This course provides postgraduate students with the tools to understand and analyse some of the key drivers of violent extremism in the world today. Focused on the Middle East, the course examines the historical legacies that have shaped state and non-state violence in the region and provides important context to the emergence of terrorism as a political tactic against the backdrop of globalisation. Running throughout the course are basic questions such as: why does violent extremism develop; how does it function; what impact does it have; and what can be done about it?
Specific topics to be covered include: defining violent extremism; the historical roots of violence and legacies of Empires; politics and violence in the struggle for Palestine; religious fundamentalism and international politics; September 11 and “The War on Terror”; global repercussions of the Iraq invasion; the rise and fall of Isis; gender and political violence; non-state actors and militia; the new fundamentalisms: violence and terror today.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- define violent extremism and identify its historical roots;
- investigate modern and contemporary manifestations of terrorism and consider how political violence impacts populations in the Middle East and beyond;
- gain an in-depth understanding of the political and religious ideologies that have underpinned violent extremism in the region;
- develop the capacity to research topics related to violent extremism and terrorism and to write about these topics with confidence; and
- critically analyse texts and course material and present arguments with confidence in a public setting.
Other Information
Drivers of Violent Extremism: The Local and the Global in the Middle East - ANU
Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies Honours Specialisation - ANU
Indicative Assessment
- (3000 word) essay (35) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- (4000 word) essay (50) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Oral Presentation (15) [LO 5]
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.
Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from: a) 24 hours of seminars over 12 weeks; and b) 106 hours of online activities, practice exercises, readings and assessment.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
There are no prescribed texts for this course. All readings will be made available on Wattle.
Preliminary Reading
Berger, J. M: Extremism The MIT Press (2018)
Chomsky, N. & Achcar, G. Perilous Power: The Middle East and US Foreign Policy, London: Hamish Hamilton, 2007.
Gerges, F.A. The Far Enemy: Why Jihad Went Global, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005.
Hafez, Kai: Radicalism and political reform in the Islamic and western worlds. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 2010.
Jones, Martin et al (eds): Handbook of terrorism and counter terrorism post 9/11. Northampton: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2019.
Rajan, V. G. Julie: Al Qaeda's global crisis: the Islamic state, takfir, and the genocide of Muslims. London: Routledge 2015.
Saikal, A. Islam and the West: Conflict or Coperation?, London, Palgrave MacMillan, 2003
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
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.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3061 | 23 Feb 2026 | 02 Mar 2026 | 31 Mar 2026 | 29 May 2026 | In Person | N/A |