Open Universities Australia

Dashboard

Find key dates

Access my LMS

Get free tutoring with Smarthinking

Change my studies

Support

Manage my account

View statements & reports

Request online support

Refer a friend

Architecture & construction

Art & creative design

Business & management

Community services & care

Education & teaching

Engineering

Health & medical science

Humanities & social science

IT & computer science

Law & justice

Media & communication

Psychology & mental health

Science

Search all courses

Explore study online

Undergraduate degrees

Postgraduate courses

University certificates

Pathways and pre-university

Single subjects

Microcredentials

Short courses

Study types

Help me choose a course

Chat with a student advisor

Compare courses

Degrees vs single subjects

Choosing a course

Study online

How OUA works

Key dates

How to enrol

Applying for credit

Study planning

Minimum age requirements

Textbooks & study materials

Computer requirements

International students

Getting started

Student loans

Study allowances

Fees

Financial options

Getting advice

Study preparation

Disability support

Exams

Free online tutoring

Special Circumstances

Your studies

Advice

13 6736

Study online through Open Universities Australia. Explore all degrees, subjects and short courses now.

The Bachelor of Arts (OUA) at Macquarie University is a distinctive course that equips its graduates with knowledge and skills that can be applied in any career or in further study. No other course offers as much flexibility and a wide range of study options as the Bachelor of Arts. You will be given the opportunity to turn your passion into a career while developing a strong set of core transferable skills valued by industry and the society. In consultation with industry, the Bachelor of Arts (OUA) places a strong emphasis on skills for success in the 21st century workplace. You will be taught by active researchers, leading academics and award winning teachers.

Make your degree unique and study what interests you. Analyse critically, think creatively and problem-solve at work or in everyday life. Complete foundational studies then tailor your degree with a major. Create a portfolio and build your connections.

Bachelor of Arts

This is a shell program used for the administration of four-year Double Degree programs. Students will enrol in the shell program and complete the requirements of both constituent programs. program content, rules and entry requirements are those for the constituent programs. Constituent programs include all those with 300 credit points, of which at least 100 credit points are electives. Bachelor of Psychological SciencePsychology, the study of human behaviour, impacts every environment in which humans live, work, cooperate and communicate. Whether it’s in the classroom or the courtroom, the family home or the extremes of Antarctica, in Tasmanian communities or international relations, psychology plays a role. If you want to develop knowledge and skills that will enrich your personal and professional life, or your goal is to become a research scientist, counsellor or registered psychologist, the Bachelor of Psychological Science provides the perfect foundation. When you study the science of psychology you will learn about the biological and psychological principles of human behaviour, and will develop the transferable skills of critical thinking, communication and problem solving that are vital everywhere people interact. These include:<ul><li>Counselling</li><li>Criminal justice</li><li>Neuroscience</li><li>Health services support e.g. drug and alcohol, cancer, disability, rehabilitation</li><li>Aged, family and child services</li><li>Probation and parole services</li><li>Policy and planning</li><li>Business</li><li>Marketing</li><li>Education</li><li>Public affairs</li><li>Human resources, and numerous other areas</li></ul> Bachelor of Justice StudiesThe world needs passionate change leaders, now more than ever. Whether you choose to protect natural resources, protect the world’s most vulnerable, lead emergency response teams or participate in foreign aid, becoming a ‘justice practitioner’ starts with a Bachelor of Justice Studies.Learn about justice issues affecting the places where you live, work, play and study and how they connect to wider regional, national and international concerns. You will be exposed to interdisciplinary expertise and world leading experts in a unique program that will provide you with the skills and knowledge to improve justice policy and practice. Prepare yourself to address perceived injustice issues that cross a range of societal, criminal, indigenous and environmental areas.Discover the nature of justice, harm and morality, and consider the efficacy of formal (laws, regulation, policing) and informal (organised protest, community, non-profit and volunteer organisations, online platforms) channels for achieving justice. Turn your passion into action with research-led learning experiences across different justice scenarios. Learn to interrogate a range of complex justice issues including domestic and international crime, environmental threats such as climate change, domestic violence, international terror, humanitarian crises, and species extinction. Throughout the degree you will be asked to consider ethical issues related to the representation of Indigenous communities, histories and events. You will explore issues important to Indigenous people and produce analytical and fair work that pursues social justice for all Indigenous experiences, both in terms of how these experiences are represented in and by criminal and social justice.In an environment where government and non-government organisations are now partnering together to overcome justice problems, as a graduate you will be prepared for a diverse choice of career options. Gain experience and network through work-integrated learning opportunities and exchange programs across more than 100 locations globally. Develop your skills to work in and across national government agencies, international government and non-government organisations, and the non-profit volunteer and community sector.Imagine working for an international organisation like the United Nations, Amnesty International, Australian Human Rights Commission, and Australian Red Cross, within the Police, Department of Justice or Correctional Services. Develop your research, analytical and communication skills through presentations, essays and report writing. You will be able to assess justice scenarios such as IRAQ reports and community resilience audits and reflect on the learnings of work-placed activities with offenders and in the juvenile justice settings.Available fully online across Australia, and on-campus from Hobart. Our degree works with you, your family, your career, and your lifestyle.

