Conflicts over access to, and control of, resources have been a constant in human history. Rational policies to manage increasingly scarce resources often result in seemingly irrational reactions, many of which are rooted in specific cultural values and misunderstandings as much as varying stakeholder aims and objectives. This course combines conflict and conflict resolution theory with Asia Pacific region and resource specific case studies as they evolve over time to provide a broad-based toolkit for analysing the causes of resource conflicts and seeking feasible and enduring solutions. For the purposes of this course, the Asia Pacific region is designated to stretch west to east from Afghanistan to Easter Island/Rapanui, and north to south from the Pacific coast of Russia to Antarctica.  Emphasis is placed on the fluidity of circumstances and changing mindsets over time.  The course examines three sets of environmental issues: minority rights within states that usually involve extractive industries and underlying tensions between diverse ethnic and cultural groups; inter-state conflicts over resources that span multiple sovereign jurisdictions, or are in international waters beyond state jurisdiction: and, common issues over pending resource scarcity due to population pressure or the effects of climate change. 

Learning Outcomes

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

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to: 

• understand theories explaining environmental conflict, and their application to a variety of case studies;
• understand the diverse agendas of multiple stakeholders in resource disputes, and the fluidity of conflict situations;
• devise sustainable resolutions to conflicts that take account of diverse agendas and changing circumstances; and
• clearly articulate their analysis of the causes and solutions to environmental conflicts. 

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	Political ecology and violent environments
2	Environmental security as human security
3	Environmental social movements and grassroots resistance
4	Environmental social movement case study - Cambodia's Areng Dam	Assessment Task 2 Due (12 August)
5	Community-based environmental problem solving - Cambodia's Tonle Sap
6	Environmental struggle in Australia - case study	Assessment Task 3 Due (15 September)
7	Environmental Change and Ethnic Groups in Conflict- Experiences from Kalimantan, Indonesia
8	Resettlement and Land Policy Reform as Environmental Conflict in Upland Lao PDR
9	Violence as Land Development on the Urban Fringe: Cases from Vietnam and China
10	Transboundary Resource Conflict: The Geopolitics of Hydropower Development on the Mainstream Mekong River
11	Displacement, Forced Migration and Unfree Labour in Thailand's Fisheries Sector
12	Climate Change, Security, and Structural Violence

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment
Weekly comment	10 %	30/07/2019	22/10/2019
Blog post	10 %	12/08/2019	26/08/2019
Case study	35 %	15/09/2019	25/09/2019
Final Essay	45 %	08/11/2019	28/11/2019

* 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

Weekly comment

Two commentaries on weekly readings, of your choice. Due throughout the semester.

Assessment Task 2

Blog post

Short blog on political ecology versus environmental security, as two different approaches. Due 12th August.

Assessment Task 3

Case study

Develop a case study of an environmental conflict, of your choosing, based upon material taught by Sarah. Due 15th September.

Assessment Task 4

Final Essay

Either prepare a (i) conceptual and analytical essay about an environmental conflict of your choosing; OR (ii) a policy brief. Due 8th November.

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.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle 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