Australia's Strategic and Defence Policy
Postgraduate
MAQ-PICX921 2019Course information for 2019 intake View information for 2025 course intake
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
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- -
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Australia's Strategic and Defence Policy
About this subject
- Construct and appraise knowledge 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 Australia's Strategic and Defence Policy in a Changing Asia
The rise of China and other regional powers, arms modernisation trends and unresolved territorial disputes in the South China Sea and elsewhere make the Asia Pacific region highly conflict prone. Furthermore, Australia’s major ally, the Subjected States, expects its allies and partners to play a more active role in a more dynamic security environment. Consequently, the debate over Australia’s strategic and defence policy choices has intensified in recent years. This subject provides students with the foundational knowledge of 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 subject will examine the bureaucratic politics within the Department of Defence and between the three Services (Navy, Army and Air Force) when shaping defence policy formation.
- Reading Logbook 1 (5%)
- Minor Essay (20%)
- Major Essay (45%)
- Reading Logbook 2 (30%)
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
To enrol in this subject, you must be admitted into a degree.
Others
Admission to MPICT or MCPICT or PGDipPICT or GradDipPICT or GradDipCPICT or MPICTMIntSecSt or MCPICTMIntSecSt or MIntSecStud or GradDipIntSecStud
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.