Understand the justice system, while honing in on the inner workings of the psyche. Combine your passions in both fields for a future in criminal minds. 

Bachelor of Psychological Science and Bachelor of Justice Studies

This degree will provide you with a deep understanding of policy, politics and power in the domestic and international spheres. You&#39;ll learn about political movements and institutions, processes of law making, diplomacy and global politics. You&#39;ll explore how democracy thrives or struggles to survive, and the strategies authoritarian leaders increasingly use to maintain their grip on power, among a range of other exciting topics in Political Science and International Relations.In your second and third years, you&#39;ll gain valuable specialised knowledge by completing one or two majors in International Relations, Political Science and Public Policy; or Security, Conflict and Human Rights. Throughout your studies, you&#39;ll gain the skills and training needed for pursuing your own career pathway, including taking dedicated employability courses and having opportunities to complete a work placement, field study trip, or parliamentary internship.

Study high level political interactions across borders and oceans. Explore how governments interact with markets, communities, and other governments. Choose to major in International Relations or Politics and Public Policy. Consider adding a language.

Bachelor of Government and International Relations

This degree will immerse you in the complex issues that surround security, international trade and global diplomacy. Topics include Australia’s foreign policy and partnerships, the role of the United Nations, and the evolution of global politics and human rights. You will hone your critical thinking skills and learn how to approach issues from a range of perspectives.Our graduates have a thorough understanding of domestic and international political issues, and skills that they can apply in both private and government roles anywhere in the world.

Develop global diplomacy skills including conflict resolution and critical thinking, and explore the powers of the United Nations. Through the lens of Australian politics and foreign policy, you’ll study topics including terrorism and human rights.

Bachelor of Social Science with a Major in Security and International Relations

With Griffith Business School&#39;s Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Government and International Relations, you can multiply your career options. In as little as four years, you can graduate with two degrees and a unique skill set that will give you an edge in the employment market.By combining in-depth knowledge and insight into the workings of government with practical business skills, you will be prepared for a future local, state and national governments, non-government organisations and private sector organisations that sectors interact with government agencies. For example, you can blend majors in Logistics and Supply Chain Management with International Relations and work for an international aid organisation providing humanitarian relief to disaster zones.

Hone your own unique skill set by blending majors in business and government or international relations. Get to know the workings of government. Load up with practical business know-how. Imagine your future in business and politics around the world.

Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Government and International Relations

In a world where change is the only constant, the Master of Global Development will give you a deep understanding of policy, politics, people and power in the modern world. If you are looking to develop your thought leadership skills and identify new, creative solutions that will improve the world around you, then the Master of Global Development is the right fit for you.This degree was developed to align with the UN&#39;s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, created to address the world&#39;s most pressing challenges - including ending poverty and bringing economic prosperity, social inclusion, environmental sustainability and peace and good governance to all countries and all people by 2030. During your study, you will examine the dynamics of global issues including:<ul><li>Climate Change and Disaster Management</li><li>Development Economics</li><li>Health and Development</li><li>Human Rights and Development</li><li>Law Politics and Planning</li><li>Sustainable Development</li></ul>As part of your degree, you will work with experts from across the university including our research centres, and will be connected with the international development community. This means you can feel confident you will graduate with the critical perspective, strategic knowledge and contacts necessary to work towards agile solutions to these big issues - and make a difference.

Get a deep understanding of policy, politics, people and power in the modern world. Develop your thought leadership skills. Look for creative solutions to improve the world around you. Connect to the international development community. 

Master of Global Development

The Graduate Certificate in International Relations (Online) is an innovative, forward-looking program, attuned to the dynamics of the globalising world and its multiple diplomatic channels.  Graduates will develop the expertise necessary for professionals working in diverse contexts in the international relations landscape.  The program also provides an opportunity for professional development and extension of qualifications.  You will have access to flexible learning options to address dynamic interests and needs of international relations students and professionals, allowing students to complete the entire degree in a welcoming, interactive and engaging virtual environment.

Enhance your global perspective and broaden your career options. Complete a core study of research methods and a selection of IR subjects. From climate change to transnational crime, you’ll build your understanding of politics and diplomacy.

Graduate Certificate in International Relations

This is a shell program used for the administration of four-year Double Degree programs. Students will enrol in the shell program and complete the requirements of both constituent programs. program content, rules and entry requirements are those for the constituent programs. Constituent programs include all those with 300 credit points, of which at least 100 credit points are electives.Bachelor of BusinessGet a real-world advantage with our Bachelor of Business. As the only university in the state, we’ve formed close connections with local industry.In our Bachelor of Business you will:<ul><li>Get a hands-on experience with corporate internships (https://www.utas.edu.au/corporate-internship-program/student-information), guest lectures from local business leaders, and current case studies from businesses in Tasmania and around the world.</li><li>Learn from the best with industry experts and teaching staff recognised as international leaders in their field.</li><li>Gain a qualification recognised by all the major professional bodies in business and economics.</li></ul>In our Bachelor of Business you can follow your passion, with the opportunity to build a degree from your choice of majors. You’ll also be able to cross-skill by undertaking electives or a second major from the Tasmanian School of Business and Economics or another area of the University.Bachelor of Justice StudiesThe world needs passionate change leaders, now more than ever. Whether you choose to protect natural resources, protect the world’s most vulnerable, lead emergency response teams or participate in foreign aid, becoming a ‘justice practitioner’ starts with a Bachelor of Justice Studies.Learn about justice issues affecting the places where you live, work, play and study and how they connect to wider regional, national and international concerns. You will be exposed to interdisciplinary expertise and world leading experts in a unique program that will provide you with the skills and knowledge to improve justice policy and practice. Prepare yourself to address perceived injustice issues that cross a range of societal, criminal, indigenous and environmental areas.Discover the nature of justice, harm and morality, and consider the efficacy of formal (laws, regulation, policing) and informal (organised protest, community, non-profit and volunteer organisations, online platforms) channels for achieving justice. Turn your passion into action with research-led learning experiences across different justice scenarios. Learn to interrogate a range of complex justice issues including domestic and international crime, environmental threats such as climate change, domestic violence, international terror, humanitarian crises, and species extinction. Throughout the degree you will be asked to consider ethical issues related to the representation of Indigenous communities, histories and events. You will explore issues important to Indigenous people and produce analytical and fair work that pursues social justice for all Indigenous experiences, both in terms of how these experiences are represented in and by criminal and social justice.In an environment where government and non-government organisations are now partnering together to overcome justice problems, as a graduate you will be prepared for a diverse choice of career options. Gain experience and network through work-integrated learning opportunities and exchange programs across more than 100 locations globally. Develop your skills to work in and across national government agencies, international government and non-government organisations, and the non-profit volunteer and community sector.Imagine working for an international organisation like the United Nations, Amnesty International, Australian Human Rights Commission, and Australian Red Cross, within the Police, Department of Justice or Correctional Services. Develop your research, analytical and communication skills through presentations, essays and report writing. You will be able to assess justice scenarios such as IRAQ reports and community resilience audits and reflect on the learnings of work-placed activities with offenders and in the juvenile justice settings.Available fully online across Australia, and on-campus from Hobart. Our degree works with you, your family, your career, and your lifestyle.

