Australian National Security

• • A week-by-week guide to the topics you will explore in this subject will be provided in your study materials.

Equivalent subjects

You should not enrol in this subject if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:

• MAQ-PICX211-National Security: Policy and Strategy (No longer available)

Others

NCCW (pre-2020 units) PICT211, PICX211 Pre-requisite 50cp at 2000 level or above

Additional requirements

• Other requirements -

  Students who have an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion under Macquarie University's Academic Progression Policy are not permitted to enrol in OUA units offered by Macquarie University. Students with an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion who have enrolled in units through OUA will be withdrawn.

This subject critically examines how the Australian government formulates defence and national security policy. The subject begins by interrogating the meaning of national security - more generally - and grabbling with the fact that the state is at once the best provider of security for its citizens while also being the greatest threat to individual freedom, liberty and personal safety. The subject then explores the historical development of Australia's national security policy by surveying the different cultural, political and geographic factors that have helped shape Australia's perceptions of its own security. The subject then pivots to discuss the current strategic challenges facing Australia, such as the rise of China, the military modernisation of its neighbours and the threats emanating from weak and failing states. The subject concludes by examining current debates among Australian defence scholars on how best to respond to these emerging security threats and challenges. By the end of this subject, students will possess the ability to weigh different national security policy options and argue persuasively for their preferred course of action.

• Quiz (30%)
• Active participation (10%)
• Qualitative analysis task (20%)
• Major essay (40%)