People, Power and States
UndergraduateLTU-POL2DPS2026
Course information for 2026 intake
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 5 July 2026
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Start dates
- 13 July 2026
- Price from
- $2,174
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
People, Power and States
About this subject
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Critically analyse and report on the interaction of grassroots, state and global processes.
- Read and research critically on social movements and political change.
- Describe and analyse the actors who participate in the negotiation of social and political change at the grassroots, state and global level, in a nuanced and critically engaged manner.
- Develop complex and coherent arguments on the basis of case study analysis.
- Introduction
- Civil society and global governance
- Civil society and transnational advocacy
- Civil society, western bias and Indigenous advocacy
- Civil society and contestation
- Civil society and backlash
- Social movements and contentious politics
- Social movements and political opportunity structures
- How social movements frame collective action
- How to mobilize people for a cause
- Legal opportunity structures and strategic litigation
- Subject overview
How do individuals and groups participate in politics, and how can we as individuals position ourselves in relation to processes of change at the community, state and international levels? What models of deliberation and participation are privileged in grassroots, state and global politics? This subject uses a series of case studies to explore these issues, with a particular view to making sense of the relationship between grassroots and elite politics in processes of social and political change. The subject will focus on civil society organizations and social movements to examine how grassroots activists have attempted to enact change. Case studies will include activism for women's rights, the rights of Indigenous peoples, migrants and refugees, national self-determination, environmental and climate justice, as well as pro-democracy movements in authoritarian states, amongst others.
- Students will propose, research and then write a research essay. The assignment will be equivalent to 1,800 words (45%)
- The written assignment is 600 words. Students will engage with contemporary debates about people, power and states. (15%)
- Students can choose whether to do a written assignment or class presentation (individual or group). The option is to ensure students with disability and access issues have more than one option to suit their needs. The assignment equivalent to 1,600 words (40%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
Part of a degree
To enrol in this subject you must be accepted into one of the following degrees:
Elective
- LAT-ART-DEG-2026 - Bachelor of Arts
- LAT-HSC-DEG-2026 - Bachelor of Health Sciences
- LAT-AHS-DEG-2026 - Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Health Sciences
- LAT-PYS-DEG-2026 - Bachelor of Psychological Science
- LAT-TEC-DEG-2026 - Bachelor of Information Technology
Others
Prerequisites: Students must have completed 60 credit points of level one subjects.
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
Related degrees
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
UndergraduateLAT-ART-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-HSC-DEG
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Health Sciences
UndergraduateLAT-AHS-DEG
Bachelor of Psychological Science
UndergraduateLAT-PYS-DEG
Bachelor of Information Technology
UndergraduateLAT-TEC-DEG