Double your job prospects with this double degree. Explore management, accounting and entrepreneurship. But also learn about the criminal justice system and social policy. With your versatile skillset, you could work in human rights, advocacy or government.

Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Justice Studies

International Relations is the most controversial, dynamic and exciting area of political science. This program suite has a strong practitioner focus and is highly relevant for people working in - or aspiring to work in, government and international organisations. Topics covered include international security, human rights, religion and identity politics, diplomacy and statecraft, political economy and global governance.

Step in or step up to worldwide careers spanning diplomacy, international aid and foreign policy. Broaden your focus. Get ethical. Learn to negotiate, manage conflict, and cooperate. Begin to unpack the intriguing complexity of political science.

The Master of International Relations, which is built around innovative approaches and thinking, will empower you to comprehend and evaluate contemporary regional and global developments. It will equip you for an international career in diplomacy, journalism, the NGO sector, international business or academia.

Critically assess global risks, challenges, and opportunities. You’ll explore an international system of politics, security, and law. Work through contemporary regional and global developments. Graduate ready for a range of international careers.

Master of International Relations

Australian Politics in Global Context

Introduction to Global Politics

Engaging Australia and the Asia-Pacific

Introduction to International Relations

States, Security and International Relations

Discovering Asia

The Making of Modern Asia

Australian Foreign Policy

Totalitarianism Reborn: Russia, China and New Cold Wars

Australia and Asia: Collaboration, Competition and Conflict

This subject was previously known as POIX101 Australian Politics in Global Context.In this subject, we critically assess Australian politics from the perspective of political and economic history, through the lens of social power and financial interests, and drilling down into contemporary debates about economic crisis, globalisation, nationalism, environmental catastrophe and war. With this approach in mind, we examine key Australian political institutions, ideologies, and issues. What is the nature of Australia’s key political institutions (the Constitution, the High Court, Federalism, Government and Parliament), and are they democratic and just? Could we live without them? What are some of the radical critiques of these institutions and the interests they serve? What is ‘Australia’, after all – a unified nation of peoples with shared identities and interests, or a construct that serves wealth and power by masking deep social fractures, or something else again?

Stare down the barrel of Australian political history. Learn about the Dismissal and the Great Depression. Investigate the two-party system and other political institutions. Take on debated hot topics such as globalisation, climate change and war.

This subject was previously known as POIX108 Introduction to Global Politics.Global politics is often dramatic and contentious covering big picture dilemmas such as what are the causes of war and peace? How do we find solutions to shared global problems like climate change and preventing the spread of nuclear weapons? How do we make sense of persistent poverty and underdevelopment in some parts of the world but not others? Whose political ideas matter most and why? Finally, what have been the implications of globalisation for world politics? This unit equips students with the tools to understand the forces that shape the world we live in by introducing them to the key issues, institutions, ideas and actors involved in global politics. The first section of the unit outlines the historical context, key theories and concepts, and fundamental institutions of contemporary global politics. The second section covers important contemporary issues including security challenges, climate change, nuclear proliferation, terrorism, global inequality, the role of culture, religion and identity in global politics, great power rivalry, and globalisation. The subject gives students the foundations necessary for undertaking a major in International Relations or Politics.

Gain a global perspective on issues like poverty, climate change and terrorism. Broaden your understanding of the history of global politics. Identify the challenges facing international governing bodies. Ask what you can do to change the world.

