Australia's Strategic and Defence Policy
PostgraduateMAQ-PICX89212025
Previously MAQ-PICX921
Consider Australia’s strategic and defence policy since federation, and the decision-making process of the ADF and alliances such as ANZUS. Judge policy concepts and defence economics by evaluating white papers and force posture reviews.
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Start dates
- 24 Feb 2025
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Australia's Strategic and Defence Policy
About this subject
On successful completion of this subject , you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the historical evolution of Australia’s strategic and defence policy since Federation in 1901.
- Evaluate Australia’s defence decision-making process and its key actors, including theories of defence decision-making
- Critically analyse and judge key defence policy concepts and primary sources, including defence white papers and force posture reviews
- Demonstrate a reflective evaluation of the challenges for the force structure of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), including capability development and defence economics
- Critically analyse the key strategic and defence policy choices facing Australia’s decision-makers. This includes the future of the Australia-US alliance (ANZUS) and the strategic relations with key Asian players such as Indonesia, China and Japan.
- A week-by-week guide to the topics you will explore in this subject will be provided in your study materials.
This subject is previously known as PICX921 Australia's Strategic and Defence Policy
The rise of China and India to great power status, arms modernisation trends across the region and unresolved territorial disputes in the South China Sea are collectively producing an unprecedented period of uncertainty in Australian defence policymaking. Against this backdrop, Australia's major ally, the United States, is increasingly expecting its allies and partners to play a more active role in the region. Consequently, the debate over Australia's strategic and defence policy choices has intensified in recent years. This unit investigates the current debates in Australia’s strategic and defence policy. Students will not only explore how external developments are shaping defence policy, but also look internally into the process of how Australian defence policymaking is created. In particular, this unit will examine the bureaucratic politics within the Department of Defence and between the three Services (Navy, Army and Air Force) when shaping defence policy.
- Students will produce an analytical reading assignment by annotating their weekly readings (50%)
- Students will complete a policy brief and viva voce (50%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
This research-intensive university in north-western Sydney offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. With over 44,000 current students, Macquarie has a strong reputation for welcoming international students and embracing flexible and convenient study options, including its partnership with Open Universities Australia.
Learn more about Macquarie University.
Explore Macquarie courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 11
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 10
Entry requirements
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-PICX921 (Not currently available)
Others
Admission to MPICT or MCPICT or PGDipPICT or GradDipCPICT or MPICTMIntSecSt or MCPICTMIntSecSt or MIntSecStud
NCCW (pre-2020 units) PICT921, PICX921
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.
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
Master of Security and Strategic Studies
PostgraduateMAQ-SEC-MAS
PostgraduateMAQ-MCT-MAS
Master of Cyber Security Analysis
PostgraduateMAQ-CYB-MAS
PostgraduateMAQ-CRM-MAS
PostgraduateMAQ-INT-MAS
PostgraduateOUA-PSU-GCE
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