This course is designed to ground students in the modern and contemporary politics, society, history and culture of Syria within the Levant region, including the dynamics of interaction and influence between Syria and the surrounding countries in the Levant such as Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan. The course traces the emergence of the Syrian Postcolonial State within the realms of the pan-Arabist Baathist ideology and the social contract instigated by the long reign of Hafez Al Asad. It explores the internal dynamics of Syrian society, culture and politics and the responses to regional challenges in the Levant region. It also considers the current Civil War in the country, the refugee crisis and the power dynamics among different local, regional and global actors.  

Learning Outcomes

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

1. identify key issues in Syrian State, society and politics and understand their historical contexts in relation to Levant and the wider region;
2. critically develop evidence-based argument and evaluation encompassing the full range of internal and external issues of the country in past and present within the regional context of the Levant;
3. write and present an advanced historical/political argument in a clear, coherent, and engaging manner; and
4. demonstrate an advanced reading comprehension of relevant literature.

Research-Led Teaching

Yes

Field Trips

no

Additional Course Costs

no

Recommended Resources

Whether you are on campus or studying online, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

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

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

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). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	The Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916 and the Great Syrian Revolt
2	Syria and the Baath Revolution (1963): Pan-Arabism and Regional Hegemony
3	The Cult of Hafez Al Asad and the Syrian Social Contract (1970-2000)
4	Muslim Brotherhood, Leftist parties and the Oppressed Oppositional Movements in Syria
5	Lebanese Civil War in Regional Context
6	The Rise of Bashar Al-Asad: Neo-liberal Economy under Authoritarian Rule
7	The Sect, Minorities and Sectarian/Ethnic politics in Syria and the Levant
8	The Arab Uprising and the Syrian Civil War
9	Gender, Violence and Syrian Civil Society before and after 2011 Uprisings
10	Syrian Internal and External Refugee Crisis
11	The (failed) Syrian State today, External Intervention and Proxy Wars in Syria
12	Syria, The Levant and Iraq in the Current Turmoil

Tutorial Registration

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Learning Outcomes
Class Paticipation	10 %	1,2,3,4
Midterm Exam	40 %	1,2,3,4
Final Exam	50 %	1,2,3,4

* 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 Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

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 Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

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

Class Paticipation

Details of Task:

It is essential to your learning – and the learning of others in the class – that you are fully involved in the course. This means that you need to:

a) Attend class

b) Come prepared – it will be assumed that you have completed any assigned readings and prepared for the discussion questions prior to class.

c) Actively participate in the learning – we owe it to ourselves and our colleagues to participate as fully as possible in the class sessions.

For students studying remotely, participation will be assessed through engagement via Zoom.

Marking Criteria:

This component is intended to evaluate the level and quality of your contribution to tutorial discussions, which should reflect your analytical and problem-solving skills. More specifically, it assesses your ability to understand situations and diagnose problems and to communicate your views effectively. This assessment specifically addresses Learning Outcomes 1 through 4 by evaluating your ability to communicate effectively throughout the semester. As the course will be delivered in a hybrid mode (face-to-face and remotely via Zoom), opportunities will be provided for all students to participate in the weekly seminars and tutorials. Your grade will be based on your attendance record and quality and breadth of participation.

Assessment Task 2

Midterm Exam

The midterm exam will evaluate students’ knowledge of the readings and course material and their ability to write clear, coherent, and concisely argued arguments about course material. More information about the midterm will be available on Wattle and discussed during lecture and tutorial.

Assessment Task 3

Final Exam

The final exam structure will be discussed during lectures and in tutorial. As per CASS policy, all exams are blind marked and they are not returned to the students, nor are comments provided. You may contact the conveners within 30 working days of the release of results to learn your specific exam mark, or to request an appeal.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

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

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
• Late submission permitted. 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 more than 10 working days after the due date, unless otherwise specified. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted 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 Accessibility 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 supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students