Australian Politics in a Global Context
PLT110
Overview
Level of study: What does Undergraduate Level 1 mean?
Undergraduate Level 1
EFTSL: What does EFTSL mean?
0.125
Delivery Method: What does delivery method mean?
Fully Online
Prerequisites: What are the prerequisites?
Duration:
13 weeks
Government loans available:
FEE-HELP FEE-HELP
Domestic student fee:
$750.00 (AUD)
International student fee:
$975.00 (AUD)
Description
Australian politics has undergone rapid change over the past three decades. The relative stability of post-war era has given way to a political and social landscape of accelerated transformation. Previously taken-for-granted values are challenged, once stable institutions are destabilised and the very idea of an Australian political community is the subject of fierce controversy. These political tremors have been expressed most acutely in the rise of and subsequent challenges to multiculturalism and in neo-liberal restructuring of key Australian institutions. Such changes, many commentators on both the political left and right suggest, are intimately linked with those processes often referred to as 'globalisation'. Just what globalisation is and what the mechanisms are by which it influences Australia's domestic politics, is less clear. In this unit, we introduce Australian politics through the lens of debates about globalisation and its consequences for state capacities, sovereignty and decision-making. We examine key political institutions, ideologies and contemporary issues. We explore the ways in which they been affected by and have also filtered the effects of, accelerated globalisation. Among other questions, we ask what is globalisation?
Prerequisites
If you have no prior university experience, you should complete SSK12 or SSK13 before starting this unit.
Assessment
- Assignment 1 — Exercises (20%)
- Assignment 2 — Essay (40%)
- Non-Invigilated Exam — Take Home Exam (40%)
Learning Outcomes
Completion of this unit will:
- give you an appreciation of the relationship between globalisation and Australian politics
- introduce you to Australia's main political institutions and the debates and controversies that surround them
- promote an understanding of the main political ideologies that have been influential in Australia's political discourse, and show how they have been expressed in party politics
- explore some of the most pressing contemporary issues in Australian politics and how they are influenced by globalisation
- improve your capacities for logical and critical reasoning
- enhance your oral and written expression
- increase your confidence to speak to and work within a small group.
At the completion of this unit students will be able to:
- identify the key issues regarding the relationship between globalisation and Australia's domestic politics
- describe the central features of Australia's main political institutions - including the Constitution, Federalism, the High Court, Parliament, elections and the two party system - and to understand the ways in which globalisation constrains and influences them
- distinguish between, and articulate the strengths and weaknesses of, the key ideologies that have informed political discourse in this country
- give an articulate account of at least one contemporary political issue in this country, and say how it has been influenced, if at all, by intensified globalisation.
Topics
This unit addresses the following topics.
| Number | Topic |
|---|---|
| 1 | What is politics about? |
| 2 | Power and politics |
| 3 | Media |
| 4 | Voting |
| 5 | The parties |
| 6 | Major parties |
| 7 | Interest groups/minor parties |
| 8 | Political behaviour |
| 9 | Constitution |
| 10 | Federalism |
| 11 | Parliament |
| 12 | Executive government |
| 13 | Public sector and the market |
| 14 | Human rights |
| 15 | National sovereignty |
Study Resources
This unit is delivered using the following methods and materials:
Instructional Methods
- Discussion Forum/Discussion Board
Print based materials
- Welcome Letter
Textbook information for this unit is currently being updated and will be available soon. Please check back regularly for updates. Alternatively, visit the Unibooks website and enter the unit details to search for available textbooks.
Relevant Courses
This unit is a core requirement in the following courses:
This unit is part of a major, minor, stream or specialisation in the following courses:
This unit is an approved elective in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Arts (Community Development), Murdoch University
- Bachelor of Arts (Librarianship and Corporate Information Management), Curtin University
- Certificate of Arts, Griffith University
- Diploma of Arts, Griffith University
This unit may be eligible for credit towards other courses:
- Many undergraduate courses on offer through OUA include 'open elective' where any OUA unit can be credited to the course. You need to check the Award Requirements on the course page for the number of allowed open electives and any level limitations.
- In other cases, the content of this unit might be relevant to a course on offer through OUA or elsewhere. In order to receive credit for this unit in the course you will need to supply the provider institution with a copy of the Unit Profile in the approved format, which you can download here. Note that the Unit Profile is set at the start of the year, and if textbooks change this may not match the Unibooks textbook list.