Are you curious about international relations in the Asia Pacific region? This subject enables you to study the region in a wide variety of contexts. In Module 1, you will examine the region in a historic context and explore various theoretical approaches. Module 2 leads you through the key players in the region, including China, Japan, Taiwan, North Korea, South Korea, Southeast Asian states, US, Australia and New Zealand. You will also examine traditional security concerns, such as North Korea nuclear issues and the territorial disputes about the East and South China Sea. In Module 3, you will develop your understanding of non-traditional security issues in the Asia Pacific by examining the rise of nationalism and national identity, as well as recent developments of Indigenous rights and human security in the region. Throughout, you will hone your critical thinking, communication and analytical skills.

International Relations of the Asia Pacific

This subject was previously known as PLTX392 American Politics, POIX392 United States Politics: Money, Culture, Power.US politics is today, as in much of its past, dominated by money and the power that money can buy. US cultural life is also preoccupied with money, in ways that profoundly affect the distribution of political power. Proceeding from these premises, this unit explores the relationship between money, culture and power in contemporary US politics. Topics covered include campaign financing, interest groups and the media; the impact of social inequalities of class, race, gender and sexual preference on US politics; the role of religion and political parties in the formulation of dominant political ideas; and the politics surrounding the global financial crisis and its aftermath.

Take stock of how money and culture feeds into the American political system. Explain the power of the Constitution in US politics. Monitor the influence of special interest groups. See how race, faith and the economy intertwine with policy.

United States Politics: Money, Culture, Power

This first-year subject is designed to introduce you to the main actors, concepts, institutions and debates of contemporary international relations. It will give you the basic tool-kit to develop your knowledge and understanding of the central security challenges we face in contemporary international relations. Our aim is to give you the theoretical understanding, the skills and the inclination to dig beyond superficial media representations and develop a deeper and more nuanced understanding of of these issues. In POL1SNS we explore the historical context of international relations and the conceptual building blocks that underpin the international system, including key ideas like sovereignty and the nation-state. We examine both contemporary security issues and new challenges associated with human and environmental security. Through our journey in POL1SNS, students will develop a deep appreciation of how we live in an interconnected world, being able to recognize the global context of political issues, and act across cultures and boundaries in international relations.

The world has become increasingly interconnected as a result of increased trade, communication and cultural exchange. This interconnection, or globalisation, creates a need for you to develop intercultural, knowledge, understanding and competence. In this course you will explore Australia&#39;s place in the Asia-Pacific region with its accompanying strong cultural ties to the history of Australia&#39;s First Peoples and the Western world. You will examine the influences of the past, contemporary issues and possibilities for the future. This course is designed to commence your professional learning about the cultural protocols and knowledge required when engaging in cross-cultural relationships within Australia and across the Asia-Pacific region.

This subject is area-focused and interdisciplinary, designed to enhance Asia literacy by discovering Asia&#39;s diversity from historical developments to current global engagements. It covers traditional topics such as history and geography, as well as more contemporary issues facing Asia today, such as the issues of gender equality, environmental sustainability and globalisation. This subject employs a topical approach and provides an introduction to three of the largest Asian countries: China, India and Indonesia.﻿Please Note: If it’s your first time studying a Curtin University subject you’ll need to complete their compulsory ‘Academic Integrity Program’. It only takes two hours to complete online, and provides you with vital information about studying with Curtin University. The Academic Integrity Program is compulsory, so if it’s not completed your subject grades will be withheld.Find out more about the <a href="https://www.curtin.edu.au/students/essentials/rights/academic-integrity/aip/" target="_blank">Academic Integrity module</a>.

