Enrolments for 2023 have closed.
Totalitarianism Reborn: Russia, China and New Cold Wars
Undergraduate | LTU-POL3INR | 2023
Course information for 2023 intake View information for 2024 course intake
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 12 weeks
HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Totalitarianism Reborn: Russia, China and New Cold Wars
About this subject
Demonstrate an understanding of the evolution of post-1989 China and Russia and their impact on the world.
Compare critically the evolution of the Chinese and Russian political systems.
Conduct secondary source research to establish the scholarly context and the lines of debate surrounding issues of contention in post-1989 Chinese and Russian politics.
Conduct original research, using English-language primary sources, on Chinese and Russian politics
- • The crisis of communism.
- • Russian democratisation and Chinese reform.
- • Nationalism and separatism.
- • Oligarchs and corruption.
- • Human rights and dissent.
- • The contest for Central Asia.
- • Challenge to Western hegemony.
This subject examines the transformation of Russia and China from the reforms of the 1990s to the restoration of totalitarian controls under Putin and Xi Jinping. By a comparative approach, you will learn about how these states grappled with the legacy of communism, reformed political institutions, transformed their economies, and embarked upon expansionist projects. The course will illuminate the domestic challenges faced by these regimes, such as corruption, civic activism, ethnonationalism, and separatism. It will also pose questions about the significance of their collaboration on the international stage, their competition in Central Asia, and their relationship with the West.
- One 15 minute Tutorial presentation (equivalent to approximately 500 words) The 500 word written version of the paper will be assessed (15%)
- One take-home examination essay (1500 words). To a significant degree, this essay will require students to apply lessons learned from the feedback to the argumentative research essay. (35%)
- One 2000 word Argumentative Research Essay (50%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
The third university established in Victoria, La Trobe University has a diverse community of more than 38,000 students and staff. Its commitment to excellence in teaching and research prepares students to make a bold and positive impact in today's global community. La Trobe provides Open Universities Australia with its core tenets, entrepreneurship and sustainability.
Learn more about La Trobe University.
Explore La Trobe courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 17
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 18
Entry requirements
Others
Prerequisites: Students must have completed 60 credit points of Level two subjects.
Past La Trobe University students who have previously completed POL4003 (Authoritarian Empires: Russia, China and the Politics of Eurasia) are ineligible to enrol in this subject.
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.
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
UndergraduateLAT-BUS-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-TEC-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-ART-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-PYS-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-CYS-DEG
Single subject FAQs
Single subjects are the individual components that make up a degree. With Open Universities Australia, you’re able to study many of them as stand-alone subjects, including postgraduate single subjects, without having to commit to a degree.
Each of your subjects will be held over the course of a study term, and they’ll usually require 10 to 12 hours of study each week. Subjects are identified by a title and a code, for example, Developmental Psychology, PSY20007.
First, find the degree that you would like to study on our website.
If that degree allows entry via undergraduate subjects, there will be information about this under the Entry Requirements section. You will find a list of 2-4 open enrolment subjects you need to successfully complete to qualify for admission into that qualification.
Once you pass those subjects, you will satisfy the academic requirements for the degree, and you can apply for entry.
Our student advisors are here to help you take that next step, so don’t hesitate to reach out when you’re ready! We’ve also made it easier to figure out the right way to get started on our pathways page.
Our student advisors are more than happy to help you plan your online study. Get in touch with an advisor by:
You can pay up front with your credit card, or you may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government depending on your citizenship status and where you’ll live during your studies.
For more information about how to pay for your studies visit our fees page or contact a student advisor.
When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Enrol now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to us and we’ll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions .
Close of enrolment times vary between universities and subjects. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting key dates.