 1 hour workshopNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

ONLINE

Students will engage in learning experiences through ECU Blackboard as well as additional ECU learning technologies.

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%
ProjectDraft a policy response/counter radicalisation plan to mitigate threat of previously reported group50%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
EssayEssay on the topic of ideology25%
ReportReport on the topic of a radical group25%
ProjectDraft a policy response/counter radicalisation plan to mitigate threat of previously reported group50%

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|3|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.

Please note that given the circumstances of COVID-19, there may be some modifications to the assessment schedule promoted in Handbook for this unit. All assessment changes will be published by 27 July 2020. All students are reminded to check handbook at the beginning of semester to ensure they have the correct outline.

  • Unit Title

    Radicalism and Political Extremism
  • Unit Code

    SCY3508
  • Year

    2020
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    3
  • 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. Discriminate the difference between extremism and radicalism.
  2. Evaluate the clash of civilizations theory in the contemporary context.
  3. Assess various models, modes and tactics of radicalisation and de-radicalisation.
  4. Debate the ideological and social foundations of terrorist causes.

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.

Learning Experience

ON-CAMPUS

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU Blackboard.

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 113 x 2 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 113 x 1 hour workshopNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

ONLINE

Students will engage in learning experiences through ECU Blackboard as well as additional ECU learning technologies.

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%
ProjectDraft a policy response/counter radicalisation plan to mitigate threat of previously reported group50%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
EssayEssay on the topic of ideology25%
ReportReport on the topic of a radical group25%
ProjectDraft a policy response/counter radicalisation plan to mitigate threat of previously reported group50%

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|3|2