We live in an uncertain and challenging era where global issues increasingly affect our local daily lives. Forty years of uneven globalisation has been accompanied by the rise of corporations, regional and international institutions, and international nongovernmental agencies. As important influencers of decision-making, these agencies have both undermined and transformed the nation state&#39;s position as the key actor in world affairs. Despite national, regional and global intergovernmental and multistakeholder governance efforts, the world remains beset with problems. These range from transnational terrorism, pandemic disease, human rights atrocities, war, weapons of mass destruction and global injustices from deep gender inequality to the dramatic, new and daunting sustainability challenges including of climate change that existing institutions seem ill-equipped to resolve. How should these challenges be met? Can states acting alone solve these old and new global problems as the new populist nationalism appears to believe? Or should regional and international institutions and new multistakeholder governance organisations play a larger role? How should we address other important issues such as the world&#39;s economic division into the rich, developed &#39;North&#39; and the poor, developing &#39;South&#39;? Tackling these challenges requires understanding as deeply as we can the strengths and weaknesses of different explanations for the nature of world affairs. Is it effectively a struggle for power as IR Realists suggest? Or is it better conceptualised as an evolutionary process of global rule making that makes peace and universal justice possible as IR Liberals argue? Is it based on capitalist exploitation by footloose corporations, a view put forcefully by neo-Marxists? And why do women remain invisible in IR theory despite ‘holding up half the sky’, a critique made be IR Feminists observe? Finally, what is the role of IR discourse itself in the production and reproduction of ideas that shape the way we view the ‘reality’ we purport to study? We will consider these vital questions in this subject as we examine both conventional and new approaches to international relations and world politics. This subject aims to provide students with an introduction to the process, substance, and changing nature of international relations and world politics, including a basic knowledge of some key theoretical debates in the field. After completing this subject students will have a broad understanding of international relations, which will serve as a useful base for the more advanced international politics subjects offered by the Program in Politics and International Relations.

The subject provides an advanced introduction to the study of international political economy, and to develop students’ research, analytical and problem-solving skills. The subject examines the key questions, concepts, findings and controversies in the study of economic globalisation and considers the role of the state and non-state actors in shaping the regional and global integration of political economies.

Global Political Economy

This subject was previously known as POIX278 Middle East Politics.The uprisings that gripped the Arab world in 2011, the ongoing violence in Syria, the mixed results of the revolution in Egypt and the emergence of ISIS in 2014 have refocused world attention on the Middle East and its relations with the West. This course introduces students to the domestic politics of the Middle East, and to the intellectual and ideological currents shaping those politics. The first weeks are devoted to the contemporary history of the region from the late nineteenth century to the rise of post-colonial states in the region. Broad-ranging theoretical concepts necessary for an understanding of Middle Eastern political processes, and different ways of looking at those processes, are considered in the first part of the course. The subject then examines the structure of government and the politics of the region, drawing on some of the ideas from the earlier part of the course. Particular attention is paid to the region’s ongoing relations with the West and the “war against terrorism”; the emergence and future prospects of religious fundamentalism; and the rise of Arab nationalism and Zionism. The Arab-Israeli conflict, the 2003 Iraq War and the impact of globalisation are also covered.

Familiarise yourself with domestic politics in the Middle East. Build a foundational knowledge of 19th and 20th century regional politics. Appraise Middle East government structures. Use the global post-9/11 environment to contextualise your studies.

Middle-East Politics

Macquarie University

Are you curious about international relations in the Asia Pacific region? This subject enables you to study the region in a wide variety of contexts. In Module 1, you will examine the region in a historic context and explore various theoretical approaches. Module 2 leads you through the key players in the region, including China, Japan, Taiwan, North Korea, South Korea, Southeast Asian states, US, Australia and New Zealand. You will also examine traditional security concerns, such as North Korea nuclear issues and the territorial disputes about the East and South China Sea. In Module 3, you will develop your understanding of non-traditional security issues in the Asia Pacific by examining the rise of nationalism and national identity, as well as recent developments of Indigenous rights and human security in the region. Throughout, you will hone your critical thinking, communication and analytical skills.

University of New England

This first-year subject is designed to introduce you to the main actors, concepts, institutions and debates of contemporary international relations. It will give you the basic tool-kit to develop your knowledge and understanding of the central security challenges we face in contemporary international relations. Our aim is to give you the theoretical understanding, the skills and the inclination to dig beyond superficial media representations and develop a deeper and more nuanced understanding of of these issues. In POL1SNS we explore the historical context of international relations and the conceptual building blocks that underpin the international system, including key ideas like sovereignty and the nation-state. We examine both contemporary security issues and new challenges associated with human and environmental security. Through our journey in POL1SNS, students will develop a deep appreciation of how we live in an interconnected world, being able to recognize the global context of political issues, and act across cultures and boundaries in international relations.

La Trobe University

The world has become increasingly interconnected as a result of increased trade, communication and cultural exchange. This interconnection, or globalisation, creates a need for you to develop intercultural, knowledge, understanding and competence. In this course you will explore Australia's place in the Asia-Pacific region with its accompanying strong cultural ties to the history of Australia's First Peoples and the Western world. You will examine the influences of the past, contemporary issues and possibilities for the future. This course is designed to commence your professional learning about the cultural protocols and knowledge required when engaging in cross-cultural relationships within Australia and across the Asia-Pacific region. 

Griffith University

This subject is area-focused and interdisciplinary, designed to enhance Asia literacy by discovering Asia's diversity from historical developments to current global engagements. It covers traditional topics such as history and geography, as well as more contemporary issues facing Asia today, such as the issues of gender equality, environmental sustainability and globalisation. This subject employs a topical approach and provides an introduction to three of the largest Asian countries: China, India and Indonesia.

﻿Please Note: If it’s your first time studying a Curtin University subject you’ll need to complete their compulsory ‘Academic Integrity Program’. It only takes two hours to complete online, and provides you with vital information about studying with Curtin University. The Academic Integrity Program is compulsory, so if it’s not completed your subject grades will be withheld.

Find out more about the Academic Integrity module [https://www.curtin.edu.au/students/essentials/rights/academic-integrity/aip/].

Curtin University

We live in an uncertain and challenging era where global issues increasingly affect our local daily lives. Forty years of uneven globalisation has been accompanied by the rise of corporations, regional and international institutions, and international nongovernmental agencies. As important influencers of decision-making, these agencies have both undermined and transformed the nation state's position as the key actor in world affairs. Despite national, regional and global intergovernmental and multistakeholder governance efforts, the world remains beset with problems. These range from transnational terrorism, pandemic disease, human rights atrocities, war, weapons of mass destruction and global injustices from deep gender inequality to the dramatic, new and daunting sustainability challenges including of climate change that existing institutions seem ill-equipped to resolve. How should these challenges be met? Can states acting alone solve these old and new global problems as the new populist nationalism appears to believe? Or should regional and international institutions and new multistakeholder governance organisations play a larger role? How should we address other important issues such as the world's economic division into the rich, developed 'North' and the poor, developing 'South'?




Tackling these challenges requires understanding as deeply as we can the strengths and weaknesses of different explanations for the nature of world affairs. Is it effectively a struggle for power as IR Realists suggest? Or is it better conceptualised as an evolutionary process of global rule making that makes peace and universal justice possible as IR Liberals argue? Is it based on capitalist exploitation by footloose corporations, a view put forcefully by neo-Marxists? And why do women remain invisible in IR theory despite ‘holding up half the sky’, a critique made be IR Feminists observe? Finally, what is the role of IR discourse itself in the production and reproduction of ideas that shape the way we view the ‘reality’ we purport to study? We will consider these vital questions in this subject as we examine both conventional and new approaches to international relations and world politics.




This subject aims to provide students with an introduction to the process, substance, and changing nature of international relations and world politics, including a basic knowledge of some key theoretical debates in the field. After completing this subject students will have a broad understanding of international relations, which will serve as a useful base for the more advanced international politics subjects offered by the Program in Politics and International Relations.

University of Tasmania

The subject provides an advanced introduction to the study of international political economy, and to develop students’ research, analytical and problem-solving skills. The subject examines the key questions, concepts, findings and controversies in the study of economic globalisation and considers the role of the state and non-state actors in shaping the regional and global integration of political economies.

Course results for International relations Subjects

Need help choosing a course?

Related searches